Who are the most significant gay icons and how did they develop? What influence do they have on gay individuals and communities? This book focuses on the superstars, femmes fatales and divas of the gay celebrity pantheon--Mae West, Julie Andrews, Britney Spears, RuPaul, Cher, Divine, Sharon Needles and many others--and their contributions to gay culture and the complications of sexual and gender identity. The author explores their allure along with the mechanisms of iconicity.

Braun traces the cinema's gay and lesbian heritage from the uncensored extremes of the Roaring Twenties, through the repressive regime of Hollywood's Production Code, to the camp extravagence of the sixties and seventies, and beyond into the modern era. Along the way, he offers fascinating and often hilarious profiles of the stars idolised by gay audiences worldwide, from Mae West to Madonna.--Jacket flap.

The LGBTQ+ community is a loving family. As such, this colorful book celebrates our most iconoclastic sisters and brothers (and gender-nonbinary friends) across history. This beautiful book is an illustrated and alphabetic celebration of LGBTQ+ activists, artists, comedians, writers, philosophers, musicians, poets, and Olympic gold medalists. These icons of the queer community have collectively championed civil rights, radically increased queer visibility and provided a means of escapism through their soul-affirming artistry. Just some of the trailblazers featured in Queer Icons from Gay to Z include Josephine Baker, Laverne Cox, Ellen DeGeneres, Keith Haring, Neil Patrick Harris, Marsha P Johnson, Harvey Milk, Martina Navratilova, Cynthia Nixon, Frank Ocean, Ruby Rose, and so on--all the way to Z. Loaded with trivia and factoids about each icon, this colorfully illustrated book unites pop-culture icons of the current day with the activists and revolutionaries who fought (sometimes literally to the death) for the right to be who they are, and the right to love whoever they damn well please.

The world's most famous gay icons share everything you need to know about life in this bright and lively illustrated book of pithy preambles and indispensable quotes from Liza to Lil Nas X. If life had its own GPS system, navigating it would be a far less stressful slog. Alas, we suffer this pothole-filled dirt road alone… guideless. Thankfully, there’s one thing more knowledgeable and dependable than a GPS, and that’s a Gay Icon! From Beyonce to Betty White, and RuPaul to David Bowie, no one understands the highs and lows, loves and losses quite like a gay icon. Featuring inspiring and entertaining quotes and dynamic illustrations of the icons who said them, you'll find these musings priceless, refreshing, and relatable... even if they're coming from Oscar-winners, music legends, and fashion royalty. MORE THAN 70 ICONS are featured in this all-star collection of quotes and illustrations, including Judy Garland, Madonna, Cher, Ariana Grande, Billy Porter, Bowen Yang, and Leslie Jordan. ACCLAIMED ARTIST: Peter Emmerich has worked with such clients as Dreamworks and The Walt Disney Company, and provides his signature style to the illustrations in The Gay Icon’s Guide to Life. PITHY PREAMBLES: Michael Joosten, the author of My Two Moms and Me and Pride 1 2 3, provides hilarious context to each of the icons’ impactful quotes.

"Published to accompany the exhibition Gay Icons held at the National Portrait Gallery, London, from 2 July to 18 October 2009"--T.p. verso.

"20th Century Icons is a stylish, quirky and instantly collectible series of little books created to celebrate the last hundred years. Famous names in the arenas of film, rock and pop, kitsch and camp have all chosen their own personal icons, recorded in these pocket-sized volumes with interesting, amusing and sometimes controversial results. Readers will enjoy discovering the eclectic, surprising, and humorous selections in every title, with luminaries as diverse as Elvis, Liberace and Mr. Potato Head all rubbing shoulders with one another."

These cat lovers are out and purr-oud! Freddie Mercury, Sylvia Rivera, Alison Bechdel, Dusty Springfield. This book is a celebration of queer icons of the past and present and their furry feline friends. From images of lost legends such as Josephine Baker and James Baldwin, to snapshots of contemporary trailblazers like comedian Tig Notaro and fashion designer Jason Wu—these charming and eccentric photographs capture what it truly means to be a cat purr-son. • PURR-FECT FOR CAT LOVERS: This book celebrates the love between human and cat. What better gift could you get the feline fancier in your life? • AMEWSING ANECDOTES AND IMPAWTENT MOMENTS: Learn about the lives of the queer heroes who came before us and those who are still fighting for equality and inclusion. We're not kitten around—with watershed moments like the Stonewall riots and sweet stories of domestic bliss, this book will both entertain and inspire you. • PHOTOS WITH CATITUDE: In these purr-ecious photographs, you'll get to see your heroes in unguarded moments expressing love for their pets. This collection of images will bring joy to any cat lover's heart. Perfect for: • LGBTQIA+ cat lovers and the people who shop for them • Anyone interested in learning more about influential queer figures—and their pets!