Justin Timberlake
Any popular boy band has its fair share of a gay following, and 'N Sync was not exception. Just the idea of four or five men traveling the world together on a bus, singing, dancing, and pelvic thrusting in matching outfits reeks of homoeroticism.
Justin Timberlake's support from the gay community has followed him into his solo career. In 2002 he was chosen as one of The Advocate's "10 Coolest Straight People."
When asked about when he first became aware of his gay following he replied, "It was always there, and I have always been aware of it. I’m the kind of artist who wants to know all of his audience and what they’re about."
Back when Justin was still dating actress Cameron Diaz, she proclaimed, "Justin loves all of his fans. People adore him across the board, and he's not uncomfortable with any part of it. We love the gays!"
Justin's fun pop music and his relationship with gay fave Britney Spears have surely helped him to stay in the hearts of gay men everywhere. This is why it was particularly ironic when his band mate Lance Bass came out of the closet in 2006.
In response Justin said, "Lance is one of my great friends. I support him and wish him all the happiness in the world."
If further proof was needed that Justin Timberlake is a gay icon, just go to any gay dance club on a Friday night and I'll bet money you're bound to hear screaming and see arms flying when "SexyBack" blasts through the speakers.
David Beckham
It's rare that a male athlete is not only a gay icon, but that he also openly embraces and encourages the adoration from the gay community. British soccer star David Beckham says he and his wife, Spice Girl Victoria "Posh" Beckham, fight over which one of them the gays love more.
His good looks, chiseled body, and infectious charm have made him irresistible. In 2005 David moaned he thought Rugby player Gavin Henson was stealing his gay fans. "I think I have lost a lot of my gay fans to Welsh rugby star Gavin Henson. It is a shame as I really love them."
He told Sports Illustrated, "Being a gay icon is a great honor for me. I'm quite sure of my feminine side, and I've not got a problem with that at all. These days it's the norm, and it should be."
Article comments
1 - Anna Creech
What is your definition of gay icon? Can someone who is not a film/tv/rock star be a gay icon?
2 - Argon
What is your definition of gay icon? Can someone who is not a film/tv/rock star be a gay icon?
The article includes an athlete and a comedienne.
3 - Baronius
...and a fictional character. This article doesn't include any gays, as far as I know. It's mostly just people who look fabulous in front of cameras. It reads like self-parody.
4 - Orangeade
Who said the article needed to include gays? It's not about gays, it's about gay icons.
So what's your point?
5 - El Bicho
The point is that this list looks like it was created by someone who works at the E Channel and feeds into a stereotype. Don't gays admire anything other than celebrity? Most definitions of the word "icon" mean a representation, so this is more accurately a list of gay idols.
6 - Orangeade
I don't see what the big problem is. No one's saying these are the ONLY people ALL gay people admire.
But ask a good number of young gay people and the people on this list are quite popular.
7 - El Bicho
If young gay people are really that shallow, I'd prefer not to ask.
8 - Orangeade
What's shallow about finding a certain comedian funny? What's shallow about having a personal connection with someone's music?
9 - PromoteEquality
An ICON transcends all boundaries. To say a Gay Icon is required to be GLBT is discriminatory and is an insult to the entire Gay Liberation movement- which strives to promote equality, not segregation. Some people on this list may be superficial, some have spent their entire lives perfecting their talents. Some have made great strides within their careers to promote GLBT equality. I'd read up on each of their histories before making a judgment on whether or not they are "worthy" of being a Gay Icon.
10 - Disgusted
If icons are supposed to be role models then what this list is saying to me is we should all be straight. Disgusting!
11 - Pleased
Disgusted,
Are you willingly choosing to be ignorant and make inept comments? It would appear that this list is comprised of folks who are not completely GLBQT, but support GLBQT unconditionally, which is something we need to see more of.
12 - Jet
I've always considered an Icon someone I'd look up to as a role model, or someone I'd admire, be they gay or straight.
Having been out and proud, (and everyone on this website knows it) I was taken aback by the choices here and a little saddened. Except fpr David Beckham (for his athletic ability and level head) and Jake for his intelligence-not his fictional role- I don't see a single one I'd call an icon gay or otherwise...
... especially Timberlake, whom I consider a shallow and superficial "boy band" hustler who depends more on looks than talent, and will continue to use his gay following to sell CDs and then dump them.
Marky Mark Whalberg did the same thing with his patented "six pack" always on display, but always badmouthed gays, because it wasn't "street" to admit he liked those fans. I'll give him credit for apologizing and then performing with Elton John at the Queen tribute... thosugh grudgingly. Mark talks now not about how many millions he made off his gay following, but how he was creeped out when asked to do a screen test for the lead in Brokeback Mountain.
Most of the "icons" in this article, Like Whalberg did before he became an actor, "use" their attractiveness like a straight man who hustles gays for money.
Maybe because I saw the damage done by Donna Summer (Who I couldn't stand) who had all the queens a twitter, then came out on the 700 Club as a born-again christian who felt sorry for all of us after we made her a millionaire several times over.
How out and proud Elton John-the most successful entertainer gay or straight missed this list is beyond me, considering he's had multi top ten hits in every decade he's performed in from the 60s on.
How Heath Ledger didn't make it is a total crime, considering how much he invested into his role, and then became successful as a gay icon because he respected our admiration, not pushed it aside as a joke to his friends like others listed here have. I've lost count of how many of them have used the put down "Oh that's so Gay" as in insult, and made it popular.
Neil Patrick Harris the star of CBS hit "How I met your Mother: whom most of us know as Doogie Howser MD. He was never "in" the closet, and was proud, level headed and a little surprised with all the fuss when someone outted him just recently.
Mark Bingham The gay ad executive-professional soccer player, who led the charge against flight 93s hijackers on 9/11, but was pushed into the historical background as just another passenger on the jet that crashed.
Martina Navratilova a household name in the world of sports and Tennis along with Billy Jean King
Esera Tuaolo veteran of the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Atlanta Falcons.
Voted fourth in “Total Sport’s” 10 Toughest Men Of Sport list, popular Australian gay rugby star Ian Roberts came out in 1995 while still currently at the top of his macho game. He’d played front rower in 85 games for South Sydney, over 100 in Manly, and at the age of 23 was the highest paid rugby league player in the world. Now his acting career has made him a celebrity, and an admired one at that.
I guess I don't mince around enough, and my wrist isn't limp enough to understand the choices in this article, particularly the women. Why anyone would want to be like them is beyond my simple brain.
Anyone of the above tops my list above shallow Timberlake and the superficial girls.
But that's only my opinion.
13 - Orion
Well Jet, considering you're too old to really identify with most of the media created by the choices on the list, and the fact that you've exposed yourself as a borderline racist in the past, I don't think your opinion holds much water here.
Christina for instance, has been praised by many out gay men, including acclaimed director John Cameron Mitchell, for her inclusion of images of gay people in her Beautiful video, and her Stripped album for example, is full of lyrics that appeal to gay men and women who are coming of age.
But that really was a nice dig at feminine gays there. Glad to know you walk around with a feeling of superiority because your wrists are firmly in place.
14 - Barbara
Orion, I'm certain that Jet didn't even take the time to actually READ the reasoning for the choices. Maybe he needs a new pair of bifocals.
15 - Chris Evans
I think the problem is how Jet defines "icon" is not the definition I had in mind when writing this article.
This definition is pulled right from the dictionary.
"One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol:"
And under each name, I tried to explain WHY those people gained such attention.
You named a bunch of gay people who you admire, and that's great. But that's not what this list was supposed to be about. Elton John is not a RISING gay icon. He's been around for decades.
Neil Patrick Harris is gay. Not a gay icon.
How can Mark Bingham be a rising gay icon, when he's not even alive anymore?
All in all, I think you misunderstood what this list was supposed to be (maybe because you didn't read it? not sure), and I'd suggest if it upsets you that much, that you write one yourself.
16 - Jet
You don't know shit Orion, my grandfather on my father's side was black and my grandmother on my mother's side was an Iroquois Indian.
Don't presume to know me enough to call me a racist [Personal attack deleted by Comments Editor].
17 - Jet
Try this Chris
18 - Jet
As for my eyes, I'm having Diabetic Rhetenopathy surgery today in 45 minutes, I'm just waiting for the cab.
19 - Jet
Would someone please explain to me how I could've given anyone the impression that I was a racist?