English singer-songwriter and actor David Bowie was BOTD in 1947. Born David Jones in London to a working-class family, he left high school to join a pop band, after being inspired by the writings of Jean Genet and Jack Kerouac. He studied mime with queer choreographer Lindsay Kemp, with whom he had a brief affair. After making a splash with folk-rock singles Space Oddity and Life on Mars?, he reinvented himself as space creature Ziggy Stardust, scoring an international hit with Starman, and thrilling fans with his androgynous appearance, outlandish costumes and playful statements about his bisexuality. Retiring the Ziggy persona just two years later, he shifted into “plastic soul” with hits Fame and Young Americans, adopting a more conventional masculine appearance (to the disappointment of his queer fans). After a trilogy of critically praised Berlin albums, he went on to dominate the 1980s with Ashes to Ashes, Under Pressure (with Freddie Mercury and rock group Queen) and the phenomenally successful Let’s Dance. His alien charisma was well-used in the films The Man Who Fell to Earth, Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence, The Last Temptation of Christ and an extremely well-hung Goblin King in the musical fantasy Labyrinth. Married to Angie Barnett and latterly to Somalian supermodel Iman, he had two children, neither confirming nor denying affairs with Lou Reed and Mick Jagger. His final album, Blackstar was released in 2016 on his 66th birthday. He died two days later. One of the 20th century’s most influential musicians, his disciples include Kate Bush, The Cure, The Smashing Pumpkins, PJ Harvey, Arcade Fire, Lady Gaga and Lorde. His influence on queer culture has been immeasurable, inspiring LGBTQ fans everywhere to embrace their inner freaks.