Since we’re running a poll over on the main page asking folks to vote for their favorites, I thought avatars featuring images of gay TV characters would make nice unifying theme for this week’s avatar race.

By their choice of photo it looks like certain AfterElton.com members have already made up their minds about who they’re going to vote for.

First up we have ghasdakx6 and since that doesn’t exactly roll trippingly off the tongue, I’m gonna call him “Gax” Gax hails from Iran, and has a bit of a thing for Queer As Folk’s Brian Kinney (Gale Harold).

Who knew they got Showtime in Iran?

From his profile we learn that Gax also is a fan of QAF’s Justin (Randy Harrison), Tobie from Dante’s Cove (Charlie David), and Scotty Wandell from Brothers & Sisters (Luke MacFarlane).

Second up is Ben Weldon

Ben hails from Ireland and has a thing for John Barrowman’s Captain Jack. What sort of thing is ambiguous. Either he’s a fan or he’s insanely jealous. Ben, write back and explain your meaning when you say Barrowman’s "outgayed" you.

This week’s winner is snoopypez. For starters, I love his moniker, but then he tops it off with a really kickass photo of Stephen Colbert in a rainbow V-neck. Now, I know you must be saying to yourself that Colbert in his Colbert Report persona is about as gay as, well, Bill O’Reilly, but another Colbert creation does make it onto our gay TV characters list – the funnyman played transparently closeted Chuck Noblet on Strangers with Candy.

So congratulations to runners up Gax & Ben Weldon, and a special tip of the hat to winner snoopypez!

Hey, If you’re a fan of Stephen Colbert like snoopypez, we have a clip you might like after the break. (Most Colbert fans already know he was the voice of Ace in the Ambiguously Gay Duo animated shorts. Last year, Ace & Gary hosted SNL and the opening monologue clip below includes special DVD audio commentary from Colbert and Steve Carell.