GQ: Sir Elton John, David Furnish and Sir Ian McKellen among Britain's most powerful men

For the second year, the British edition of GQ magazine has listed Sir Elton John and his partner David Furnish on their list of the most powerful men in Britain. The high profile couple are ranked at number 30 on the list and are the only case where two men share an entry. (Last year the couple shared the number 40 spot.)

This year's issue boasts a couple more gay men new to the list. Sir Ian McKellen comes in at number 98, while Spencer Livermore, Pink News' most powerful gay man in British politics, debuts at number 84.

GQ highlights John's annual fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation (which raised £3.5 million last year) as a contributing factor in his selection, while calling Spencer the Labor Party's "precociously young attack dog". The selection by GQ is less about popularity and prominence than it is a recognition of their accomplishments.

Men like McKellen, John and Furnish are rarities on the list, which largely avoids popular celebrities. Editor Darius Sanai notes that:

"We are becoming more savvy about the cult of empty celebrity. I think five years ago aspiring young gentlemen would have been much more influenced by the sort of celebrities on television. They are now seen as kind of irrelevant and kind of trashy."

Sounds reasonable enough. It takes a special kind of celebrity to demonstrate true power.