Gay Icons of the 21st century

What makes an Icon? Does an Icon need to be representative of the entire collective, or is it OK for a panel of people to get together and decide for us?
This week in the Independent an interesting article surfaced, telling us gays just who our icons are.


"A panel of high-profile gay figures including Sir Elton John, Billie Jean King, Lord Ali and Sir Ian McKellen have selected 60 of their most inspirational figures, be they openly lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, repressed or none of the above, to feature in an exhibition opening at the National Portrait Gallery in London in July..."
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/the-top-gay-icons-straight-up-1655362.html

I have mixed sentiments about the panel to start with. Elton John, is hardly representative of the mainstream Gay community. His infamous tantrums, gaudy display of wealth and self-aggrandising pontifications aside, the man recently sang for Rush Limbaugh, one of America's most obnoxious, right wing, hate filled shock-jocks, at his fourth wedding (yes he's adamant that marriage is sacred and therefore for heterosexuals only, hence him generously and repeatedly demonstrating how to get married, just in case his red-neck followers haven't figured out how to do it yet). http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jun/08/elton-john-rush-limbaugh
Whether Elton John's fee went to the Elton John Aids Foundation or not, his choice of donor certainly is not representative of the views of the majority of Gays I know in the States, let alone here in the UK. I'd argue that his choice of Gay Icon isn't exactly representative either: Elton, wrapped up in his own little world, elected his (straight) lyricist Bernie Taupin as Gay Icon.  Seriously. Unless you're a fan, would you know who Bernie Taupin is? Thought not. Clearly Elton considers his music to be of great cultural importance to the gay community and Mr Taupin's contribution therefore must also be recognised. Sheesh!
That said, the inclusion of the likes of Joe Orton, Virginia Woolf and Bessie Smith are welcome, if only to highlight a sense of gay cultural history.


Weirdly enough, there once was a time when we were told that the Wombles were the new gay icon. 
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/sandy-nairne-they-dont-begin-and-end-with-kylie-minogue-and-judy-garland-1655363.html

Admittedly, this was back in 2000 when we were just getting over the Y2K panic (our brains must have been scrambled) and we were being informed by Jeremy Joseph a club promoter here in London and Boyz magazine, a gay rag aimed at twinks, muscle marys and other sceney types (seriously, if you get your information from ridiculous sources, your information is going to be ridiculous - Fox watchers take note). I love the irony of a group of furry, portly types being the Gay Icons of the mainstream, preened and waxed gay scene, while the Bear community's idols include muscled, ripped A-list-bears, their fur carefully tweezed and plucked to acceptable levels (overheard in a bear bar recently: "I love fur I do and I know I shouldn't care, but when it's on their backs, ugh!" and this from the hairiest man in sight). 


So, at least this new list includes real people, rather than fictitious characters, whether they are of true iconic status or otherwise. It makes for an interesting list and I'll go see the exhibition and report back...


In the mean time, feel free to comment, letting me know who your gay icons are. Tom Ford, Jonathon Ive, even Stefani Germanotta spring to mind more readily than Uncle Bulgaria (he's the leader of the Wombles, my US friends). Maybe it's time we created our own list...