Famous and Gay

Happy Pride to everyone:
History of Pride from Wikipedia:

Advocates of gay pride have used history to point to oppression as well as differing levels of acceptance of homosexuality throughout history. The ancient Greeks did not conceive of sexual orientation as a social identifier, as Western societies have done for the past century. Greek society did not distinguish sexual desire or behavior by the gender of the participants, but by the extent to which such desire or behavior conformed to social norms. These norms were based on gender, age and social status. "Lesbian" derives from the name of the island of Lesbos, which was famous for the poet Sappho, who wrote love poetry to female lovers.^[Homosexuality in the ancient Roman Empire is considered to have been widespread but was tempered by the complex social systems of the society.
During Medieval times all forms of sexuality began to be repressed by the church as the message of heaven and hell gained popularity. As technology fell behind, simple luxuries such as clean running water and proper sewage became a thing of the past. This caused horrible conditions and disease. People began to believe that they were suffering from the wrath of God, blaming immorality. Any and all forms of homosexuality became not only shameful but punishable by death.In 390, the first law banning same-sex love was enacted in Rome, making it punishable by death.



Here is a list of Famous Gay Men in History

Alexander the Great  (September 20, 365 BC - June 13, 323 BC)
King of Macedonia and conqueror of the world, he overthrew the Persian Empire and extended his rule from Greece to Egypt and all the way to India. Alexander's achievement laid the foundation for the Hellenistic world, the Roman Empire, and even the spread of Christianity: all the New Testament writings were in Greek as a result of Alexander's influence.  Alexander was said to be extremely handsome. Many portraits of him were made in his life and these Roman copies may be pretty accurate. He was an incredibly athletic and loved strenuous exercise -- he would jump off and back on a chariot moving at full speed. His lover Hephaestion was taller and even more handsome.  The Persian Queen bowed to him instead of Alexander when she was presented to them.  Alexander said to the mortified queen "Never mind, Hephaestion is also Alexander".  

Boy George (June 14, 1961)
British popstar and DJ, whose real name is George O'Dowd. Became famous as a member of popgroup Culture Club, with whom he was reunited in 1998. Boy George was born in Besley Heath (South-London). Hits (with Culture Club): Do you really want to hurt me (1982), Time (1982), Church of the poisened mind (1983), Karma Kameleon (1983), Victims (1983), It's a miracle (1984), The war song (1984), Move Away (1986), (as a solo-artist:)Everything I own (1987), Sold (1987). CD's: Kissing to be clever (1982), Colour by numbers (1983), Waking up with the house on fire (1984), From Luxury to heartache Books: Karma Cookbook (2001), Take it like a man (Autobiography)

 Ellen Degeneres (January 26, 1958)
American actress and comic, born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Ellen started her career as an emcee at a local comedy club in New Orleans. She played the (leading) part of Ellen in the series 'Ellen'. When she came out in 1997 as a lesbian both in the series as well in real life the popularity of the series diminished. Chrysler withdrew its commercials! The 'Puppy episode' in which Ellen had her coming-out received an Emmy-award. Ellen had a relationship with actress Anne Heche. TV: Open House, Laurie Hill, ellen (1994-1998, as Ellen Morgan), The Ellen show (2001-2002, as Ellen Richmond)
Film: Coneheads (1993), Wisecracks (1993), Mr. Wrong (1996), Dr. Dolittle (1998, voice), EDtv (1999), Goodbye lover (1999), The Love letter (1999), Finding Nemo (2003, voice of Dury) Theatre: Ellen DeGeneres in Concert (2002) Books: My point...and I do have one, Love, Ellen: A mother/daughter journey (by her mother Betty Degeneres) CD: Taste this Video: The beginning (2000)

Rupert Everett
(may 29, 1959)
British actor, model and writer born in Norfolk, England.
Britse akteur, model en schrijver; geboren in Norfolk, Engeland.
Films: Another Country (1984), The comfort of strangers (1991), Prêt-à-porter (1994), Cemetery man (1996), My best Friend's wedding (1997), Shakespeare in love (1998), Inspector Gadget (1999), B. Monkey (1999), A midsummer nights dream (1999), An ideal husband (2000), The next best thing (2000), Paragraph 175 (narrator, 2000),Big fat liar (2002)
Books: Hello darling, are you working (1992), The hairdressers from St. Tropez

Robert Gant (July 16, ...)
American actor, born and raised in Tampa, Florida as Robert Gonzalez. TV: Caroline in the city (1997-1998, as Trevor), Popular (2000-2001), (Queer as Folk (2000 - , as Ben Bruckner) Film: Jane Street (1996), Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999), The contract (1999), Fits and starts (2002) 

 Stephen Gately (march 21, 1976)
Member of the popular Irish pop group Boyzone since 1993. Came out publicly on June 15, 1999, after discovering that someone was trying to sell his story to newspapers. Stephen Patrick David Gately, who was born in Dublin, had a Dutch boyfriend: Eloy de Jong. Eloy was a member of a Dutch boys band: Caught in the Act. After his coming out Stephen received many messages of support, for instance by Zoe Ball, Posh Spice and the Backstreet Boys! Stephen was chosen hero of the year 1999 by the readers of Smash Hits! In 2002 Stephen and Eloy broke up their relationship. Hits: (with Boyzone:) Love me for a reason (1995), Key to my life (1995), So good(1995), Father and son (1996), Coming home now (1996), Words (1996), A different beat (1997), Isn't it a wonder(1997), Picture of you (1997), No matter what, (solo:) New beginning (2000), Bright eyes CD's: (with Boyzone:) Said and done (1995), A different beat (1996), By request (best of) (1999), (solo:) New Beginning (2000)
TV: Absolutely Fabulous (Guest appearance in episode Parallax, 2001)

 Randy Harrison
(November 2, 1977)
American actor, born in New Hampshire. He studied theatre and performing arts at the University of Cincinnati's Conservatory of Music College.
Theatre: 1776, Grease, Anything goes, West Side Story
TV: Queer as Folk (USA, as Justin Taylor), Bang, bang, you're dead

Sophie B. Hawkins
(November 1, 1966)
American bisexual singer, born in New York as Sophie Ballantine Hawkins. Gigi Gaston has made a documentary about Hawkins: The cream will rise.
Amerikaanse biseksuele zangeres, geboren in New York als Sophie Ballantine Hawkins. Over Hawkins werd door Gigi Gaston de documentaire 'The cream will rise' gemaakt.
Hits: Damn I wish I was your lover (1992), Right beside you (1995)

Elton John
(march 25, 1947)
British pop singer and composer, born in Pinner, Middlesex, England as Reginald Kenneth Dwight. He began his career writing songs together with lyricist Bernie Taupin. He was the first artist to enter the American Charts with an album at no. 1 and he was the first Rock artist to tour the USSR (in 1979). In 1984 he married Renate Blauel and the marriage lasted 5 years. His tribute to princess Diana 'Candle in the wind' is the best selling single of all times (33 million).Together with lyricist Tim Rice, Elton John has written the lyrics and music for the musicals 'Aida' and 'The Lion King' and the movie 'The Road to Eldorado'.

Hits: Border song (1970), Your song (1971), Crocodile Rock (1972), Daniel (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Don't let the sun go down on me (1974), The bitch is back (1974), Somebody saved my life tonight (1975), Don't go breaking my heart (with Kiki Dee) (1976), Sorry seems to be the hardest word (1976), Song for guy (1979), Blue eyes (1982), I guess that's why they call it the blues (1983), I'm still standing (1983), Nikita (1985), Cry to heaven (1986), Sacrifice (1990), Club at the end of the street (1990), You've got to love someone (1990), Don't let the sun go down on me (live with George Michael)(1991), The one (1992), Runaway train (1992), The last song (1992), True Love (1993, duet with Kiki Dee), Can you feel the love tonight (1994), Circle of life (1994), Candle in the wind (1997), I want love (2001), This train don't stop here anymore (2002)
CD's: Empty sky (1969), Tumbleweed connection (1971), Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player (1972), Goodbye yellow brick road (1973), A single man (1978), Love songs (1983), Ice on fire (1985), The very best of...(1990), Made in England (1995), The big picture (1997), Chartbusters go pop, One night only (2001), Songs from the West Coast (2001)
Film: The road to Eldorado (voice)

 Leonardo da Vinci
(1452- may 2 1519)
Italian painter, sculptor and architect. Maker of the 'Mona Lisa'.
Italiaanse schilder, beeldhouwer en architekt. Maker van de 'Mona Lisa'

 Freddy Mercury
(September 5, 1946 - 24 November 1991)
British popstar, born in Zanzibar, Iran as Faroukh Bulsara. Leadsinger of the popgroup Queen and he also did some solo recordings. Mercury died of Aids.

 George Michael
(June 25, 1963)
British singer and songwriter, whose real name is Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou. He was born in London and started his singing career together with Andrew Ridgeley in the popgroup Wham!. He at last had his public coming out in 1998, after being caught by policeman Marcello Rodriguez with his pants down. The video of the song 'Outside' was his reaction to this arrest. Rodriguez later claimed a large financial compensation because he was traumatized and humiliated by the behaviour of George Michael.

 Sinead O'Connor
(December 8, 1966)
Irish singer, born in Dublin. Sinead has a son (Jake) and a daughter (Roisin).
Ierse zangeres, geboren in Dublin. Sinead heeft een soon (Jake) en een dochter (Roisin).
Hits: Troy (1987), Mandinka (1988), Nothing compares to you (1990), The emporers new clothes (1990), Succes has made a failure of our home (1992)

 Rosie O'Donnell
(march 21, 1962)
American actress, comedienne and TV-host, born in Commack, New York. Rosie has adopted four children: son Parker (may 25, 1995), daughter Chelsea Belle (September 20, 1997), son Blake Christopher (November 1999) and daughter Mia.
Amerikaanse actrice, comedienne en TV-presentator, geboren in Commack, New York. Rosie heeft 4 kinderen geadopteerd: zoon Parker (25 mei 1995), dochter Chelsea Belle (20 September 1997), zoon Blake Christopher (November 1999) en dochter Mia.
TV: Gimme a break (1986), Stand up in the spotlight, The Rosie O'Donnell Show (NBC, 1996-2002)
Theatre: Grease (1994, as Rizzo)
Films: A league of their own (1992), Sleepless in Seatle (1993), Another steakout (1993), Exit to Eden (1994), The Flinstones (1994), Now & then (1995), Beautiful girls (1996), Harriet the spy (1996), A very Brady sequel (1996), The twilight of the gold (1997), Wide awake (1998), Tarzan (1999)

 Peter Paige
American actor, theatre director and playwright, born in West Hartford, Connecticut. He studied at the Boston University's School of Theatre arts.
TV: Queer as folk (USA, as Emmett Honeycutt)
Film: Joyriders (1999), Pop, The four of us (2001)
Theatre: Secret agents, Twisted, Pantophobia, High Concepts, Tartuffe, Les Deux Precieuses, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Rivals, Blue Window, You’re A Good Man Charlie Brow

 Linda Perry
(April 15, 1965)
American singer, became famous as the singer of '4 Non Blondes', who had a hit with "What's up'. Later she started a solo career. She was born in Springfield, Massachusets.
Amerikaanse zangeres, werd bekend als de zangeres van '4 Non Blondes', die een hit hadden met "What's up". Later is ze solo gegaan. Ze is geboren in Springfield, Massachusets.
Hits: What's up (1993), Spaceman (1993)

 Dusty Springfield
(April 16, 1939 - march 1, 1999)
British singer, born as Mary Isabel Catherine Bernadette O'Brien. Dusty started her singing career in The Lana Sisters and later with her brother Tom in The Springfields. She died of cancer in Henly-on-Thames.
Hits: Island of dreams (The Springfields) (1963), I just don't know what to do with myself (1964), You don't have to say you love me (1966), Son of a preacher man (1968), What have I done to deserve this (1987, with The Pet Shop Boys), Nothing has been proved (1989), In private (1990)

 Michael Stipe
(January 4, 1960)
American bisexual singer of the popgroup REM and actor, born in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur.
Amerikaanse biseksuele leadzanger van de popgroep REM en akteur, geboren in Decatur, een voorstad van Atlanta.
Hits: Losing my religion (1991), Shiny Happy People (1991), Radio song (1991), Drive (1992), Man on the moon (1992), Everybody hurts (1993), What's the frequency, Kenneth (1994), Bang and blame (1994), Strange currencies (1995), E bow the letter (1996)

 Gianni Versace
(December 2, 1946 - July 15, 1997)
Italian fashion designer, who was born in Reggio Calabria. Was murdered in front of his house in Miami by Andrew Cunanan.

 Will Young
(January 20, 1979)
British singer, born in Hungerford, Berkshire, as William Robert Young. Will went to Exeter University and is currently at The Arts Educational School in Chiswick. He was the winner of the 2002 BBC TV contest 'Pop Idol' and his first record became the fastest-selling debut single in UK history.
Hits: Anything is possible / Evergreen (2002), Light my fire (2002)


and finally

Ricky Martin
(dec 24, 1971)
Enrique Martín Morales (born December 24, 1971) better known by his stage name Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy bandMenudo, then as a solo artist after 1991.
On March 29, 2010, Martin publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in a post on his official web site by stating, "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."Martin said that "these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed. In 2010, prior to Ricky Martin coming out, Barbara Walters expressed some regret for pushing Martin—in a 2000 interview—to admit if he was gay. The Toronto Star quoted her as saying, "When I think back on it now, I feel it was an inappropriate question."





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