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.

A new project aimed to provide positive gay role models for British teens compiles tips from Sir Ian McKellen, Doctor Who creator Russell T Davies, former NBA'er John Amaechi, The Gossip's Beth Ditto and more on topics ranging from dealing with bullies to entrepreneurship.

The pocket-sized resource guide is meant to inspire gay youths to overcome stigma and achieve personal and financial success and to embrace their sexuality as a unique trait rather than view it as a barrier to their goals. Aptly titled LGF's Inspirational Guide for Young LGB People (LGF is Manchester-based charity the Lesbian and Gay Forum), the resource will no doubt become the Bartlett's Familiar Quotations of the gay gum-snapper set.

Considering how precocious I was as a teen already, I think with this guide's added power I would have morphed into a white-hot supernova of pure moxie. Count your blessings, Mom and Dad!

The next issue of The Advocate celebrates the publication's 40 year history with a cover story in which the mag ranks 40 gay and lesbian icons. Its called "40 Years, 40 Heroes," and we won't spoil the surprise here by telling you who ranks number one. But if you really want to know, after the break we'll offer you two clues.

At any rate, it's a great piece though and we're glad to see included in this list of icons the likes of Pedro Zamora, Mark Bingham, Sir Ian McKellen, and Armistead Maupin.

Interesting to compare the 40 heroes selected by The Advocate to the 31 GLBT icons selected for "National GLBT History Month." The Advocate seems to have picked individuals who may be less well known outside of the gay community (Tony Gill, Randy Shilts, Bayard Rustin) but who are incontrovertibly gay or lesbian.

The issue hits stands soon, or check out after the jump for a few hints about who took the top spot.

• Sir Ian McKellen has taken on Shakespeare's King Lear to great success. The British thespian brings the role to New York in a few weeks, but the Times catches up with him to discuss the very difficult part. And to apparently ogle McKellen while changing. Reports Alan Riding:

(After our conversation this reporter was invited to accompany him while he changed from jeans and sweater into his Lear costume to record a scene used to publicize the production’s Antipodean tour. And, at a glance, it seemed evident that he is an actor who still works out.)

• Perry Moore talks about his new gay teen novel Hero. (Check back soon for our interview with Perry!)
• Editorial cartoonist Tom Toles takes on Larry Craig and anti-gay Republicans-- brilliantly.
  

• Gays in New Jersey help revive town owned by a Methodist organization which in turn won't let them hold their Civil Unions there.
• Larry Craig isn't Idaho's first gay sex scandal.
  
• Laura Mac Donald writes about America's Toe-Tapping Menace.