#TBT: The Gay Mustache

Movember is a month-long annual event that raises funds and raises consciousness about men's health issues. Purists keep it to a 'stache only, but it has come to include all facial hair in general.

Here at The Advocate we are punctilious about our follicles. Besides, gay men practically owned the mustache in the '70s. So in honor of our hairy history and of men's health we present the big gay mustaches of our past.

The mustache that launched a thousand fantasies. Bruno was most beautifully shot by Colt Studios.

See more lip dusters on famous gay guys on the following pages >>>

Adorable Armistead Maupin was the Charles Dickens of San Francisco in the '70s with his avidly followed daily serial in the San Francisco Chronicle, "Tales of the City." The characters were so well loved that the newspaper column spawned a book series that continued for many volumes and many TV adaptations. And yes, Maupin still sports the 'stache, and he is still adorable.

The mothership of mustaches was the hairy horseshoe on Village People band member Glenn Hughes's upper lip.

You have heard of hair bands? Well, almost all the members of the Village People made it a mustache band.

Bisexual actor Marlon Brando decorated his perfect upper lip with a Watersian-style lip liner in The Ugly American.

English author E.M. Forster withheld publication of his groundbreaking gay romance novel Maurice until after his death. Here he is in Paris in 1925.

A Milk mustache.

Rock Hudson wore it well in his '70s television hit, McMillan and Wife.

Freddie Mercury kept the mustache relevant in the 1980s.

Wait! What? Who let this guy in?

Robert Reed of Brady Bunch fame working the mustache and afro combo.

Actor Sal Mineo tricked out with a "pimp-stache."

The always lovely Rip Taylor handlebars on the $1.98 Beauty Show.

Al Parker, porn star-director-producer from an early Blueboy layout.

And speaking of Blueboy, here is an artwork by Pacifico Solano using appropriated images from that magazine.

Like a cherub from Hell, a young John Waters with his signature lip liner, waiting to leave America in a permanently shocked state.

Dreamy Colt model Nick Chase was in real life Steve Schulte, who happened to be one of the first mayors of a newly independent West Hollywood. American lives do have second acts.

Phrase-maker: Playwright Edward Albee casts a knowing grin topped by a salt-and-pepper teaser.

The Tom of Finland mustachioed postage stamp issued this year.

Colt favorite Steve Kelso struggles with a too-tight Speedo.

Actor-model-porn star and fabulous imposter Michael Kearns of Happy Hustler fame.

Everyone's favorite ginger with anger issues, Yosemite Sam.