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Freddie Mercury occupied a unique niche in rock. While in many respects he was overtly queer his whole career, (“I am as gay as a daffodil, dear” being one of his most famous quotes), his sexual orientation seemed to pass over the heads of scrutinizing audiences and pundits (both gay and straight) for decades. It’s difficult even now to write much about him: when he died, he did not leave an autobiography. There are not many serious, informative interviews with him on record. He didn’t like talking to the press.

The above “daffodil” quote aside, Mercury often referred to himself as “bisexual”, and even left his estate to long time girlfriend Mary Astor. “To me we are married. She (Mary) is my common law wife,” he has been quoted as saying.

Mercury even wove his sexual mystique into his art, recording a cover of Buck Ram’s classic “The Great Pretender” (and appearing in drag in the song’s video):

Oh oh, yes I'm the great pretender
Just laughing and gay like a clown
I seem to be what I'm not you see
I'm wearing my heart like a clown
Too real when I feel what my heart can't conceal

Mercury did not ally himself to political “outness,” or to public GLBT causes. While the general gay audience could always somehow easily identify with the likes of Elton John, George Michael, David Bowie, Boy George, (even when those stars themselves would not acknowledge being gay), many queers were not that familiar with Mercury, since he was more part of the era’s hetero-dominated heavy rock scene.

John Marshall of Gay Times wrote in January 1992: "He was a 'scene-queen', not afraid to publicly express his gayness but unwilling to analyze or justify his lifestyle....It was as if Freddie Mercury was saying to the world, 'I am what I am. So what?' And that in itself was a statement".

It is interesting to note that, all throughout Queen’s 35-year history, Mercury’s flaming behavior never caused the band to seriously incur the wrath of the often homophobic young-white-straight-male rock fans--even after Mercury died of AIDS.

As noted in Mercury's obituary by Adam Sweeting in The Guardian, "It was a measure of the band's professionalism that, in spite of Mercury's flamboyant performances and cross-dressing, they managed to avoid the media witch-hunts which beset others. Mercury dressed as a ballet dancer and a storm trooper and persuaded the whole group to wear drag in the video for 1984's 'I Want To Break Free,' but their reputation emerged enhanced. This was because, behind the togs and the mascara, Mercury possessed unusual musical talent."

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