The Greatest Gay Icons In Music
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Freddie Mercury may not have spoken publicly about his sexual orientation, but many people believe that he was openly gay. He was the lead singer of Queen (a slang term for gay), and he was a powerful icon in the gay community. He died of complications with AIDS in 1991.- Age: Dec. at 45 (1946-1991)
- Birthplace: Zanzibar City, Tanzania
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Elton John is arguably the most popular gay musician in the world. He first came out as a bisexual in a 1976 interview with Rolling Stone, and in 1988, he announced that he was comfortable being gay. John has been in a relationship with David Furnish since 1993, and the couple has two children together.- Age: 77
- Birthplace: Pinner, Greater London, England, UK
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David Bowie was embraced by the gay community when he revealed his androgynous alter-ego Ziggy Stardust. In 1976, Bowie told Playboy magazine that he was bisexual, but he later declared that he was just a closet heterosexual. He is rumored to have had a sexual relationship with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. Bowie has been married to supermodel Iman since 1992.- Age: Dec. at 69 (1947-2016)
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
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Lady Gaga became a gay icon by promoting individuality and acceptance. She would rather not be called a "gay icon" - instead, she prefers to be considered a "gay supporter." She currently has a boyfriend, but Gaga has stated that she is bisexual.- Age: 38
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
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5Cher has been a gay icon throughout her career, and her flamboyant style has been emulated by thousands of drag queens. She also starred as a lesbian in the film Silkwood, and she became even more involved with supporting gay rights after her son, Chaz, came out as transgender.
- Age: 78
- Birthplace: USA, California, El Centro
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George Michael was outed after he was arrested for lewd conduct in 1998. He has since become an outspoken advocate for gay rights and AIDS research, and he frequently performs benefit concerts to support these causes. He showed humor and humility after his arrest by mocking the incident with his music video for "Outside" and satirizing himself on the comedy special for the finale of "Extras."- Age: 61
- Birthplace: England, London
Are they iconic?- Prince embraced his androgyny and sexuality in a way that made it cool for others to follow suit.
- Age: 66
- Birthplace: Minneapolis, USA, Minnesota
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The Advocate called Judy Garland "The Elvis of homosexuals." She is the inspiration of the slang term "Friends of Dorothy" - her character in The Wizard of Oz. Many gay people related with Dorothy's experience going from the black-and-white world of Kansas to the utopia that was Oz. The rainbow flag may have even been inspired by Garland's song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."- Age: Dec. at 47 (1922-1969)
- Birthplace: Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
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Village People were one of the first bands that directly targeted a gay audience. They had several disco hits and proved to have great crossover appeal.Are they iconic?- Photo:
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Cyndi Lauper fully embraced the gay community, and they embraced her back. She has written inspiring songs like "True Colors," and she has worked tirelessly to support gay rights. She even opened a homeless shelter to help young gay individuals who don't have anywhere to go.- Age: 71
- Birthplace: Queens, New York, USA
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11Drag queen/actor/musician RuPaul has been a beacon of empowerment since she first emerged in the music industry with the hit "Supermodel (You Better Work)." RuPaul has since dedicated her life to promoting LGBT causes.- Age: 63
- Birthplace: San Diego, CA
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12Madonna was going to gay bars from the time she was a teenager, and she was later named "The Greatest Gay Icon" by The Advocate. She has fought for gay rights and same-sex marriage all over the world. She says, "I wouldn't have a career if it weren't for the gay community."- Age: 66
- Birthplace: Michigan, USA, Bay City
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Cross-dressing '80s icon Boy George has had a large gay following since his band Culture Club emerged in the music industry. At the height of his success, he never denied being gay in the media. Later, he stated that some of Culture Club's most popular songs were inspired by his relationships with other men.- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Eltham, Kent, England, UK
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14Pink is a big supporter of gay rights and gay marriage. Her empowering music and strong sense of self has helped her develop a large gay fan base.- Age: 45
- Birthplace: USA, Abington Township, Pennsylvania
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Ricky Martin came out as gay in 2010. He wrote a statement on his website, saying, "These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed." He has since become an outspoken advocate for gay rights and same-sex marriage.- Age: 52
- Birthplace: San Juan, Puerto Rico
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"American Idol" alum Adam Lambert let the world know that he was gay after the reality competition had come to an end. He has since been an inspiration to the gay community all over the world, for not shying away from any aspect of himself. He has even pushed the envelope by sharing a kiss with his male keyboardist on the American Music Awards.- Age: 42
- Birthplace: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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The daughter of gay icon Judy Garland and bisexual filmmaker Vincete Minnelli, it is only natural that Liza Minnelli has a huge gay following. She solidified her gay icon status to a new generation by appearing at Stanford and Anthony's wedding in the film Sex and the City 2.- Age: 78
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
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Britney Spears was embraced by the gay community from the moment that she emerged as a pop star, but the "Toxic" singer didn't notice until her second tour. She told Advocate Magazine, "I began to realize there were a lot of gay people coming to the shows, and they were just having so much fun, laughing and really enjoying themselves." Britney Spears is straight and has been married twice, although she famously shared a kiss with Madonna back in 2003.- Age: 42
- Birthplace: McComb, Mississippi, USA
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Barbra Streisand has been supported by the gay community from the beginning of her career. She furthered her status as a gay icon after her son Jason Gould came out in 1991. Streisand said, "I would never wish for my son to be anything but what he is. He is bright, kind, sensitive, caring, and a very conscientious and good person." She has been a strong supporter for gay marriage.- Age: 82
- Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
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- Age: Dec. at 36 (1926-1962)
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
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Pop superstar Kylie Mingoue has one of the largest gay followings in the world. She has stated, "My gay audience has been with me from the beginning... They kind of adopted me."- Age: 56
- Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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- Age: Dec. at 83 (1939-2023)
- Birthplace: Tennessee, Nutbush, USA
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Bette Midler has been embraced by that gay community since the start of her career.- Age: 78
- Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
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Little Richard has described himself as a "bisexual alien," but his flamboyant performances and lavish style have made him a gay icon. He even worked as a drag performer in the early 1950s.- Age: Dec. at 87 (1932-2020)
- Birthplace: Macon, Georgia, USA
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Frank Ocean penned an open letter on his Tumblr blog stating that he had a romantic relationship with another man when he was 19. He instantly became a gay icon, as there are very few musicians who are open about their sexuality in hip-hop and R&B. Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons said, "Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we? ... Your decision to go public about your sexual orientation gives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear."- Age: 37
- Birthplace: Long Beach, California
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Donna Summers seductive disco music made her a gay icon. She has stated, "I don’t know if I would have a career if it hadn’t been in some ways for the way 'Love to Love You Baby' started off, and everybody jumped on it. It was really in the gay clubs, the song took off — they really embraced that new sound. I have to give credit where credit is due."- Age: Dec. at 63 (1948-2012)
- Birthplace: Boston, USA, Massachusetts
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Annie Lennox became a gay icon because of her androgynous style and intriguing vocals. The Advocate said of Lennox, "Her distinctive voice and provocative stage persona have made Lennox a longtime gay icon." Lennox is not gay herself, and she has been married three times.- Age: 69
- Birthplace: Aberdeen, Scotland
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- Age: Dec. at 81 (1908-1989)
- Birthplace: Lowell, Massachusetts, USA
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Glam rock disco superstars the Scissor Sisters have legions of gay fans. Lead singer Jake Shears has been openly gay since he was a teenager, and the entire band supports gay rights.Are they iconic?- Photo:
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The B-52s have a huge gay following who love their kitschy brand of upbeat pop music. Lead vocalist Fred Schneider is openly gay, as was co-founder Ricky Wilson, who died of AIDS-related complications in 1985.Are they iconic?- Photo:
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32Actor / singer / drag queen Divine has been a fearless gay icon since the late '60s, when she first met frequent collaborator John Waters. She toured the world, performing empowering disco music.- Age: Dec. at 42 (1945-1988)
- Birthplace: Baltimore, USA, Maryland
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33Singer Mika came out as gay in 2012, but he has been creating fun pop music full of innuendo for his entire career, making him popular with the gay community.- Age: 41
- Birthplace: Lebanon, Beirut
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Singer/songwriter Tracy Chapman has never publicly discussed her sexuality, but it is widely known that she was in a relationship with The Color Purple author Alice Walker. Chapman is a gay icon for writing empowering songs like "Talkin' 'Bout a Revolution."- Age: 60
- Birthplace: USA, Cleveland, Ohio
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k.d. lang came out in 1992, and she has been an outspoken advocate for gay rights. She frequently donates portions of her album sales to AIDS research.- Age: 62
- Birthplace: Consort, Alberta, Canada
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36Liberace never came out as gay, but his flamboyant performances and lavish style caused his to be embraced by the gay community around the world. He had several relationships with men throughout his life, but he kept them from the public.- Age: Dec. at 67 (1919-1987)
- Birthplace: USA, Wisconsin, West Allis
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37Erasure front man Andy Bell is openly gay. The band has a huge gay following, and they have toured the world performing benefit concerts promoting gay rights.Are they iconic?- Photo:
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Melissa Etheridge first came out at the Triangle Ball, a gay celebration of President Bill Clinton's first inauguration. She is an outspoken advocate for gay rights, and she has never let society's judgments stop her from living her life the way that she intended.- Age: 63
- Birthplace: Leavenworth, Kansas, USA
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39Robyn's unique brand of upbeat pop music has led her to develop a huge gay following. She spoke with Out magazine about her song "Dancing on My Own" becoming a gay anthem: “Gay culture has always had to embody outsidership. I think we’re all just scared to be lonely. We all want to be loved, and we all want to be seen.”- Age: 45
- Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
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Carol Channing loves the gay community, and they love her back. She has said, "The gay community is responsible for so much of my success, and I love them. It's a mutual love affair, really. They make the better audiences too, because they laugh often and loudly."- Age: Dec. at 97 (1921-2019)
- Birthplace: Seattle, Washington, USA
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Lesbian twin sisters Tegan and Sara has developed a huge gay following for writing LGBT songs and, more recently, creating empowering pop music.Are they iconic?- Photo:
REM frontman Michael Stipe describes himself as a queer artist, stating, "I think there’s a line drawn between gay and queer, and for me, queer describes something that’s more inclusive of the grey areas." He has been an advocate for AIDS research since the early '90s.- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Georgia, USA, Decatur
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Musician Sylvester was openly gay and an empowering figure to the gay community. He was deemed the "Queen of Disco" by his fans.- Age: Dec. at 41 (1947-1988)
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, Watts, California
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Judas Priest front man Rob Halford came out in 1998. He told The Advocate, "It's a wonderful moment when you walk out of the closet. Now I've done that, and I've freed myself. It's a great feeling for me to finally let go and make this statement." He is a gay icon of rock n' roll.- Age: 73
- Birthplace: The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield, England
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Katy Perry initially became a gay icon with the release of her mega-hit "I Kissed a Girl." She described her Gay Icon status to CGG, stating, "Maybe [I’m a gay icon] because of my big personality and my use of color and frankness and, you know, kitschiness; if kitsch could be my middle name, I definitely would take that!" She continued on, stating that she is a proud gay activist.- Age: 40
- Birthplace: Santa Barbara, California, USA
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Joan Baez has been an advocate for the gay community since the 1970s. She performed benefit concerts and marched in the memorials for openly gay San Francisco politician Harvey Milk after he was assassinated. She also dedicated her song "Altar Boy and the Thief" to her gay following.- Age: 83
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
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The Smiths frontman Morrissey has stated that he is asexual and celibate, but that doesn't mean that he isn't a gay icon. His personal songs, consummate performances, and flourish for style has led the gay community to embrace Morrissey. He has stated, "Unfortunately, I am not homosexual. In technical fact, I am humasexual. I am attracted to humans. But, of course... not many."- Age: 65
- Birthplace: England
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'N Sync member Lance Bass came out as gay in 2006. He said, "The thing is: I'm not ashamed – that's the one thing I want to say. I don't think it's wrong; I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."- Age: 45
- Birthplace: Laurel, Mississippi, USA
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The Indigo Girls are openly lesbians and they have been champions for gay rights throughout their careers.Are they iconic?- Photo:
Fans first thought JoJo Siwa came out when she was shown singing Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" on TikTok, and again when she was spotted alongside other LGBTQ+ creators dancing to the lyrics, "one of us."
For anyone who was still unsure, she took to Twitter on January 22, 2021, to show off a new shirt her cousin gifted her. It read, "BEST. GAY. COUSIN. EVER." The previous day she posted to Instagram wearing a Gucci bomber from the brand's Pride collection. She also retweeted a video of her singing "Born This Way," with the caption, "@itsjojosiwa is on the right track, she was born this way," along with a rainbow flag emoji. That same day she began trending on Twitter.
Siwa had long had an LGBQ+ fan base, and when asked by drag queens how she felt about being a "gay icon," she immediately responded, "I love it!"
- Age: 17
- Birthplace: Omaha, NE
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Singer Rufus Wainwright has been openly gay since he was a teen. Wainwright spoke to the Huffington Post in 2013 regarding his feeling about being a gay artist: "I've always embraced it, only because there is such a fabulous history of really gay artists, especially in songwriting."- Age: 51
- Birthplace: Rhinebeck, New York, USA
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52Holly Johnson
Frankie Goes to Hollywood front man Holly Johnson was openly gay since he was in high school. He is a gay icon for being fearless at a time where many people felt prosecuted for their sexuality.- Age: 64
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England
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- Age: 67
- Birthplace: Southport, England
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"American Idol" alum Clay Aiken announced that he was gay in 2008. He has been an advocate for stopping anti-gay bullying in schools. He is even considering running for Congress in his home state of North Carolina to continue to fight for gay rights and behalf of children with disabilities.- Age: 45
- Birthplace: Raleigh, USA, North Carolina
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- Age: Dec. at 47 (1957-2004)
- Birthplace: USA, New York, Brewster
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57Steve Strange
- Age: 65
- Birthplace: Newbridge, Australia
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Kate Nash has written several LGBT songs, and she is a modern day gay icon. Of her own sexuality, she says, "I would never say ‘I’m straight, I’m bisexual, I’m gay.’ I feel like I will fall in love with a human being for who they are. I’m not afraid to say I’ve been attracted to a woman before, and I’ve kissed girls before, and been in love with them before. I’ve never really had a girlfriend or anything, and I would never say I’m anything, really. I don’t have an identity in that way."- Age: 37
- Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
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- Age: 49
- Birthplace: Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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There aren't many openly gay rock stars, but Kele Okereke is a popular one embraced by the indie music scene. With his band Bloc Party, he released the song "I Still Remember" about a gay relationship. He publicly came out as gay in 2010.- Age: 43
- Birthplace: Liverpool, United Kingdom
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