Image Credit: Michael Stewart/WireImage
Apple CEO Tim Cook leads OUT Magazine‘s 7th annual list of the 50 most powerful gay men and women in America. Each year, OUT ranks the perceived power and prestige of entertainers, business leaders, politicians, and activists to determine the most influential people in the LGBT community.
Cook is followed by talk show titan Ellen DeGeneres, who holds onto the No. 2 spot for the second year in a row. Glee, American Horror Story, and The New Normal creator Ryan Murphy moves up into third place with MSNBC host Rachel Maddow at No. 4.
This year marks the first time Anderson Cooper is out publicly for his appearance on the list — he’s No. 5 — though he has been included in years past. OUT‘s decision to include power players that are not publicly open about their sexuality has been somewhat controversial and continues this year with FOX News anchor Shepard Smith, who ranks at No. 8, and Matt Drudge (No. 21).
Frank Ocean, who opened up about his bisexuality last year ahead of the release of his Grammy-winning Channel Orange, rounds out the top ten.
Neil Patrick Harris, Bravo exec Andy Cohen, fashion designers Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford, Suze Orman, Jane Lynch, X-Men director Bryan Singer, Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, and RuPaul also appear on the list.
Visit OUT for the complete top 50.
Follow John on Twitter: @JohnMitchell83
Read more:
Frank Ocean from Odd Future opens up about sexuality
Anderson Cooper comes out: ‘The fact is, I’m gay’
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