Elton John named top gay icon

Reuters

TOP OF THE POPS: Sir Elton John has been voted the top male gay icon of all time.

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Sir Elton John has been voted the top male gay icon of all time.

The legendary pop star - who married his long-term lover David Furnish in a civil partnership ceremony in 2005 - has been declared the male most respected by homosexuals, while the late actress Judy Garland was named the most iconic female.

The male list was predominantly made up of gay men - including late Queen singer Freddie Mercury, British TV star Stephen Fry and Faith hitmaker George Michael - apart from soccer hunk David Beckham, who is married to Victoria Beckham.

Meanwhile, the female list was full of glamorous female stars - including singers Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Cher - rather than famous lesbians.

A spokesperson from www.OnePoll.com - who commissioned the survey of over 5000 gay men and women - said: "Interestingly only one of the men in the top 10 list of male celebrity gay icons isn't gay - David Beckham. And yet most of the women put on a pedestal by the gay community are straight.

"It just shows that to advocate a certain way of living, you don't have to live the lifestyle but simply be more accepting of those around you."

British TV star Paul O'Grady made both lists - as himself and cross-dressing alter ego Lily Savage.

Top Ten Male Celebrity Gay Icons of All Time:
1. Elton John
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Stephen Fry
4. George Michael
5. Oscar Wilde
6. Will Young
7. Alan Carr
8. Paul O'Grady
9. Boy George
10. David Beckham

Top Ten Female Celebrity Gay Icons:
1. Judy Garland
2. Kylie Minogue
3. Madonna
4. Cher
5. Liza Minnelli
6. Marilyn Monroe
7. Shirley Bassey
8. Lily Savage
9. Dusty Springfield
10. Barbra Streisand

- Bang! Showbiz

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AJ   #6   01:01 am Dec 14 2009

I would have given Ellen in the top ten and I have no idea who several are on the male list, but Jennifer, "classic example of gay men continuing to marginalise the lesbian community"? That's crap and, if you are gay, you know it.

Stuart   #5   08:15 am Dec 12 2009

Are ANY of the top ten female celebrity gay icons actually Lesbian?!

simon   #4   05:19 pm Dec 11 2009

Yeah I agree with Jennifer number 1, Ellen would have definetly made the list she has done so much for the gay community and is a wonderful icon

Alcy   #3   03:07 pm Dec 11 2009

This is ridiculous. Obviously the '5000 gay men and women' who contributed to this list was made up of 99.9% gay men. The so-called list of female gay icons are all females that gay men idolise.

No lesbian I know would name any of those women as their female gay icons. Some of them are amazing women, they're just not lesbian icons. My list would be similar to Jennifer's above, Ellen (who rocks my world), Charlize Theron (advocate for gay people everywhere), Portia de Rossi, Melissa Etheridge etc etc.

Paul Kennedy   #2   11:42 am Dec 11 2009

George Michael has no business on that list. Lied about being gay for years, then got busted in a lewd act and had to shamefully come out.

Jennifer   #1   10:03 am Dec 11 2009

'survey of over 5000 gay men and women'

Obviously skewed heavily towards male, a classic example of Gay men continuing to marginalize the Lesbian community.

All the female list are the typical 'diva's' that gay men tend to idolize, if more gay women had participated in the poll then the likes of Ellen, Mellisa Ethridge, KD Lang and so on would have made the list.

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