Vote now in AfterElton.com's survey of the best gay TV characters of all time

That's right, folks: in our continued celebration of the gayest gaynesses of entergaynment, we're running a readers' choice survey for the 25 Best Gay/Bi Television Characters of All Time. (Yes, ALL TIME. Even before there was television. That's how seriously we take this.)

It's so easy to play: all you need to do is head on over to the poll page, select up to ten of your favorite nominees (or write in your own, if we somehow missed one) and sit back and wait to become a part of gay pop culture history. You can also comment with your choices to egg on your fellow contributors or lobby for your faves. Voting is already fast and furious, so it's anyone's game right now.

To help get your noodles unspooling, here are my top ten picks...

Luke Snyder, As the World Turns
Yes, I have to place Oakdale's Alpha Gay Teen at the top of my list just for being his feisty, uncompromising, perfectly-tousled self. He can be a bit of a goody-goody, sure, but he's also got a solid head on his shoulders and he's not out to hurt anyone, which is a rarity for both soaps and for teen gay characters in general. Aided immensely by the great work of actor Van Hansis.

Enrique Ricky Vasquez, My So Called Life
I have to admit, I missed most of this series the first time around, but the one episode I caught was the Christmas episode, which ripped me apart. Ricky was a good kid in a tough spot, and he brought the plight of countless gay kids across the country into living rooms everywhere. Great show, great job by Wilson Cruz, great character.

Keith Charles, Six Feet Under
Sure, we all loved those nutty, fragile Fishers, but I was always saying, "but what about KEITH? What's KEITH doing right now?" David's droopy-dog realism was countered beautifully by Keith's at times maniacal idealism, which made for some explosive fights and some hot make-up sessions. Keith didn't settle for less, and he made us wonder if we couldn't do the same.

Brian the Assistant, The Larry Sanders Show
I've loved Scott Thompson since I got my adult teeth, and seeing him out of sketch comedy and playing an affable gay character in a ego-driven behind-the-scenes TV spoof was heaven, and way ahead of its time.

Chuck Noblet, Strangers With Candy
My love affair with Stephen Colbert began with his brilliantly funny portrayal of sadistic closeted teacher Chuck Noblet, a man who could deliver a homophobic barb to his own lover and take a hot pizza to the face with the same inblinking, awe-inspiring comic bravado. This guy was the grade-A example of what NOT to be when you grow up, and he made that lesson as funny as it has any right to be.

Marc St James, Ugly Betty
As much as I want to hate Marc, his vulnerability is so close to the surface that more than anything I just want him to grow up and come through everything okay (his painful coming out to his mother really made me feel for the guy). But in the meantime I'll enjoy his hilarious quips, over-the-top dramatics and shameless brown-nosing.

Nat Ginzburg, Oz
Oz was awesome. But although I loved the central Beecher/Keller relationship, to me it was about a straight man and a psychopath who found comfort in one another's arms. Doomed drag con Nat, on the other hand, lived his life on his own terms to the very end, when he asked Sister Peter Marie to help with his nails the night before his execution (for killing a mafia boss in his cell). Even in full make-up, Nat was ballsy and tough as they came, and died with dignity, and I loved that (it also didn't hurt that the legendary Charles Busch played the role to the hilt).

David Fisher, Six Feet Under
David was a hot mess, but he was hard not to love (which goes for every member of that family).

Andrew Wells, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Andrew's a tough one: for one, he wasn't technically gay, at least admittedly, although he had every earmark of a gay teen struggling with his sexuality. And even more so, his apparent love for the insidious Warren led him to do all sorts of terrible, evil things to the Scooby Gang. But that kind of vulnerability had never been explored in a gay teen to that dramatic an extent, and with that much humor and sensitivity, and it stuck. 

Steve, The Sarah Silverman Program
One of the newest entries on the list, Steve is great because he has no bones about his sexuality yet doesn't seem compelled to identify with anything beyond the fact that he's in love with his boyfriend, Brian. Steve's usually the butt of the joke (sometimes literally) but he takes everything in stride and doesn't have a malicious bone in his body, which is quite a rarity for the show.