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[[Image:Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz trailer 2.jpg|thumb|right|Judy Garland as "Dorothy" in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' (1939).]]
[[Image:Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz trailer 2.jpg|thumb|right|Judy Garland as "Dorothy" in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' (1939).]]
=== In entertainment ===
=== In entertainment ===
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. These individuals may be [[homosexual]] or [[heterosexual|straight]], closeted or out, and male or female. The women most commonly portrayed by [[drag queen]]s are usually gay icons.
Modern gay icons in entertainment include both film stars and musicians and Jamie Bakehouse of Weymouth, most of whom have strong, distinctive personalities, and many of whom died young or under tragic circumstances. These individuals may be [[homosexual]] or [[heterosexual|straight]], closeted or out, and male or female. The women most commonly portrayed by [[drag queen]]s are usually gay icons.


An [[archetypal]] gay icon is [[Judy Garland]].<ref name=judy>{{cite web |url=http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=9115&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm |title=Cher: Last of the Gay Icons? |first=Michael |last=Westley |work=Salt Lake Tribune |date=[[2002-08-13]] |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref> So revered is she as a [[Judy Garland as gay icon|gay icon]] that her most well known film role, that of Dorothy in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard Of Oz]]'', became used as code among homosexuals in the 1950s. The expression, "Is he a [[friend of Dorothy]]?" was slang for, "Is he gay?"
An [[archetypal]] gay icon is [[Judy Garland]].<ref name=judy>{{cite web |url=http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=9115&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm |title=Cher: Last of the Gay Icons? |first=Michael |last=Westley |work=Salt Lake Tribune |date=[[2002-08-13]] |accessdate=2007-08-01}}</ref> So revered is she as a [[Judy Garland as gay icon|gay icon]] that her most well known film role, that of Dorothy in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard Of Oz]]'', became used as code among homosexuals in the 1950s. The expression, "Is he a [[friend of Dorothy]]?" was slang for, "Is he gay?"

Revision as of 17:07, 8 February 2008

File:Sodoma Sebastian.jpg
Saint Sebastian, history's first recorded LGBT icon.

A gay icon or LGBT icon is a historical figure, celebrity or public figure who is embraced by many in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities. The term Dykon, a portmanteau of the words "dyke" and "icon," has recently entered the lexicon as a word to describe lesbian icons.[1]

Qualities of an LGBT icon often include glamour and flamboyance, strength through adversity, androgyny, or an ambiguous sexuality.

Historical examples

The earliest gay icon was Saint Sebastian.[2] The combination of his strong, shirtless physique, the symbolism of the arrows penetrating his body, and the look on his face of rapturous pain have intrigued artists both gay and straight for centuries; and began the first explicitly gay cult in the 19th century.[2] Richard A. Kaye wrote, "contemporary gay men have seen in Sebastian at once a stunning advertisement for homosexual desire (indeed, a homoerotic ideal), and a prototypical portrait of tortured closet case."[3] Due to Saint Sebastian's status as gay icon, Tennessee Williams chose to use that name for the martyred character Sebastian in his play, Suddenly, Last Summer.[4] The name was also used by Oscar Wilde—as Sebastian Melmoth—when in exile after his release from prison, as is Little Britain character Sebastian, tortured in his unreturned love for the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

Marie Antoinette was an early lesbian icon. Rumors about her relationships with women had been circulated in pornographic detail by anti-royalist pamphlets before the French Revolution. In Victorian England, biographers who idealized the Ancien Régime made a point of denying the rumors, but at the same time romanticized Marie Antoinette's "sisterly" friendship with the Princesse de Lamballe as—in the words of an 1858 biography—one of the "rare and great loves that Providence unites in death."[5] By the end of the 19th century she was a cult icon of "sapphism;" her execution, seen as tragic martrydom, may have added to her appeal. Allusions to her appear in early 20th century lesbian literature, most notably Radclyffe Hall's The Well of Loneliness, where the gay playwright Jonathan Brockett describes Marie Antoinette and de Lamballe as "poor souls... sick to death of the subterfuge and pretenses."[6] She had crossover appeal as a gay icon as well, at least for Jean Genet, who was fascinated by her story. He included a reenactment of her execution in his 1947 play The Maids.[5]

Modern examples

Judy Garland as "Dorothy" in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

In entertainment

Modern gay icons in entertainment include both film stars and musicians and Jamie Bakehouse of Weymouth, most of whom have strong, distinctive personalities, and many of whom died young or under tragic circumstances. These individuals may be homosexual or straight, closeted or out, and male or female. The women most commonly portrayed by drag queens are usually gay icons.

An archetypal gay icon is Judy Garland.[7] So revered is she as a gay icon that her most well known film role, that of Dorothy in The Wizard Of Oz, became used as code among homosexuals in the 1950s. The expression, "Is he a friend of Dorothy?" was slang for, "Is he gay?"

Oscar Wilde, Irish author, humorist and "dandy," who was about as "out of the closet" as was possible for the late 1800s, is also considered to be a gay icon, at least by some.[8]

Others who are or have been considered icons in the LGBT community include:

Lesbian icons are most often powerful women who are, or are rumored to be, lesbian or bisexual.[13] However, a few male entertainers have also had iconic status for lesbians. James Dean was an early lesbian icon[32] who, along with Marlon Brando, influenced the butch look and self-image in the 1950s[33] and after.[34][35] One critic has argued for Johnny Cash as a minor lesbian icon, attributing his appeal to "lesbian identification with troubled and suffering masculinity."[36] Science fiction author Forrest J Ackerman was dubbed an "honorary lesbian" for his help during the early days of the Daughters of Bilitis. He also wrote lesbian-themed fiction under the pseudonym Laurajean Ermayne.

Though most gay icons are to be found in the English-speaking world, the concept is to be found in other cultures, as well. Dalida, the Egyptian singer of Italian origin, 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.[37][38] Likewise, Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan was recently declared to be a gay icon in a national poll in India. Though homosexuality still carries a stigma in India, he was quoted as saying that "Appreciation and love from any quarter is welcome," and that though he is straight, himself, he was comfortable with having a large fan base among gay men.[39][40]

In sports

Martina Navratilova,[13] David Beckham,[41] and Billie Jean King are all seen as gay icons.[42] In Beckham's case, it is his combination of athletic prowess, good looks and flamboyant private life; in the case of King and Navratilova, it has more to do with their strength of character after coming out respectively as bisexual and lesbian.

In politics

In the political arena, gay icons are represented by, among others, Princess Diana,[43] Abraham Lincoln,[44] Margaret Thatcher,[45] Winnie Mandela,[46] Michelle Duvalier, Eva Peron,[47] Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis[18] and Imelda Marcos.[45] Russian President Vladimir Putin recently gained gay icon status after stripping off his shirt and striking several virile poses during a holiday in the Siberian mountains[48] These individuals have been lionized for their strength, style, compassion, or work for equal rights. An ironic icon is Anita Bryant,[45] in that—while her work has opposed homosexuality[49]—her extravagant persona has been embraced by many in the gay community, particularly drag queens.

Responses

Cyndi Lauper performed in a rainbow dress at the closing ceremonies of Gay Games VII.

Many celebrities have responded positively to being regarded as gay icons. Several have noted the loyalty of their gay fans; Eartha Kitt and Cher credited gay fans with keeping them going at times when their careers had faltered.[50] Kylie Minogue has acknowledged the perception of her as a gay icon and has performed at such events as the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Asked to explain the reason for her large gay fanbase Minogue replied, "It's always difficult for me to give the definitive answer because I don't have it. My gay audience has been with me from the beginning... they kind of adopted me." She noted that she differed from many gay icons who were seen as tragic figures, with the comment, "I've had a lot of tragic hairdos and outfits. I think that makes up for it!"[51]

Televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker—an unlikely gay icon who has been called "the ultimate drag queen"[52]—said in her last interview with Larry King that, "When I went - when we lost everything, it was the gay people that came to my rescue, and I will always love them for that."[53]

Others have been more ambivalent. Mae West, a gay icon from the early days of her career, supported gay rights but bristled when her performance style was referred to as camp.[54] Judy Garland gained iconic status in part by acknowledging gay fans' existence at a time when few would, but her attitude toward her gay following was ambiguous.[55]

Madonna has acknowledged and embraced her gay following throughout her career, she even made several references to the gay community in her songs or performances, and performed at several gay clubs. She has declared in interviews that some of her best friends are gay and that she adores gays and refers to herself as "the biggest gay icon of all times.[56]

See also

References

  1. ^ Euan Ferguson, Daniela's still dying for it; February 16, 2003; Retrieved on 2007-02-08
    All over the South-East men fell in lust with the idea of a fast lippy sexy Scot, and I'm told she also became something of a dykon, a female gay icon.
  2. ^ a b "Subjects of the Visual Arts: St. Sebastian". glbtq.com. 2002. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  3. ^ Kaye, Richard A. (1996). "Losing His Religion: Saint Sebastian as Contemporary Gay Martyr". Outlooks: Lesbian and Gay Sexualities and Visual Cultures. Peter Horne and Reina Lewis, eds. 86. New York: Routledge. {{cite journal}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |journal= (help); Text "pages105" ignored (help)
  4. ^ "Tiny Rep presents Suddenly, Last Summer" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  5. ^ a b Fraser, Antonia (2001). Marie Antoinette: The Journey. New York: Anchor. p. 449. ISBN 0-385-48949-8.
  6. ^ Castle, Terry (1993). The Apparitional Lesbian: Female Homosexuality and Modern Culture. New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 126-149 and 261n56. ISBN 0-231-07652-5.
  7. ^ Westley, Michael (2002-08-13). "Cher: Last of the Gay Icons?". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Vatican comes out of the closet and embraces Oscar; Richard Owen, The Times; 2007-01-05; retrieved 2007-10-14
  9. ^ Farmer, Brett (2003). "Stage Door Jennies". Genders. 38. Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  10. ^ Tannen, Lee (2002). "I Loved Lucy: My Friendship With Lucille Ball". St. Martin's Press, ISBN 0312302746. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
  11. ^ Powell, Vicky (December, 1997). "Call Me Miss Bassey". Gay Times. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ a b c Grew, Tony (2007-12-29). "Gordon Ramsay 50th most popular gay icon". Pink News. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help) Cite error: The named reference "pinklist" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Abernethy, Michael (2006-11-16). "Queer, Isn't It?: Gay Icons: Judy Who?". PopMatters. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ Land, Jon (2007-05-01). "Kylie is 'greatest gay icon' of all time". 24dash.com. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ a b c d http://www.afterelton.com/people/2007/9/gayicons?page=0%2C2
  16. ^ Dunn, Andrew (2001-12-25). "Review: 'Dietrich' beautiful photo collection". CNN.com. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ "Gay icon Paris Hilton given prison sentence", PinkNews.co.uk, 2007-05-05, retrieved 2007-10-04 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  18. ^ a b c d e f Lypchuk, Donna (1999-06-24). "Gay icons of the 20th century". Eye Weekly. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  19. ^ "DISH & GOSSIP". Express Gay news. June, 2005. Retrieved 2007-09-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  20. ^ "La Toya Jackson Learns Life's Lessons". gaywired.com. June 2005. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  21. ^ "Cyndi Lauper to Perform at National Forum". Equality Forum press release. 2005-02-24. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  22. ^ "Diva Annie Lennox Sings… Live…". GTMagazine. September, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  23. ^ Leboeuf, Tony (2005-05-03). "Be My Idol". Time Out. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  24. ^ a b "Lesbian and Gay Icons". Retrieved 2007-07-24.
  25. ^ May, Leigh (2006-08-24). "Debbie Reynolds To Say Goodbye". GenerationQ.com. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Wieder, Judy (May 11, 1999), "Stop! In the name of love", The Advocate, retrieved 2008-01-11 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  27. ^ May, Leigh (11 May, 2006). "Baby One More Time: Gay icon Britney Spears is pregnant". PinkNews.co.uk. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "Joss, Lionel & Jimmy Play Dublin...", ShowBiz Ireland, April 11, 2004, retrieved 2007-11-26 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  29. ^ "Welcome to Spiceworld!". The Vancouver Sun. December 7, 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-09. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  30. ^ "THE ESCAPE ARTIST". Instinct Magazine. January, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  31. ^ "Superman: Gay Icon? Christ Figure?". CBS news. 2006-06-16. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Pramaggiore, Maria (February 1997). "Fishing For Girls: Romancing Lesbians in New Queer Cinema". College Literature. 24 (1): 59–75. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  33. ^ Kennedy, Elizabeth Lapovsky (1994). Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community. New York: Penguin. pp. 212–213. ISBN 0-1402-3550-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ Blackman, Inge (1990). "Skirting the Issue: Lesbian Fashion for the 1990s". Feminist Review (34): 67–78. Retrieved 2007-02-09. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ Halberstam, Judith (1998). Female Masculinity. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. p. 330. ISBN 0-822-32243-9.
  36. ^ Ortega, Teresa. "'My Name is Sue! How do you do?': Johnny Cash as Lesbian Icon". In Tichi, Cecilia (1998). Reading Country Music: Steel Guitars, Opry Stars, and Honky-Tonk Bars. Durham, NC: Duke University Press. p. 222. ISBN 0-8223-2168-8.
  37. ^ "Gay Montmartre Tour". Retrieved 2007-08-01.
  38. ^ France, David (February 2007). "Dying to come out:The war on gays in Iraq". GQ magazine. Retrieved 2007-02-07.
  39. ^ "Abhishek ready to be gay icon". MSN.co.in. 2006-09-05. Retrieved 2007-02-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  40. ^ "Gay Icon Embarrassment". Asian News.co.uk. 2006-11-24. Retrieved 2007-01-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  41. ^ "Becks is a gay icon". Fox Sports. 2005-07-15. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  42. ^ "Lesbian tennis star becomes a pioneer for women's rights". 2006-04-26. Retrieved 2007-01-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  43. ^ Bridgeman, Joan (January, 2000). "Diana Has Not Gone Gentle Into That Good Night". Contemporary Review. Retrieved 2007-01-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ "Invisibility: Gay Icons in U.S. History". panel event. Equality Forum 2005. 26 April 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-16.
  45. ^ a b c Flynn, Paul (2006-05-16). "Margret Thatcher: Gay Icon". The Guardian. Retrieved 2007-01-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ Labruce, Bruce (2000-04-13). "In praise of the Bitch Goddess". Retrieved 2007-01-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  47. ^ Foster, David William. Sexual Textualities: Essays on Queer/Ing Latin American Writing. University of Texas Press. ISBN 0-2927-2501-9.
  48. ^ [Putin the Gay Icon]; retrieved on 2007-10-14
  49. ^ Sims, Robert (April 26, 2007). "Strange Fruit: Take that, Anita Bryant! The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival is reclaiming the orange". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2007-11-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  50. ^ Rutledge, Leigh W. (2003). The Gay Book of Lists, 3rd Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Alyson Publications. pp. 130–132. ISBN 1-55583-7409.
  51. ^ Ives, Brian (2004-02-24). "Kylie Minogue: Disco's Thin White Dame". VH1.com. Retrieved 2007-01-21. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ Wilson-Smith, Anthony (2000-05-22). "Tammy Faye's Fab Fan Club". Maclean's. p. 7. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  53. ^ Rabey, Steve (2000-10-02). "Tammy Faye, gay icon". Christianity Today. pp. 85–86. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  54. ^ Watts, Jill (2001). Mae West: An Icon in Black and White. New York: Oxford University Press, USA. p. 300. ISBN 0-19-510547-8.
  55. ^ Gross, Michael Joseph (August, 2000). "The Queen is Dead". The Atlantic Monthly. pp. 62–69. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  56. ^ "Madonna: 'I hope I'm still a gay icon'". Gay.com. 2005-10-26. Retrieved 2007-08-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  • Frightening the Horses: Gay Icons of the Cinema, Eric Braun (2002). ISBN 1-903111-10-2
  • 20th Century Icons-Gay, Graham Norton (2001). ISBN 1-899791-77-9
  • Gay histories and cultures, George E. Haggerty (2000). ISBN 0-8153-1880-4
  • The Culture of Queers, Richard Dyer (2002). ISBN 0-415-22376-8

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gay_icon&oldid=189987840"