Madonna as a gay icon

Madonna wearing the LGBTQ Progress Pride flag on The Celebration Tour in 2023

American singer and actress Madonna is recognized as a gay icon. She was introduced, while still a teenager, by her dance instructor, Christopher Flynn, an openly gay man who mentored her. Since then, Madonna has always acknowledged the importance of the community for her life and career, declaring that she "wouldn't have a career if it weren't for the gay community".

Madonna has consistently been an advocate for the LGBT community throughout her career, being recognized by GLAAD Media Awards in 1991 (Raising Gay Awareness) and 2019 (Advocate for Change). Madonna's works often use gay culture as a symbolic repertoire. In an era not dominated by the massification of Internet, she served as a mainstream vehicle, being tagged as "the first major mainstream artist to give gay images and themes explicit mass treatment and exposure".

Madonna has been recognized as a "pioneering ally" by different media outlets, including The New York Times and Associated Press (AP), after a special emphasis in the AIDS crisis when the community or its subcultures were notably stigmatized and she was one of the first artists to advocate for the cause, according to publications like The Hollywood Reporter. Using her popularity, she became "the first worldwide celebrity" of that era to do an interview with a national gay magazine, The Advocate, according to themselves. Critic Stephen Holden labeled her interview with them as an "unprecedented frankness for a major star". Sarah Kate Ellis, president of GLAAD stated in 2019: "Madonna always has and always will be the LGBTQ community's greatest ally".[1] Over years, Madonna has been considered by "many" as the "greatest gay icon", a statement seconded or confirmed by outlets such as The Advocate or Parade[2][3] among others.

Madonna's influence impacted generations of LGBT people, as documented diverse authors. She has also been credited variously, including her help for bringing gay culture into the mainstream. However, Madonna also represented challenged views, both inside and outside the community, and has been accused of "appropriation". She also faced backlash in different sectors, including political and religious. In 2012, she was sued in Russia for her support amid the country's anti-LGBT law.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Ally was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Advocate was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference parade was invoked but never defined (see the help page).