Secara historis, ikon ini biasanya diangkat ke status tersebut karena orientasi seksual mereka menjadi topik perdebatan di kalangan sejarawan. Ikon gay modern didominasi oleh penghibur wanita yang umumnya memiliki banyak pengikut berupa komunitas LGBT selama karier mereka.
Historically, icons were typically elevated to such status because their sexual orientation remains a topic of debate among historians. Modern gay icons are predominantly female entertainers who commonly garner a large following within LGBT communities over the course of their careers.
