Video Blogs
TV Shows:
Find Articles On:
Who's onlineThere are currently 25 members and 916 guests online.
|
What Does It Take to Be a Gay Icon Today?
But gay men have also been understanding of men who, working in the public eye in historical periods when being out was almost unheard of, managed to cultivate images that undermined conventional notions of masculinity — men like Liberace, Paul Lynde, and Charles Nelson Reilly. In a very different way, Rock Hudson became an icon after news of his diagnosis with AIDS brought the disease to the attention of a mainstream American public and demonstrated how a movie star with all the physical attributes of a matinee idol could also be gay. Similarly, one of the most well known gay icons of the 70s and 80s was Brad Davis, who died at the age of 41 of assisted suicide after a six-year battle with AIDS. Davis was married for the final 12 years of his life, and during his lifetime, never identified himself as gay or bisexual. However, there were always rumors — and many more emerged after his death — about his promiscuous, hard-partying lifestyle. Significantly, he was never particularly perturbed about these rumors, and on stage and screen acted a number of gay and gay friendly roles, particularly in Midnight Express (1978) and Querelle (1982), in which he played a gay sailor.
Today, there are a number of actors who have earned iconic status by demonstrating not only a willingness to play gay, but a clear comfort level with it and with their gay fans — actors like Brokeback Mountain’s (2005) leading men, some (but not all) of the Queer as Folk cast, and Brothers & Sisters' Matthew Rhys. On the other hand, gay men have no patience today for actors whose fervent protestations about their sexuality hint at a disquieting homophobia. That’s why certain big-time movie stars often on the cover of People didn’t make the Hot 100 list and will never be considered icons. An actor who, rather than embarking on a lengthy court proceeding to defend his heterosexuality, can graciously laugh off rumors and occasionally play a sympathetic gay part are far more likely to earn respect from the gay community. Still, the quickest route to iconicity is to come out of the closet, and to do it with intelligence, openness, and self-respect. That’s why in the past year alone Lance Bass, George Takei, Neil Patrick Harris, and T.R. Knight have hit the icon list.
Knight brings us back full circle to Grey’s Anatomy and the Katherine Heigl question. Her outspoken, unwavering support of Knight — fully evidenced at the Emmys by her embrace of him on her way to receive her award — is surely another key element in her burgeoning iconicity. Now if only some enterprising drag queen would start doing Izzie the Intern.
Submitted by on Tue, 2007-09-25 08:37. |
 Recent Comments
Recent blog posts
|
Welcome to AfterElton.com!
- Login
- Join Now!
News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media
Love Katherine Heigl!
I've been a huge fan of her ever since the Disney Channel Original Movie "Wish Upon A Star", and fell in love with her on Roswell. And, of course, am loving her on Grey's. I don't know if I would call her a gay icon, but she's definitely MY icon.
And Gina Gershon is, of course, my sistah.
Hell, I love everyone mentioned in this article. I guess I really am just an old queen after all. BRING ON THE LADIES!
Ah... Roswell!
Fascinating Topic
I love Katherine Heigl, but I think it's a tad early to confer Gay Icon status on her. And as much as I adore Tori Spelling and Sarah Jessica Parker and the Sex in the City girls it's too early for them too.
True iconic status should be rated in mileage and maturity. Leave us not forget that Judy's legendary Carneige Hall concert came at a moment when she was considered not only "washed-up," but on the verge of checking out. So she gets out on that stage and gives a perfomance that has never been equalled, much less topped by anyone. And what did she say to her fans as she headed into the many encores? "I'll sing 'em all and we'll stay all night!" IOW a very high bar for anyone with Gay Icon dreams to so much as consider jumping over.
And it should be noted that, in general, male icons don’t seem t
One of the essays in Gay SPirit Myth and Meaning tackles this very statement by suggesting that in many preChristian societies gay men where high priests and pirestesses of the Great Mother goddess. Could our modern attraction to strong powerful female celebritires just be an extension of past spirtual connection to Great Mother of our past?
"You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her. She was meant to be wooed and won by youth. " Churchill
Frankly I Have Never Understood
gay mens fascination with Judy Garland. I loved the Wizard of Oz but to me Judy Garland was a troubled, self-destructive person, that is not somebody I could ever truly admire or idolize. Perhaps it is because in my life I have been around people like her. They suck the life right out of you.
I prefer admiring people who overcome great obstacles to survive and thrive, who create great art, or make a positive change to society. For example, Beethoven overcoming deafness to create beautiful music, or Winston Churchill who battled clinical depression before he battled Hitler. Just my opinion.
Cheers
JBE
jbe...
I Thought She
was a great talent who died too young (similar to Marilyn Monroe). I remember coming out in the 80's when there still some Judy obssessed gay men around, she had good reason to be a bit worried!
Cheers
JBE
Katherine Heigl is an icon
Katherine Heigl in my eyes became and automatic gay icon, when she stood up for knight, not caring about how much trouble she could get into, after the Washington fiasco at the Emmies. I never seen a straight actor our public figure stand up for us the way she did so unconditionally, while the other actor on the show remain quiet. Love her.
Talent And Longevity Is A Big Plus For Me. . .
. . .I think that's why we embraced those stars such as Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, et.al. because they had that star quality spark that made them bigger than life. . .and yes, they were tough, especially in this wild and wacky wonderful business called show. They kept rising above the setbacks and answers of "No!" hurled their way.
Time will tell if Ms. Katherine can continue to generate a strong and long career, or will she just be a one-note samba twenty years down the road.
Let us see. . .
Tom
Been there, done that, bought the soundtrack!
We all have our own icons.
For example, I hold Kate Winslet up to icon status both because of her stunning range as an actress as well as for her fearlessness, not only in the roles that she plays but in her determination to be herself and not conform to Hollywood's standards.
Where is Elizabeth Berkley a gay icon?
Where is MADONNA???
I can understand the love
I can understand the love for Katie Heigl as I adore her myself as a straight woman. Not only did she fully support TR she did so at the risk of her standing with the TPTB. ABC issued an "advisory" to the cast to remain quiet about the controversy and not to interfere with its efforts to rehabilitate Isaiah Washignton's image and to gloss over serious issues involving his conduct. She spoke directly to the press about her displeasure of Washington's actions and shown repeated skepticism over his supposed transformation.
Also during contract negotiations with Disney/ Touchstone she left when the offers were unsatisfactory. When this was leaked to the press she boldly pointed out this action as an intimidation tactic from a corporate entity. This seemed reminsicent of the battles Joan Crawford and Bette Davis had with their studios.
Now Katie is reportedly forming a production company because she's dissatisified with the weak roles available to women. Hopefully this can take flight and generate more quality material in Hollywood. Perhaps, she can have a long, good career.
Most of all if she involves TR in the process and give him a chance to have opportunities often denied an out actor then she should be able to earn her status as a gay icon. Otherwise it is too early to have a clear forecast.