Is Joe Exotic A Gay Icon? An Investigation

It's something I've thought long and hard about over the past approximately thirty seconds before I started writing this blog. Aside from the whole tiger-killing-meth-head-murder-for-hire thing, Joe Exotic may very well have been a gay icon. It's not an easy thing to do, especially with a face like his, but when you think about it he checks a lot of boxes...

Fashionista with an unhealthy love for sequin? Check.

Sexual dynamo with a penchant for younger men. Check. 

Bad boy with a checkered past? Check.

Musical genius? Quadruple check. (Video three is a must watch.)

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He's not a Cher or a Madonna or even a Gaga or a Liza, but there is something about him. I looked up the traditional definition of "gay icon" to see if he fit the bill. 

"A gay icon is a public figure who is highly regarded and beloved by the LGBT community. A gay icon can either be a part of the LGBT community or heterosexual, but heterosexual gay icons are often highly supportive of their fans within the community and the rights of LGBT people."

He did not. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the gay community hates him for giving us a bad name. Personally I'm undecided. Oh well, I guess we'll never know. One things for sure, he's a hell of a lot better than Carole Baskin.