THE MEN OF THE DECADE
Of course, even more important than out gay characters are actual out gay people. And for better or worse, in our celebrity driven era, the actors, singers, reality stars, writers and other performers who entertain us, get a lionshare of the attention. And that includes the gay and bisexual ones. Naturally, some of those men do more with their fame than others, and when it comes to gay visibility, some have been out for much longer than others and discuss it more freely.

I became editor of AfterElton.com a little more than halfway through the decade and that has afforded me not only the chance to think and write about the issue, but to actually speak with a number of the most visible members of our community.

Here are the ones who have most impressed me not with just how out they are, but what they have done with their celebrity and how they handle the spotlight. Call them my pop culture Men of the Decade. 

#1

John Barrowman I just finished reading John's latest book I Am What I Am (full disclosure: John sent me an autographed copy of the book) and it reminded me exactly why I so admire John Barrowman: He is completely out and proud, takes no crap from anyone about his sexuality, and absolutely lives his life to the fullest without apology.

Barrowman is also more than happy to get involved in gay causes and raises gay visibility in all sorts of provocative ways (see The Making of Me). Even better, he always speaks out against homophobia and makes folks sit up and pay attention because he's a star. He's also a happily partnered man who loves the idea of some gay kid in Wales or Wisconsin seeing how proudly John lives his life and that by doing so, he just might be helping that kid. 

Barrowman is also the most genuinely appreciative star I've ever met. He knows how unlikely and hard it is to have a hit show, much less one that has made him a name around the world. He never forgets how lucky he is, he's never full of himself and he never fails to thank those that have given him so much — his fans. Us gay and bisexual fans are especially lucky to have him out there representing us. 

#2

Cheyenne Jackson Pretty much everything I just said about John is just as true of Cheyenne Jackson. And what makes me especially admire Cheyenne is that staying in the closet probably would have benefited him professionally more than most.

While I'd like to believe that his coming out in 2004 hasn't had its cost, the fact of the matter is with classic looks, acting chops and stunning voice, Cheyenne could have a real shot at that holy grail (for some) of acting: leading man status in major motion pictures. By pretending to be straight, Cheyenne could have increased those odds, but that simply wasn't an option for him. If there is any justice in the world, Mr. Jackson will still be the gay man to make that particular breakthrough.

And remember what I said above about Barrrowman being the most appreciative star I've ever met? Let's call it a tie between these two!

#3

Neil Patrick Harris Back in 2006, when Neil Patrick Harris quickly took back his publicist's statement that Harris "was not of that persuasion" and promptly  told the world he was actually a content gay man (and fired that publicist), gay guys around the world cheered.

And ever since then, Harris has demonstrated how to be gay in the public eye in a country that can still be less than 100% accepting. He doesn't browbeat folks with the fact, but when it comes to interviews, Harris brings up his relationship with David Burtka just as casually and naturally as Angelina Jolie mentions Brad Pitt. I confess it still makes me smile whenever I see Neil and David together on the red carpet at some event.

And I'll repeat a story I've told before about Harris. At a Television Critics Association event a few years ago, I watched him stand in a throng of reporters for close to three hours answering their (frequently) inane questions over and over again in the most polite and professional of ways. Yeah, that's how all celebrities should behave, but trust me, they don't. 

#4

Patrik-Ian Polk As a sometimes novelist myself, I can tell you making a living in the arts is hard. I mean seriously hard. And trying to publish gay novels was even harder, So I can only imagine the hell Polk went through in trying to bring Noah's Arc, his tale of friendship among four black men, to life first on TV and then at the movies.

The fact that he did so, and finally gave gay men of color one television show they could call their own, is a testament to his tenacity and determination. And before you start whining about the show's perceived shortcomings, keep in mind the odds Polk beat to make Noah's Arc happen — not to mention the tiny budget he did it with. 

Being the first to achieve something is always a feat and my hat is off to Polk for what he accomplished this past decade. Here's hoping he gets his chance to do even more in the next ten years.

#5

George Takei When George Takei came out in 2005, it might have felt like yet another actor in the twilight of his career finally telling the truth when he didn't have so much at stake professionally. While Takei's coming out not only gave his career a nice boost, it gave us another gay man of color as well as a great new activist.

Famous around the world for his iconic role of Mr. Sulu on Star Trek, Takei used his newfound fame to become a a very vocal activist on gay issues, especially that of same-sex marriage. He's also done a wonderful job of proving that there is life after the age of sixty, something us younger gay men can often seem to forget.

#6

Adam Lambert, Nick Rodriguez, Scott Evans, Nick Adams, Jonathan Groff and everyone else under 30 who are out and proud. Choosing these men — and all the other young actors, writers and entertainers who are already out — for recognition is as much about looking toward the next decade as it is about looking back at the last.

Life is always about the old passing on to the baton to the young who will build on what came before them. As I mentioned earlier, little makes me happier about the past decade than to see how many gay and bisexual men are coming out at such young ages. One of the true highlights next year is going to be watching Jonathan Groff play a love interest for Rachel on Glee because its one more nail in the coffin of the trope that gay men can't play straight love interests.

See, we are getting there!

Enough about what I think. Who would you pick as the Gay/Bisexual Man of the Decade? (Just a reminder, we are talking about popular culture here, not politics or gay activism with many wonderful out gay men making their mark there.) And if I forgot someone you think should be there, just write their name in.

Next page! The decades best — and worst — in cinema!