# Is Sir Elton John the most Famous Gay man? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 17, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214 "2003-01-17T13:55:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/1 "2003-01-17T13:55:49Z")
Ok I have been debating this with my wife for quite a while. She is a die-hard Elton John / Billy Joel fan. And whenever they play close to us - CT - we go to their concerts. Actually they are pretty good. We had the chance to be at the Concert for New York and that was fantastic. Anyway, Mrs.Phlosphr always tells me Elton John is the most famous Gay man alive… Is that true? Because this is a matter of opinion I put it here, but if this should be somewhere else mods, please let me know. So what do dopers think? The reason I am even bringing this up is because homosexuality tends to bring heated tensions to people who are uncomfotable with it - homophobic - if you will. And Elton John - from what I have seen - tends to stay under the radar when it comes to all that. So what to people think? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Clawman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@The\_Clawman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Clawman)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/2 "2003-01-17T14:15:18Z")
> [@](#): > > And Elton John - from what I have seen - tends to stay under the radar when it comes to all that. He’s practically royalty over here. There was some unfavourable coverage in the 1980s but since then he (and his partner) are very firmly Establishment. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/3 "2003-01-17T14:21:36Z")
The most famous gay man alive? Wouldn’t that be Esprix? ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/4 "2003-01-17T14:34:07Z")
Well you see **Gary** , I was going to mention that, but I decided not too. I’m not sure why… [sub]_Bows down_ Begging your pardon Mr.Esprix…uh, sir esprix sir…[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/5 "2003-01-17T15:19:10Z")
Well… he’s certainly the most famous one we KNOW of. As it is, he’s one of the world’s most famous celebrities of ANY orientation. How many other people are as well-known all over the world as Elton John? Not many, straight or gay. Ma I suppose if Michael Jordan or Tom Cruise (among others) ever came out of the closet, there’d be some competition for the title. But right now, I’d agree that Elton is the world’s most famous gay man. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/6 "2003-01-17T15:21:05Z")
Oscar Wilde? Or is this just non-dead gays? ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/7 "2003-01-17T16:12:22Z")
He’s not as famous world-wide as Elton John, but in the United States, I think you’d have to go with **Jerry Falwell** as the most famous gay person, unless you don’t count him because he’s still in the closet and is repressing it. Umm, also, **Jack Chick** has a pretty big following and would have to be included in the short list of obviously gay people. ---
**Author:** ![Pablito](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@Pablito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pablito)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/8 "2003-01-17T16:13:42Z")
Damn. I forgot all about **Jesse Helms**. Add him to the list. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/9 "2003-01-17T16:52:55Z")
Who’s the most famous lesbian, then? ---
**Author:** ![Kendo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Kendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kendo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/10 "2003-01-17T17:18:16Z")
Ellen? ---
**Author:** ![SmoothOperator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SmoothOperator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmoothOperator)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/11 "2003-01-17T17:42:29Z")
I would think that Liberace would be the most famous gay man. Or are you thinking alive versus dead? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/12 "2003-01-17T17:53:36Z")
I’d reckon Elton John and Ellen are probably some of the current most famous gay/lesbian people. (Given the fact that the John Travolta and Tom Cruise rumors haven’t surfaced). I’d have to give Martina Navartilova a close running 2nd to Ellen. ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/13 "2003-01-17T18:18:55Z")
Well, let’s not forget Rupert Everett, who’s still fairly big in both Hollywood and in Britain. I would gather, though, that by sheer current worldwide body of work? **Sir Ian McKellen** Gandalf twice (going for the third), Magneto twice, and rumour has it he’s up for Dumbledore (and, of course, “Gods and Monsters”). Last thing Elton did (bless his heart) was, what, “The Road To El Dorado?” I mean, of course, they’re so much famous after me… 😉 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Nymysys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Nymysys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nymysys)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/14 "2003-01-17T19:19:33Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by stpauler \* > \*\*I’d have to give Martina Navartilova a close running 2nd to Ellen. \*\* I dunno. I was thinking Rosie, Ellen, then Melissa Ethridge, personally. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/15 "2003-01-17T19:20:53Z")
Bite your tongue, **Esprix**! Sir Elton’s 2001 _Songs from the West Coast_ more than makes up for writing Disney sound-tracks in prior years. ---
**Author:** ![Menocchio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Menocchio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Menocchio)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/16 "2003-01-17T19:22:14Z")
If you accept both the long dead and those outed by plasuible rumors, then I nominate Julius Ceasar. How about Richard the Lion-Hearted? ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/17 "2003-01-17T19:26:42Z")
Well if you start talking historical figures then you have to include Alexander the Great. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/18 "2003-01-17T19:34:14Z")
Elton’s gay? Since when? ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/19 "2003-01-17T19:38:55Z")
\ Even when we come out, we’re still invisible. How did this news get past _anybody_? Esprix ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2003, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214/20 "2003-01-17T19:46:41Z")
_plays a violin for Esprix_ Im gonna say Christopher Lowell and Melissa Ethridge. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-sir-elton-john-the-most-famous-gay-man/149214.md?page=2)