By Emily Feimster A gay icon is a celebrity or public figure who is embraced by many in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities. However, that definition's a little too boring for this particular feature. As Tyra Banks might say, we like to think of them as famous people who are "fierce"! Be it for their good looks, impeccable sense of style, enormous vocal cords, athletic prowess, or unmistakable wit, these fabulous folks are favorites among the proud, rainbow flag carrying cardholders.

Arguably one of the biggest gay icons of all time is singer Madonna, who is adored by both men and women alike. Throughout her career she has acknowledged and embraced her gay following, even making several references to the gay community in her songs or performances, and performing at a number of gay clubs. However, before getting into the icons of today, we must acknowledge those who laid the groundwork.

No story on gay icons could be complete without mention of the late Judy Garland. Many gay men who had been struggling with being accepted, flocked towards the gifted singer - an "ugly" girl from Brooklyn, rejected and unloved by her family, who grew up to realize her own inner and outer beauty. As a result, her Carnegie Hall concerts were major meetings of gay men. When she died in 1969, 5,000 people lined up outside the chapel, many with rainbow colored funeral wreaths in tow.

Garland certainly wasn't the only one of her time who had a profound influence on the gay community. Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Ethel Merman, Debbie Reynolds, and Eartha Kitt have always been fans' favorites. In fact, Reynolds had no problem embracing her unusual fan base, even starring on the popular sitcom "Will & Grace," featuring two prominent gay characters. Kitt has credited gay fans for keeping her going at times when her career faltered.

Following in their footsteps has been another generation of incredibly talented, sassy stars. There's Cher, the object of Jack's affection on "Will & Grace," whose music videos can be seen on any given night in gay bars across the world. Barbra Streisand, whose voice is like butta', Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Delta Burke. Heck, Dolly Parton once admitted that if born a man, she would have had to be a drag queen. How can you not love that? Televangelist Tammy Faye, an unlikely gay icon, has been called "the ultimate drag queen." She said it was the gay community who gathered around her when her husband Jim Bakker was sent to prison.

Of course it's only natural that Garland's daughter, Liza Minnelli, carries on her mother's tradition. After all, anyone who can win a Tony Award at 19 is certainly a friend of the gays. But we can't leave out the late, great Jackie O.! May her grace and fashion sense never be forgotten!

Now we've got a new generation of gay icons. Young men have flocked to the beats of Britney Spears, Paris Hilton rode in the Los Angeles Pride parade, Cyndi Lauper wore a rainbow colored dress while singing at the closing ceremonies of the Gay Games VII, and Kylie Minogue performed at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Kylie once stated, "My gay audience has been with me from the beginning... they kind of adopted me." Singers Mariah Carey, Beyonce, and Christina Aguilera are also highly lauded for their fabulous outfits and amazing singing voices.

Then there are those who are especially loved in the lesbian community. Angelina Jolie no doubt takes the cake with women all over the world flocking to see her in action. Yes, it was a sad day in the land of lesbians when Brad Pitt entered the picture. In fact, it's safe to say that both gay and straight women alike have her atop their list of celebrity crushes.

Jennifer Beals, loved by gay men and women for her saucy work in "Fame," has become quite the icon since starring in Showtime's lesbian-themed series "The L Word." She's joined by some of her other straight co-stars like Kelly Lynch, Karina Lombard, and Mia Kirshner.

Then there's Broadway star Idina Menzel, again loved by both gay men and women. Comedian Margaret Cho has certainly embraced her lesbian following by appearing at a huge number of gay events. The late actress/singer Dinah Shore even has a lesbian weekend named in her honor in Palm Springs, where her golf tournament is held.

But how could we possibly talk lesbian legends and not mention Lucy Lawless? You'd be hard pressed to find a lesbian who doesn't own the complete DVD collection of her TV series "Xena." The show became a huge draw when the relationship between Xena and her sidekick Gabrielle (played by Renee O'Connor) became the backbone of the show. The writers even began intentionally introducing sexual innuendo and dialog that lesbian audiences could read as desire between women, while the rest of the show's viewing public wouldn't necessarily notice a thing. And for that, the lesbian community will forever be grateful.