What does your Music Gay Icon say about you?

Throughout the decades, there have been some standout artists who are taken under the arms of the GLBT community, citing them as icons; Gay Icons.

But who really knows who’s who and why?

Well, after reading some recent articles of what constitutes as a GI, it was only natural to make a list of people who have been immortalized with the title and others who are just beginning to enjoy the perks of being GLBT favorites.

Old-school Icons: Judy Garland and Marilyn Monroe

Some gays cite their youth as the reason of their uninformed ways about these icons, but reality is that those persons simply aren’t old souls. Some are. These two strong and fearless women have had a tremendous impact on gay identity, as perhaps they enforced a forceful female presence, in tragic ways. (Maybe Judy’s gay-Oz-‘rainbow’ fest was enough to place her as the ultimate GI. Is being flamboyant the main requirement to being considered as a GI?)
In years when actors were more like performers, Cary Grant, Lucille Ball and Bette Davis have all been considered GIs for their openness, talent, and obscurity. Maybe the Old-school Icons were based on the guessing game: Are They or aren’t they?

Suffering Icons: Liza Minelli and Joan Crawford

Joan has been described as the "ultimate gay icon — the martyr who suffered for her art, and therefore enabled herself to bond with this all-important faction of her fan-base”, and God knows Liza has had her…issues. This era, which also pertains to Barbra Streisand, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor, is the start of the climb of these considerations, and perhaps the core time when “longevity” starts becoming the reason why the GLBT community takes in these artists. Are the Suffering Icons based on the strength of their careers? Are the successful females and questionable men what the community looks for?

Drag Queen Icons: Cher, Dolly Parton and Elton John

This era is definitely based on how trashy-glamorous stars can look while still being successful. With her unique voice (and attachment to barely-there outfits) Cher is the ultimate Diva-drag, what Drag Queens everywhere dream to become (and the poster-woman for straight parents with GLBT children). It’s not hard to look like Cher, if you are a man or woman, because of the attainable over-the-top wigs and make-up. Elton too, the queero, and Dolly, let’s not get started. How about androgynous and sexual Freddy Mercury and David Bowie? But these artists add longevity to their status, AND their involvement with human rights, and GLBT issues. Drag Queen Icons shine the light on their costumes but also deep within their bitchy, colorful and caring hearts.

80’s Strong, Quirky, Disco Icons: Cyndi Lauper, Madonna and Janet Jackson

The appeal of these females was their effortless ways to cause commotion, whether they were singing about masturbation, writhing around ‘like a virgin’ and choreographing dance routines that could rival Michael Jackson any day (du’h! they are related). These girls have been in the spotlight since, and with ups and downs, acclaimed works and quickly dismissed public stunts, have brought the music, the dance, the movies, the tours, the nasty stuff, but also the support. Both Madonna and Cyndi have been occupied with supporting GLBT issues throughout their careers, which is why people are quick to say they are still successfully around because of the Gay status and support. These icons endure, showcase, fall flat on their faces, and support: the SQDIs stick around and don’t pretend to care.

Girl Power & Shirtless Boy Icons: Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and Kylie Minogue

Pop music explodes and a sh*tload of artists, groups and solo, appear from everywhere inundating the scene and giving gay kids everywhere something to listen to outside of grunge and hip-hop. Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey both enjoyed success from the 80s into the 90s (respectively) and alongside Shania Twain and Celine Dion make power ballads a hit, and become best selling artists everywhere. Pop groups galore, with Spice Girls bringing their ‘girl power’ essence (Halliwell ‘It doesn’t matter if you’re gay, straight, black, white, poor, a king…we are all royalty’) and BSB bring their wet torsos while others like Ricky Martin, Robbie Williams, Take That, *NSYNC and 98 Degrees try to win us over with their homoerotic ways. Kylie Minogue traces Madonna before Britney ever hit puberty, with her re-invention and success worldwide. These icons ride on the success of previous inclusion, and start the pop-teenager-sexual revolution.

Today’s Icons: Britney, Christina, P!nk, Beyonce and Jennifer Hudson

Some of us are connected with feminism and how it has had an effect on gay identity, some of us are simply mesmerized by strong women on top, and some are just infected by such catchy and danceable beats! All of these artists pay close attention to previous icons, and blast us with their sexuality. Both Spears and Aguilera copy Madge, while they try to stamp their own uniqueness to their work, but ride high on the “I’m wearing the pants” motto. While P!nk stays on the open-bisexual-political-rock side, Knowles maintains her puritan (ass shaking) ways, and Jennifer Hudson becomes the outcast with the big voice.

So what is so special about Gay Icons nowadays? Some icons are so questionable when we know the GLBT “disposable” income is what companies are after. It’s clear to see which ones have done things to help the community, and which ones simply sing to the community for hard, cold cash. Nonetheless, the times differ, as we all, and each individual has an artist that speaks to them, loud and queer.

Other Gay icons: ABBA, Bette Midler, Rufus Wainwright, Donna Summer, Reba McEntire, Shakira, Sting, Miguel Bose, Julio Iglesias, Olivia Newton-John, Debbie Harry, Gwen Stefani, and George Michael.