News - To be a male gay icon you don't have to be gay... but it helps, according to a new survey carried out by One Poll. The poll of around 5000 people in the LGBT community saw Elton John crowned the number one male gay icon of all time in a top 10 that was made up entirely of gay men, with the exception of the very metrosexual David Beckham.

Also making the top 10 were Freddie Mercury, Oscar Wilde and George Michael as well as young stars like Will Young and Alan Carr. But when it comes to female gay icons it seems we like 'em straight. Only one known lesbian made the list in the shape of the late Dusty Springfield, with Judy Garland coming out on top, closely followed by Kylie and Madonna (yes, in that order). Meanwhile, Paul O'Grady and his alter ego Lily Savage managed to make both the male and female list.

A spokesperson from One Poll said of the results: "Interestingly only one of the men in the top 10 list of male celebrity gay icons isn't gay – David Beckham. And yet most of the women put on a pedestal by the gay community are straight. It just goes to show that to advocate a certain way of living, you don't have to live the lifestyle but simply be more accepting of those around you."

And the winners are...

Top Ten Male Celebrity Gay Icons:
1. Elton John
2. Freddie Mercury
3. Stephen Fry
4. George Michael
5. Oscar Wilde
6. Will Young
7. Alan Carr
8. Paul O'Grady
9. Boy George
10. David Beckham

Top Ten Female Celebrity Gay Icons:
1. Judy Garland
2. Kylie Minogue
3. Madonna
4. Cher
5. Liza Minnelli
6. Marilyn Monroe
7. Shirley Bassey
8. Lily Savage
9. Dusty Springfield
10. Barbra Streisand