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People with a History: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* History Sourcebook

Lesbian and Gay Icons

Editor: Paul Halsall


Contents:

Introduction

Lesbian and gay cultures in the twentieth century have established a number of figures as "icons". These figures, drawn from popular culture, have functioned within lesbian and gay culture in a number of ways: first they have been fantasy figures in which lesbians and gay men have seen aspects of  their own lives; second, they have provided the basis for a common subcultural knowledge.

Although, for gay men, it is female stars who predominate, just to be a female star will not make a figure an "icon" - Ingrid Bergman for instance was never a specifically gay icon. And, although some icons had gay links, e.g. Joan Crawford's reputed lesbian relationship, Liza Minelli's gay husband, homosexuality as such is not really an issue in a star achieving iconic status.

[Note 2023: This part of People with a History has never really been satisfactory. And at this stage, 25 years after it began, the editor is too old to even recognise which stars after 2005 even count. I think Shakira counts, but I could not identify a Taylor Swift song, so the page will always remain both incomplete and somewhat old fashioned. As of 2023 some links to YouTube videos have been added. Note that such links can often go bad - if they do simply search for the subject at YouTube. Links here will only be reviewed rarely.]


Gay Male Icons: US and Britain

Major


Minor


Gay Male Icons: US

Although US culture pervades much of the world outside its borders, there remain some aspects of American culture which are virtually unknown overseas. This includes a number of gay icons.


Gay Male Icons: Britain

Hollywood provided a common set of icons for both British and US gay cultures. There are also entirely homegrown aspects of British showbusiness. Inevitably some of the female figures became icons for British gay culture.

Coronation Street
A long running British TV soap opera [since 1960] set in working-class Manchester. Several of its stars achieved cult status for British gays.

  • Wikipedia: Coronation Street
  • Wikipedia: Pat Phoenix [Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street]
    Reason for Icon Status: The "mutton dressed as lamb" vibe was seen as camp by gay men.
  • Wikipedia: Julie Goodyear [Bet Lynch in Coronation Street]
    Reason for Icon Status:

Gay Male Icons: Other Countries

  • Additions/Suggestions accepted
    Compiling a page such as this requires a certain degree of subcultural knowledge! I have access to this for the UK and Britain, but not for other countries. I would be interested in suggestions for such figures, suggestions which include the following information
    • Name of iconic figure
    • Country in which icon status is appreciate
    • Reason for icon status
    • any known links, other information


Lesbian Icons

  • Additions/Suggestions accepted
    Compiling a page such as this requires a certain degree of subcultural knowledge! I have access to this for gay male subcultures, but much less for lesbian subcultures. Note that I am not looking for Lesbian *stars*, but for figures who have acquired the status of icon, comparable to the Judy Garland cult of gay men. Inlcude
    • Name of iconic figure
    • Country in which icon status is appreciate
    • Reason for icon status
    • any known links, other information
  • Wikipedia: Patsy Cline
    Reason for Icon Status: Use of her music in the film Desert Hearts (1986)
  • Wikipedia: K.D. Lang
    Reason for Icon Status: A leading out Lesbian singer.
  • Wikipedia: Melissa Etheridge
    Reason for Icon Status: A leading out Lesbian singer.
  • Wikipedia: Catherine Deneuve
    Reason for Icon Status: Because of her role in The Hunger 1983. Deneuve actually objected, however, to a Lesbian magazine name after her, which had to change its name to Curve.


General Discussions

Websites


Academic Bibliography

Books are articles about the sociology and history of lesbian and gay subcultural use of iconic figures. Texts about the icons themsleves [biographies, etc.] are excluded.


NOTES

People with a History: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Trans* History Sourcebook is part of the Internet History Sourcebooks Project. Date of inception was 1997. People with a History is a www site presenting history relevant to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered people, through primary sources, secondary discussions, and images. Links to files at other site are indicated by [At some indication of the site name or location]. WEB  indicates a link to one of small number of high quality web sites which provide either more texts or an especially valuable overview.



The Internet History Sourcebooks Project is located at the History Department of  Fordham University, New York. The Internet Medieval Sourcebook, and other medieval components of the project, are located at the Fordham University Center for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in providing web space and server support for the project. The IHSP is a project independent of Fordham University.  Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action.

© Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 11 March 2024 [CV]