This book looks at dozens of entertainers who have been hailed as gay icons, and wonders what they indicate about gay culture in particular and society in general. Many superstars, divas, bad girls and femmes fatales are examined, along with their enduring appeal among gays. What are gay icons? How are gay icons formed? What are the aesthetic and political functions of gay icons? What exact roles do they play in the gay community? How do they contribute to the diffusion of gay culture? How do they contribute to the complexification of sexual identities and gender identities? From Julie Andrews to Mae West, taking in Cher and Britney Spears, Gay Icons innovatively looks at gay icons, not simply to spread their worship—although it does sing their praises—but to scrutinize the very mechanisms of gay iconicity.