Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres holds
the top spot in Out's “Power
50” list of most influential gay men and lesbians.
DeGeneres became a celebrity judge on
Fox's American Idol this season.
“Since DeGeneres replaced Paula Abdul
as a judge on American Idol in February, millions upon
millions of viewers are getting a double dose of the hugely popular
talk show host and 12-time Emmy winner,” the magazine wrote. “The
American Express and CoverGirl pitchwoman's reach is nearly
unparalleled.”
Openly gay Massachusetts Representative
Barney Frank swapped positions with DeGeneres, whose influence landed
her at No. 2 last year.
DeGeneres, who announced in 1997 she
was gay on the cover of Time, married actress Portia de Rossi
in 2008.
American Idol runner up Adam
Lambert and How I Met Your Mother star Neil Patrick Harris
also claim top ten positions: Lambert at fifth and Harris at seventh.
Fashion designer turned film director
Tom Ford was honored as the 13th most influential.
Two staples of the list – actress
Jodie Foster and CNN personality Anderson Cooper – are not
officially out.