US TV star Ellen DeGeneres has topped a poll of the world’s most important figureheads in a special GaydarRadio survey to celebrate Gay History Month.

The comedienne, who came out publicly in 1997, took the number one slot in the survey , polling more votes than both the artist Leonardo de Vinci and the writer Oscar Wilde.

Degeneres played the lead in the US ABC sitcom Ellen which became famous when her lead character came out as gay in the now infamous ‘Puppy Episode’, screened shortly before the actress publicly outed herself.

Conqueror Alexander the Great, Greek poet Sappho, philosopher Alan Turing, writer Virginia Woolf, singer Dusty Springer and tennis star Bille Jean King also made the top 10 chart.

Italian artist Michelanglo polled the lowest number of votes.

Less surprisingly, the decriminalization of homosexuality in 1967 was voted the most important date in gay history with 40 per cent of the vote.

“Even though Ellen is the world’s most famous lesbian, the result still comes as a bit of a surprise,” said Robin Crowley, GaydarRadio’s station manager.

“I am rushing out to buy a Finding Nemosheet set to support Ellen. 

“It’s good to see some historical figures contributing to art, literature and global domination made the chart, sitting alongside modern gay figureheads such as the late, great Dusty.”

The 10 most important figureheads in gay history as voted for by GaydarRadio are:

1. Ellen DeGeneres
2. Leonardo da Vinci
3. Oscar Wilde
4. Alexander the Great
5. Sappho
6. Virginia Woolf 
7. Alan Turing
8. Dusty Springfield
9. Billie Jean King
10. Michelangelo

The 10 most important dates in gay history were:

1. Decriminalisation of Homosexuality (1967)
2. Civil Partnership Act (2005)
3. Stonewall Riots (1969)
4. Legal Gay Adoptions (2005)
5. TV programme Queer As Folk airs (1999)
6. Repeal of Section 28 (2003)
7. Equal Age of Consent (2000)
8. London’s first Gay March (1971)
9. Gaydar launched (1999)
10. London Partnership Register (2001)