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The world has been blessed with many fine musicians throughout the course of history. Some of them we know quite a bit about and others far less. Some have been pivotal in breaking down stereotypes as to what people are believed to be able to do, how they act, and how we view others like them. With that in mind there have been many wonderful gay and lesbian musicians which have kept this tradition alive by breaking down our preconceived notions and stereotypes about the abilities of LGBT persons while entertaining us. Some we are very aware of, others slide under the radar, not hiding their identity, but also not pushing it. Either way the let their talent speak for itself.

One of the most notable gay musicians of the past forty plus years is Sir Reginald Dwight, better known as Elton John. Born on March 25, 1947, he has gone on to become one of the most enduring musicians of his generation winning multiple Grammy Awards as a singer and songwriter while selling over 200 million records worldwide to go along with 59 Top 40 hits, seven consecutive number one albums in the U.S., and nine number one singles. In addition to that he has been graced with an Academy Award, A 1994 Rock n' Roll hall of Fame induction, and he was ranked #3 in a Billboard magazine list of the Top 100 Musicians of All-Time. In 1998 he was Knighted By Queen Elizabeth II. He has further distinguished himself by forming the Elton John AIDS Foundation which has raised tens of millions of dollars for AIDS research and care. Elton has been with his partner David Furnish for 15 years, and although he has no children he does dote on tens Godchildren. Flamboyant, over the top, but always entertaining, Elton John over the 32 years he has been publicly out of the closet has gone a long way to opening the door for gay musicians everywhere.

Queen front man Freddie Mercury Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara on the island of Zanzibar in 1946 has long been not just a gay icon, but an entertainment icon. In 1969 Freddie left Ealing College with a diploma in graphic art and design but worked in the field very briefly as that same summer he made his musical debut with a band called Ibex in Bolton, Lancshire and never looked back. He bounced around to a couple of bands before joining Sour Milk Sea which later became known as Queen. There was never any argument that Freddie was a gifted singer and songwriter, but what set him apart from the pack was a natural charisma and energy on the stage that was unlike anyone else. Queen and Mercury's solo record sales totals are staggering, enough so to be the best selling band of the 1980's and to make Queen's Greatest Hits album Britain's best selling album of all time.

After a struggle with various ailments brought on By the AIDS virus Freddie passed on the 24th of November in 1991. Despite many people urging Freddie to go public with his positive HIV status much earlier he chose to keep it quiet until the last couple months of his life despite rampant press speculation predating that. he was known to be upbeat until the end and his name has been used in conjunction with various AIDS fund raising and research associations since his death raising tens of millions of dollars worldwide. Freddie never hid who he was or what he believed. His talent transcended the stereotypes many people held about the abilities of gay men to be true rock icons.

Robert John Arthur Halford, better known as Rob Halford the front man for British metal band Judas Priest and one of music's most recognizable voices. Born on August 25,

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