Here’s a thought: take any field — be it history, art, literature, sport, music, architecture, fashion, or film — and we practically guarantee that you will find an LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) individual in at least one of the categories who has had an impact on your everyday life in some way or another. Could it be mere chance that some of the most creative and popular figures in history have been and are gay? Coinkydink? We think not. one small seed takes a look at the most influential LGBT people in history. Some of them you may already know, but we bet you’re going to get a few surprises.

Don’t, even for a second, let yourself think that LGBT culture is all about Grindr, clubbing, drag and bears vs. twinks. Even in today’s times, with homosexuality becoming more and more prominent in media through shows like HBO’s Looking and movies like Blue is the Warmest Colour, the reality is that it is continually difficult to be part of the LGBT community. LGBT members have to consistently fight for their rights — rights that heterosexual people often take for granted. Current hot topics of the day include members of Pussy Riot being released and re-arrested, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signing a new anti-gay law imposing life sentences on homosexuals, and Putin’s gay ‘propaganda’ ban.

With complex issues like these being broadcast in the media, one small seed would like to shine a bit of a different light on the subject. Now don’t get us wrong — we take all homophobic issues very seriously — but by taking a fresh approach on a regularly debated topic, we’d like to remind you exactly why the LGBT community has and is genuinely making the world a better and more interesting place.

Let’s Start from the Very Beginning

No surprises here, but just so you know, homosexuality in Ancient Greece was a done thing.

The ancient Greeks considered it natural to be attracted to the ideal, athletic male towards which the society as a whole aspired.

You can’t argue with Greek logic. Think the older members from the cast of the 300 movie pairing with the younger, sexier ones. This was a real Spartan custom called ‘pederasty’ (literally meaning ‘boy love’), and many well-regarded historical figures are considered to have practiced it. Great thinkers like Plato, Herodotus and Socrates explored aspects of same-sex love in their classical antiquity, and who’s to say where else they could have explored…

Arguably, you could say that one of the most influential people in history, literally responsible for changing the world, was gay. While you may not have heard of him before, his name is Alan Turing. And what did he do? During WWII, Nazi Germany employed a tactic that involved a complex procedure where German submarines were being guided to their target through encrypted radio instructions, later decoded by a highly-sophisticated device called the Enigma machine. This tactic was virtually impossible to defend against. That is, until 27-year-old Turing came along and cracked the code. In fact, he did it so well that Churchill was receiving encoded messages before Hitler. To top it off, each and every modern computer is considered to follow the guidelines expressed by Turing almost 80-years-ago. Hmm, how do you think some right-wing conservatives feel about having a gay man to thank for our free world?

Why Queen Will Always Be King

Undoubtably, there have been many incredibly significant gay people in the past that have changed our society for the better. But history aside, in our most recent past few decades alone, there have been certain individuals who have emerged as true leaders in the gay rights movement, making it a little easier for millions of closeted homosexuals to come out and be gradually accepted into society. One of the individuals we’re thinking of in particular is the legend himself, Freddie Mercury.

60-years-ago, coming out could have destroyed one’s career and endangered one’s life. In fact, HIV/AIDS was only first discussed in films like Philadelphia, and that was just a decade ago in 1994.

Freddie changed so much for the LGBT community worldwide. Along with David Bowie (who — sidenote — was known for getting down to some hanky panky with Rolling Stone’s Mick Jagger), Freddie was one of the first bisexual rock’n roll singers who didn’t hide it. That was a big deal in the fifties and sixties, when homosexuality was illegal in countries like England and the US. By the time Freddie bid us farewell in one of his most famous songs, ‘The Show Must Go On’, he departed as an icon of hope to millions of people worldwide. Freddie was a world-class showman and has often been named ‘The Greatest Rock Legend of All Time’.

It comes as no surprise then that Freddie Mercury influenced some the greatest artists of all time, including famously gay musicians like George Michael, Boy George and Elton John. In turn, these artists have served as inspiration for current musicians like Tegan and Sara Quin, Kele Okereke from Bloc Party, Tracy Chapman, REM’s Michael Stipe, ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca’s Ricky Martin and hip hop star Frank Ocean, who are free to tell the world they’re gay and can still be resoundingly successful. Freddie couldn’t have been more right when he said,

When I’m dead, I want to be remembered as a musician of some worth and substance.

From Closets to Catwalks

As much as there was Freddie to inspire gay men, there is Grace Jones, who sort of famously falls somewhere in the middle of gay and straight, man and woman. Thanks to her uncompromising androgyny that has made her an LGBT icon, Jones is the inspiration behind today’s female artists like Rihanna, Annie Lennox and Lady Gaga. She also collaborated closely with the celebrated gay artist Keith Haring, who painted his muse’s body for her ‘I’m Not Perfect (But I’m Perfect for You)’ video and the 1985 vampire flick, Vamp.

Fellow androgynous artist Andy Warhol revolutionized the art world, by frequently producing pop art that allowed people to question art. He brought fine art from a very elitist subject, and made it available to all people of all places in society. He produced paintings of famous brands like Campbells Soup cans and Coca Cola bottles, political figures like John F. Kennedy and famous faces like Marilyn Monroe. Warhol tested the limits of society and was famous for his confidence and unique style. He was a trend-setter of the sixties, and still influences society today. Indeed, some of the most famous names in the past and present art scene where LGBT members — Frida Kahlo, David Hockney, Steven Cohen and Annie Leibovitz to name a few. Surprised yet?

Of course, as effortlessly as music merges with art, so art works with fashion. The fashion industry is literally dominated by gay designers who are dictating how the world will dress. We’re talking the likes of Dolce and Gabbana, Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren. Just last year, past creative director of Louis Vuitton Marc Jacobs, was named Out Magazine‘s 19th most powerful homosexual.There’s something in the way Gianni Versace — who was influenced by Andy Warhol by the way — can make a fabric flow that has made being gay become practically synonymous with being en vogue.

A True Rainbow Nation

So what do all these men and women have in common besides their sexual orientation? They have made our world a better place.

Take the Love Parade for example. Started in 1989 by Dr. Motte and his girlfriend, at its peak, the Berlin electronic music festival attracted over 1.5 million people — gay and straight. Why? The festival was all about peace and international understanding through love and music. In fact, that’s exactly why gay pride parades are so amazing — aside from the bright colours, feathers and loud electronica music, everyone goes to simply have fun and spread the message of love. No harm is intended.

Quite frankly, this article is just a perti dish sample of the successful gay people that have and are shaping our world. We looked specifically at select icons, but that doesn’t mean that individuals like actress Ellen Page, NFL Football player Michael Sam, comedian Ellen DeGeneres, or actor Sir Ian McKellan aren’t worth a mention. In fact, consider it a really good sign that there’s too little space in this post to discuss all the LGBT role models there are in the world right now.

All we are trying to say is that being gay is more than okay — it has and will always exist and it’s undeniable that whatever their sexual preference may be, LGBT people add to the rich culture, diversity and interest that society has to offer. Whether you identify as heterosexual, homosexual or as someone in between — remember this: we’re all homo sapiens. So start accepting that fact if you already haven’t. Here’s to embracing the realest rainbow nation of them all.

Words Gosia Podgórska

Who are your favourite LGBT icons and why? Feel free to tweet us on @onesmallseedSA or leave a comment below.

See our gallery below for more famous LGBT icons: