I am curious, I can not remember a time anyone has dealt with this top, all of that talent out there. Of course there are some rules.

1. The person must either be a singer, songwriter, artist, musician and band member, no groupies or publishers only. Groups with more than half of their members LGBT are fine.

2. They must have had at least some minor hits (Like at least one chart entry), not just as a drag talent at some clubs only, must be a proper artist.

3. Anywhere in the world is fine (If some one suggests an Egyptian drag queen, it would be pretty cool)

4. They can be gay, lesbian, transgender, transvestite, but I prefer not bisexuals or people who have switched sides like David Bowie (He's great but hes not really a 'gay artist' after the Ziggy period). Same for those who tried it for a while as a fashion accesory like Madonna

5. They have to self identified themselves as LGBT, so we can use ones who were speculated on like Prince or Michael Jackson.

6. Please no hate or Christian right wingers or anyone else being facetious.

7. This is for gay artists only, not gay appeal artists like Lady Gaga (She would be nowhere near the top anyway, her music is childish and frothy pop).

8. They can be dead as well, so Sylvester and others are fine.

9. I will allow the Village people as at least 4 of the 6 were openly gay.

Explain who you think it is and why they are the one.

Some of mine

Boy George

Rufus Wainwright

Sylvester

Village People (See above)

Scissor sisters

KD Lang

Topp Twins (NZ based Lesbian yodelling sisters and country music singers)

I want to see how Rufus Wainwright's body of work continues to evolve

otherwise, I'm not sure.

But I love what you astutely said about Lady Gaga's music.

Where´s George Michael on your list? Don´t you think he´s one of the first that comes to mind, along with Freddie Mercury?

My favorites are :

George Michael[img:$uid]http://www.drfunkenberry.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/george.jpg[/img:$uid]

I like his lyrics, his music, voice and persona, and I think he´s a talented songwriter. I also happen to like his persona, I would like to say personality but I don´t know him, so......

Interestingly, I never really cared much about George Michael when I was younger but eversince the late 90s I find him quite interesting. But now I appreciate his whole body of work, even the older stuff has its moments.

Zeki Müren[img:$uid]http://static.alkislarlayasiyorum.com/images/all_content_thumbnail/new/59/59601_1.jpg[/img:$uid]

I like his voice, his manners, he had style and class, I loved the way he pronounced things and how he spoke, and he did things HIS way and let nobody tell him what to do. Remarkable for a singer who was born and raised in a country like Turkey where homosexuality is much less tolerated than in Europe. He was such a great singer that even the most macho, chauvinistic and conservative Army generals liked him a lot. And even though Zeki Müren had always been a very effeminate man he still went and did his military service. I´m not a fan of the military in any country but I find that remarkable. Plus he always had great hair until the day he died. He´s still one of the most loved singers in Turkey to this day. The nation wept collectively when he passed away in the summer of 1996. Grown folks couldn´t stop crying.

I also liked his flamboyant and daring way to dress and how he would cope with those who didn´t like how he dressed and behaved.Very bold and courageous, IMO, considering the time and place.

[img:$uid]http://www.cosmoturk.com/buyuk/zeki-muren-7.jpg[/img:$uid] His meeting and conversation with Liberace during one of Mr. Müren´s trips to America inspired him a lot during the late 60s, early 70s.

[img:$uid]http://www.cosmoturk.com/buyuk/zeki-muren-6.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://www.cosmoturk.com/buyuk/zeki-muren-10.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://statics.magazinkolik.com/Images/news/z/v/zeki_muren_kostum&.jpg[/img:$uid]

And he also knew A LOT about old, classical Turkish music.

Freddie Mercury

Though I´m not a fan, I think he is definitely the most famous, most iconic and probably one of the most talented gay singers ever.

[img:$uid]http://argeleb.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/freddiemercury.jpg[/img:$uid]

[img:$uid]http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/39955373/Freddie+Mercury+FreddieMercury.jpg[/img:$uid]

That´s it. They are my three favorites, or in my opinion best, but I don´t listen to Queen.

[Edited 1/14/12 17:20pm]

[Edited 1/14/12 17:21pm]

[Edited 1/14/12 17:22pm]

So many rules qualifying for a gay artist!

Elton John. Enough Said.

Who I love, but mostly talking performance / vocalists:

Boy: Freddie Mercury.

Girl: Beth Ditto (The Gossip)

FREDDIE!!!!!

All hail....

I think if there was a VERY close runner up...it would be Elton John. God Bless them both.

its between freddie and george michael

There will never be another one like Luther Vandross.

Im going to throw in Cole Porter who is simply amazing. Granted he's not known as a singer or a musician per se, but his body of work surpasses pretty much everyone else.

Freddie of course and Elton.

Rufus

continues to evolve so and impress.

kd. lang obviously

as well as the indigo girls

and Ani Difranco if is she still considers herself a lesbian.

Of course Pet Shop Boys who are amazing in my book.

Andy Bell.

I'll throw in GM though hes never much impressed me.

Oh and the dude for Magnetic Fields.

Many more which I will add later.

[Edited 1/14/12 20:02pm]

[Edited 1/14/12 20:19pm]

[Edited 1/14/12 22:58pm]

Also refresh my memory didn't Freddie consider himself Bi, thus removing him from this list?

Tittypants said:

George Michael.

Jobriath is on the list. (Look him up)

lazycrockett said:

Also refresh my memory didn't Freddie consider himself Bi, thus removing him from this list?

Yep.

Dren5 said:

George Michael.

That's the only one I could register for all time in my book. Him and Sylvester.

Jobriath was okay, I guess.

[Edited 1/14/12 21:25pm]

... as in happy. We kid, Prince, because we care.

Timmy84 said:

lazycrockett said:

Also refresh my memory didn't Freddie consider himself Bi, thus removing him from this list?

Yep.

Freddie being bi is i think a popular misconception.. I mean there is a famous quote from the man himself in an interview where he said: "I am as gay as a daffodil my dear." (!)

I think the bisexual label flies around because he had a girlfriend in his youth named Mary. After her however he came out as gay and was only into men. He remained friends with Mary though and in his will even left her his house after he died.

sfinky1 said:

Timmy84 said:

Yep.

Freddie being bi is i think a popular misconception.. I mean there is a famous quote from the man himself in an interview where he said: "I am as gay as a daffodil my dear." (!)

I think the bisexual label flies around because he had a girlfriend in his youth named Mary. After her however he came out as gay and was only into men. He remained friends with Mary though and in his will even left her his house after he died.

Freddie was ambiguous about his sexuality though. He had that "I don't give a fuck what you label me" type of personality. He called Mary his "life partner".

[Edited 1/14/12 22:09pm]

From doing a lil research Freddie identified as Bi through out his life. So according to the rules HES OUT.

lazycrockett said:

From doing a lil research Freddie identified as Bi through out his life. So according to the rules HES OUT.

Right. And it ain't like he's the only bisexual to only date men after a relationship with a woman. But that's for another topic...

Oh lordy me how could I forget Jimmy Sommervile.

bad gay bad.

lazycrockett said:

Oh lordy me how could I forget Jimmy Sommervile.

bad gay bad.

lol good contender indeed.

This dude right here:

Sings his ass off.

lazycrockett said:

Im going to throw in Cole Porter who is simply amazing. Granted he's not known as a singer or a musician per se, but his body of work surpasses pretty much everyone else.

Freddie of course and Elton. Rufus continues to evolve so and impress. kd. lang obviously as well as the indigo girls and Ani Difranco if is she still considers herself a lesbian.

Of course Pet Shop Boys who are amazing in my book. Andy Bell, I'll throw in GM though hes never much impressed me.

Oh and the dude for Magnetic Fields.

Many more which I will add later.

[Edited 1/14/12 20:02pm]

[Edited 1/14/12 20:19pm]

From what I read, Ani DiFranco has been and always considered herself bisexual.

anc282 said:

This dude right here:

Sings his ass off.

Forgot about him...

N if this guy makes it. We have it.

Still hands down Cole Porter wins.

Totally forgot bout that fag Micheal.