Gay Icon - Modern Examples

Modern Examples

Modern gay icons in entertainment include both film stars and musicians, most of whom have strong, distinctive personalities, and many of whom died young or under tragic circumstances. For example, Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas – who reached her peak in the 1950s – became a gay icon because the uniquely compelling qualities of her stage performances were allied to a tempestuous private life, a sequence of unhappy love affairs, and a lonely premature death in Paris after her voice had deserted her.

Lesbian icons, sometimes called dykons, a portmanteau of the words "dyke" and "icon" are most often powerful women who are, or are rumored to be, lesbian or bisexual. However, a few male entertainers have also had iconic status for lesbians. James Dean was an early lesbian icon who, along with Marlon Brando, influenced the butch look and self-image in the 1950s and after. One critic has argued for Johnny Cash as a minor lesbian icon, attributing his appeal to "lesbian identification with troubled and suffering masculinity." Science fiction author Forrest J Ackerman was dubbed an "honorary lesbian" for his help during the early days of lesbian rights organisation Daughters of Bilitis. He also wrote lesbian-themed fiction under the pseudonym Laurajean Ermayne.

Gay icons may be homosexual or heterosexual, out or in the closet, and male or female. The women most commonly portrayed by drag queens are usually gay icons. The definition of what it means to be a "gay icon" has come under criticism in recent years for a lack of substance, as Paul Flynn of The Guardian comments "the concept of gay icon is a cheap ticket... the idea of gay iconography itself is currently replaceable with the idea of popularity and the ability to carry a strong, identifiable, signature look." Author Michael Thomas Ford depicts a similar attitude in his work of fiction Last Summer.

Although the term "gay icon" is most commonly used in the United States, the concept is to be found in other cultures as well. Egyptian singer of Italian origin Dalida had a career-long gay following that extended out of Paris and well into the Middle East. In the years since her death, her iconic status has not diminished. Filipino gay comedian Vice Ganda has also been considered a gay icon.

Similarly in European countries like the Netherlands, Willeke Alberti is widely embraced as a gay icon, due to a combination of her song repertoire, her durability, and her performances in support of manifold gay causes. Spanish actress Carmen Maura, Italian singer Mina, Scottish pop singer Jimmy Somerville, German singer-songwriter Marianne Rosenberg and English singer Dusty Springfield are also considered to be gay icons. French entertainer Mylène Farmer, Ukranian boy band Kazaky, Turkish singer Ajda Pekkan and Italian actress Isabella Rossellini are also hailed gay icons.

Latin American figures have also gained reputations as gay icons. Pop band Alaska y Dinarama is one example. Their single "¿A quién le importa?" ("Who Cares?"), which was later covered in 2002 by Thalía, was a hit for the 1980s Spanish band, becoming a gay anthem for the Spanish language-speaking LGBT community. Singer Gloria Trevi is considered a gay icon especially after her release of "Todos Me Miran" ("They All Watch Me") featuring a rejected gay man turned drag queen, but had been popular with the gay and lesbian community in Mexico since the beginnings of her career for being a controversial and powerful singer. Paulina Rubio, Mexican singer and actress, has been a gay icon for Latin America after supporting gay marriage and publicly stating she wants to have sex with fellow gay icon Madonna.

Some modern Latin American gay icons include singers Alaska, Shakira, Valeria Lynch, Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias and actresses Mirtha Legrand, Susana Giménez and Moria Casán.