Updated September 23, 2021 29.3K votes 3.4K voters 299.8K views
Gay icons from the world of film come in all shapes and sizes. Some are film actors who work to promote gay rights. Gay icons of the movies have had successful careers acting, directing, or writing. There are even several Academy Award winners on this list of the greatest gay icons in film.
Jessica Alba has been embraced by the gay community for supporting gay rights and same-sex marriage. Many other famous actresses who have become gay film icons include Judy Garland, Liza Minelli, and Barbra Streisand. Several great film directors are gay icons as well. Precious director Lee Daniels is openly gay, as are Hairspray director John Waters, and Milk director Gus Van Sant.
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Jodie Foster publicly came out in 2013 during her Golden Globes acceptance speech, saying, "I already did my coming out about 1,000 years ago back in the stone age, those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and co-workers, and then gradually and proudly to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met."
The Advocate called Judy Garland "the Elvis of homosexuals." The term "Friend of Dorothy" was developed after the release of The Wizard of Oz, in reference to the gay community. Many gay people related with Dorothy's experience going from the black and white world of Kansas to the utopia that was Oz. The rainbow flag may have even been inspired by Garland's song from the film, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Julie Andrews became a gay icon with her classic portrayals of popular musical characters. When asked about her fan base, she said, "I’m that odd mixture of, on the one hand, being a gay icon and, on the other, having grandmas and parents grateful I’m around to be a babysitter for their kids."
