| A lot of people are afraid to say what they | | | | move to Manhattan to pursue a career as a |
| want. That's why they don't get what they | | | | professional dancer. Upon her arrival, some |
| want. - Madonna | | | | of the first people she befriended were drag |
| | | | queens and gay rentboys. |
| Poor is the man whose pleasures depend on the | | | | |
| permission of another. Madonna | | | | After the launch of her music career and her |
| | | | entry into public consciousness, Madonna |
| Madonna isn't happy with the "boring" movie | | | | began to solidify her reputation as a gay |
| roles she's lately been offered. Casting, she | | | | icon. In the 1980s, Madonna was one of the |
| complains, sees her as the mother of a | | | | first major celebrities to lend her support |
| "truculent teenage daughter." "Mom" (real | | | | to AIDS causes. Many of her friends and |
| life mother of two) sees herself as the | | | | inspirations, such as her ballet teacher |
| truculent one. She's that and more - this | | | | Christopher Flynn, artist Keith Haring, and |
| always cutting-edge artist is "frighteningly" | | | | photographer Herb Ritts - as well as her |
| good at being anything she wants to be. | | | | brother Christopher - are gay males, and some |
| | | | of them have died of AIDS. The song "In This |
| Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August | | | | Life" from her fith studio album, Erotica, is |
| 16, 1958), better known as Madonna, is an | | | | about the loss of Madonna's (gay) friends to |
| American pop singer-songwriter, dancer, | | | | AIDS, containing the line, "Have you ever |
| record, film producer, actress and a fashion | | | | watched your best friend die?" |
| icon. She is a multiple Grammy and Golden | | | | |
| Globe-award winner, known for her ambitious | | | | One of Madonna's biggest hits, 1990's |
| music videos, stage performances and use of | | | | "Vogue", is a song in tribute to the |
| political, sexual, and religious themes in | | | | underground dance form known as vogueing |
| her work. Madonna is sometimes referred to as | | | | which first found popularity in gay bars and |
| "the Material Girl" or "Queen of Pop" in the | | | | discos of New York City. "Deeper and Deeper," |
| media. | | | | a 1992 hit about a young man's coming out, |
| | | | featured a small reprise of "Vogue". |
| Since her debut in 1982, Madonna has released | | | | |
| many chart-topping albums and singles, and | | | | In 2003 Madonna kissed Britney Spears and |
| has sold more than 200 million albums | | | | Christina Aguilera onstage at the MTV Video |
| worldwide. Billboard reported that her 2006 | | | | Music Awards. According to Out Madonna shrugs |
| Confessions Tour holds the record for the | | | | off the attention the act garnered and her |
| top-grossing concert tour by a female artist. | | | | daughter Lourdes' reaction to it (Lourdes |
| According to both the 2007 Guinness Book of | | | | told her mother people call the pop star gay |
| Records, and Billboard, she is the top | | | | and the girl has gained more consciousness of |
| earning female singer. Madonna is the richest | | | | the gay community). "I kind of assume |
| female singer in the world, and one of the | | | | everything I do is going to appeal to the gay |
| richest self-made women in the world, with an | | | | audience. I'm just a big queen... it just |
| estimated net worth of over $850 million. On | | | | means I kissed Britney Spears. I am the mommy |
| September 27, 2007, she was nominated for | | | | pop star and she is the baby pop star. And I |
| induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of | | | | am kissing her and passing my energy onto |
| Fame. In 2001, the Guinness Book of World | | | | her. Like, kind of a mythological fairy |
| Records listed Madonna as the "Worlds | | | | tale", Madonna stated of the incident. |
| Most-successful Female Musician". | | | | |
| | | | Madonna has been named by The Advocate as the |
| Madonna was introduced to the gay community | | | | biggest gay icon of all time over such icons |
| while still a teenager. It was her ballet | | | | as Judy Garland and Cher. To this day, |
| teacher, Christopher Flynn, a gay man, who | | | | Madonna's gay following is one of the most |
| first told Madonna that she was beautiful. He | | | | loyal segments of her audience. While her |
| also introduced her to the local gay | | | | popularity among certain other communities |
| community of Detroit, Michigan, often taking | | | | (like the African American and Hispanic |
| her to local gay bars. It is Flynn who | | | | communities, for example) has fluctuated over |
| encouraged Madonna to walk away from her full | | | | the years, her gay following seems to stay |
| scholarship to the University of Michigan and | | | | strongly intact. |