The film was universally praised by critics, and earned both he and Heath Ledger Oscar nominations. The budget for the film was $14 million dollars and it went on to gross $180 million worldwide and $32 million on DVD. In an interview with Out Magazine he addressed rumors that he might be bisexual. "You know it's flattering when there's a rumor that says I'm bisexual. It means I can play more kinds of roles. I'm open to whatever people want to call me. I've never really been attracted to men sexually, but I don't think I would be afraid of it if it happened."
Bree Van De Kamp
Usually it's real people that are idolized by gays and lesbians everywhere, but every once in a while a fictional character comes along that people just can't get enough of. Desperate Housewives' Bree Van De Kamp may be Republican, religious, judgmental, neurotic, and a recovering homophobe, but most gay men that watch the show would categorize her as "fierce." Not since Sex and the City's Samantha Jones has a fictional character on a women's program been so wholeheartedly embraced by gay men.
Bree can bake you cookies, cakes, rolls, muffins, sew and iron your clothes, perfect your garden, get your house spic and span, reupholster your furniture, and clean your gutters, but don't get it twisted; this domestic goddess is no sissy. She may be the perfect housewife, but she'll pop you with her shotgun in a hot second if you cross her.
One of Bree's most famous quotes is about her husband and possible infidelity. "When Rex started going to all those medical conferences, I wanted in the back of his mind that he had a loving wife at home with a loaded Smith & Wesson."
That may be exactly what draws women and gay men to her character. She possesses all the wonderful qualities we expect out of women, yet at the same time has the strength, confidence, and attitude we stereotypically expect from men. It of course doesn't hurt that she has a hot gay son.
Katherine Heigl
Some people might have recognized Heigl from the WB show Roswell, but most people know the name Katherine Heigl from ABC's breakout drama Grey's Anatomy, which has become a television phenomenon and won countless awards. Though Grey's Anatomy does have a sizable gay fan base, it's not the show alone that has made Heigl a fave with the gays.
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?