20. Van Hansis 
Van Hansis, half of daytime’s first gay supercouple, stormed into our lives when he was paired with the sexy, but emotionally reserved Noah on As the World Turns. Van’s character has survived a rough if interesting couple of years in the surprisingly complicated world of Oakdale where he’s been shot, kidnapped, served as best man at his boyfriend’s wedding, had his step-grandfather grope him, become a gay activist, and danced with the iconic Cyndi Lauper.
But Van’s got talent beyond playing a wealthy young man in an insane small town. He’s done theater work, getting all glammed up for Dance Dance Revolution on the stage. He makes appearances for a number of charitable organizations and does PSA’s for GLAAD. Then there are those daytime Emmy nominations.
It’s not just these accomplishments or his cute blond mop that the stylists can’t stop messing with that warms us up. Beyond giving us daytime’s first gay male kiss, first Pride celebration, and first gay male sex (even if it was off screen), it’s really another title we most admire about Van: trailblazer.
Leading the way is hot.
19. Thöre Scholermann
Last year, Thore Schölermann zoomed from nowhere to land in our Top 20, quite a feat for an actor in his first role and that only being a smallish part on a German soap opera. But a lack of exposure doesn’t matter when you’re this hot – not to mention you play Christian, one half of Forbidden Love’s supercouple Ollian.
Like his character, Schölermann doesn’t commit to something half-heartedly. While the actor told us he took some time to ponder the ramifications of playing gay, once he agreed, he jumped into it with both feet. Indeed, much of the reason for the success of the Ollian storyline is due to the fact that both actors committed so wholly to the part, rehearsing scenes again and again and adding in extra looks, touches and kisses to make the couple’s loving relationship clear even when the writing didn’t.
While there is no arguing Schölermann is physically very attractive, it’s the sort of commitment he’s shown playing Christian that prompted gay men to place him in the top twenty.
18. Brad Pitt
Like a fine wine, Brad Pitt just seems to get better with age. At 45-years-old, he’s become so much more than the almost achingly beautiful face we fell for back in Thelma & Louise, or that taut body from A River Runs Through It.
These days Brad seems to spend most of his time being hot off screen. He’s an active father of a growing brood of kids and is there anything sexier than a man being a good dad? But Brad’s good heart extends far beyond his own family and into making the world a better place. He’s supported the ONE program for years, fighting HIV in the Third World, and among all of his other causes, he now spends a great deal of time with his own organization, the Make It Right Foundation, dedicated to rebuilding New Orleans in a green, sustainable manner.
If the looks, the good dad stuff, and the charity work weren’t enough, Pitt is an ally for the gay community. He followed up on his comments to Esquirethat he and Jolie wouldn’t wed until it was legal for everyone to wed, with action by donating $100,000 to the No on Prop 8 campaign in 2008.
Something tells us Pitt will stay one of the sexiest men alive for many years to come, but it will have as much to do with how he looks on the inside as it does on the outside.
17. Jo Weil 
German engineering gave us The Ultimate Driving Machine, and now it seems those crafty Germans have gone and built us the perfect boyfriend:Forbidden Love’s Olli Sabel, played adorably by Jo Weil, who rockets up our charts this year from #29 to #17.
There’s something infectious about Jo’s smile, whether he’s beinginterviewed by AfterElton.com at Whistler, or if he’s just being domestic with his onscreen hubby on Forbidden Love, the German soap that’s made him an international heartthrob.
There’s something playful and real about Jo as he portrays Olli, the little touches and kisses he throws into his relationship with Christian. He reminds us of young love and what it feels like to be completely smitten with someone. And when those dimples appear on his face as you look into those green eyes, you can’t help but be smitten with Jo.
One thing is certain for this hot young man; his star is shining ever brighter, and he’s kind enough to let us bask in its heat.
16. Adam Lambert
It’s not his broad shoulders or his heaving chest that rocketed Adam Lambert to #16 on our list. It’s not his reported 8-octave voice, or even his ability to make notoriously grumpy Simon rise to his feet for a standing ovation.
What makes Adam hot is that he is, while competing for the hearts of America on Fox’s juggernaut American Idol, unabashedly Adam. In a show that leans to the “package” pop star, he defies all classification and convention, rocking out a glam number, or stripping a pop song down to its barest melodies, yet somehow making it soar.
Adam is that rarest of things in modern music – a born star, one who doesn’t have to compromise his artistry for the public, and his refusal to fit a mold has earned him comparisons to some of rock’s heaviest hitters including Freddie Mercury and Janis Joplin.
Adam is only 27-years-old, but there’s no doubt in our minds that this determined, unique and sexy voice will soon be wowing audiences in stadium shows starring him as the headliner wearing leather pants and guyliner, and still surprising us just by being Adam.
Let us know as soon as the line forms so we can get our tickets.
15. Matthew Mitcham
Arriving at #15 on our countdown with nary a splash is cutie Matthew Mitcham, who won Olympic Gold in Beijing last year with the highest diving score in Olympic history. But before he won the medal, he won our hearts when he casually came out to the world in a newspaper interview three months before the Games.
What makes Matthew hot isn’t his amazing abs or his occupational hazard of running around in a Speedo all the time, although those certainly don’t hurt. What makes him hot is his obvious joy in living life and assuredness of who he is.
While American swimmers celebrated victory by screaming and pumping the air with their fists, Matthew came out of the pool after his winning dive, grinned at the camera, and gave a little wave. It was endearing, just like everything else about him. As if that wasn’t enough, once his score was announced, he ran to the stands and hugged his partner, Lachlan.
At the games, Matthew was 1 in 10,000 – the only openly gay athlete among the thousands competing, and while he says he’s staying focused on his diving for the London Games in 2012, he understands what his newfound status means. According to him, “As soon as anybody looks up to you, you automatically become a role model whether you choose to be or not, and you can either embrace it or not. I choose to embrace it and try to be the best role model I can be.”
Matthew, we’re all looking up to you.
14. Gareth David-Lloyd
Gareth David-Lloyd may actually have the best job on earth. And it’s a job that even allows him to stay on earth, most days. As the droll Ianto Jones on Torchwood, he plays the straight man to John Barrowman’s double entendres as well as the not-so-straight man to Capt. Jack Harkness after he saves the world. Ianto can make the perfect cup of tea, stop an alien invasion, knows creative uses for a stopwatch, plus all the rules for naked hide-and-seek.
Gareth doesn’t seem to take life too seriously though, and it’s his general zest for life that just adds to his sexiness. On Torchwood, Ianto's suit is always Seville Row, but on the weekends you’ll find Gareth in jeans and a t-shirt, fronting his heavy blues band Blue Gillespie.
The cast of Torchwood is a notoriously cheeky group, and you’ve got to have a sense of humor to get by. Recently appearing on a panel about the show, Gareth somehow got goaded into taking off his pants. We can report he remains just as hot in a pair of black boxer briefs as he does in a snazzy suit. That’s our kind of man.
13. Anderson Cooper
He’s known as the Silver Fox by some. Others refer to him as Gloria Vanderbilt’s son, while one prominent blogger refers to him as Mah Boo. By whatever name, there’s something about this smart news guy that inspires you to listen to what he’s saying, whether he’s wading through a devastated New Orleans or reporting on the latest world crisis.
While we’re not going to discount the piercing blue eyes hypnotizing us, his huge appeal is likely because he does something unique in this day and age: he reports actual news and talks to us like grownups.
That’s not to say Anderson doesn’t have a lighter, even – dare we say – snarky side. He just doesn’t display it on his news broadcast where he is the consummate pro. But sitting next to Kelly Ripa, he can display an encyclopedic knowledge of trashy reality TV, from Living Lohan to Real Housewives. He might not understand himself why he watches, but he never seems to miss an episode of his favorite reality shows. He even passes notes a ten-year-old might write to the Insult Comic Dog while at the Democratic National Convention.
He’s smart. He’s handsome. He likes reality TV and foul-mouthed puppets. Yes, he’s unconventional, but that’s much of what makes him so undeniably hot.
12. Jared Padalecki
Jared Padalecki is living proof that things are bigger – and hotter – in Texas. Clocking in at 6’4”, this San Antonio native looms over his equally hot co-star, Jensen Ackles, as the brooding Sam Winchester on Supernatural.
This mop-headed demon hunter brings a thoughtful element to the show that inspired the concept of Wincest. While his TV brother was into heavy metal and chasing girls, Sam was headed to Stanford before getting sucked into the world of angels and demons. Now he’s the brother who always has the answers, often quoted from a third century Greek poet.
Padalecki’s first major gig was setting teenage girls’ hearts aflutter onGilmore Girls at the tender age of 18, but since then his roles have taken a decidedly darker turn, whether dashing around the Midwest every week trying to save us from the coming Apocalypse, or starring in the latestFriday the 13th movie.
Obviously, Jared likes things dark and scary, which is fine with us, as long as he’s there to hold us when the monsters come at night.
11. Zac Efron
Perhaps better than any casting agent or studio, Disney knows that when you hire a teenage actor, he can either grow into his looks – or not. Then there’s Zac Efron, who grew into something so much hotter than anybody could have expected that he zoomed into the 24th spot on last year’s Hot 100 list. Hiding beautiful blue eyes behind a shaggy, yet perfectly groomed haircut, Zac moves up another twelve spots this year as proof that he’s making the successful transition from Tiger Beat fave to certified Hollywood hunk.
While mostly known for wholesome fare such as Hairspray and the High School Musical franchise, Zac revealed in a recent GQ interview publicizing his new flick 17 Again that he was taking career advice from two actors who know a thing or two about starting out as teen stars who made it as serious actors: Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp.
Nobody is quite sure what the future holds for this gorgeous 21-year-old. But here, as in Hollywood, all eyes are on Zac.
10. James Franco
A decade after his breakout role in Freaks & Geeks, there’s still something very much the “slacker” about James Franco. Sure he’s smart, finishing up a degree at UCLA before heading to Columbia for some naps in grad school classes. But it’s that laid back everyman vibe that’s so appealing about James. He seems to get that life is kind of ridiculous at times and is cool just being in on the joke.
For his film roles, he tried out being the conflicted villain in the Spidermanfranchise and one half of the “couple” in the very bromantic stoner comedyPineapple Express. He’s currently tackling the role of Allen Ginsberg in Howl, and watching Franco running around New York City, it’s sometimes hard to tell if he’s shooting for Howl – or running late to class.
What accounts for Franco’s dizzying ascent from #99 on 2008’s Hot 100 to tenth place this year? Gay men like straight men who aren’t afraid of playing gay, so in all likelihood it was his portrayal of Scott Smith, the real life young man who inspired Harvey Milk to change his life in Gus Van Sant’s Oscar winning biopic Milk. We watched as Scott evolved from a one-night stand in a NYC subway station to a frustrated lover to a rock solid friend and confidante of Harvey’s.
We also got to see his cute rear end swimming by in slow motion. Surely, that earned him a few votes as well.
9. Gale Harold
Disproving the old adage that gay men are fickle, the staying power of Gale Harold is becoming legendary. Nine years after he put his mark on the American version of Queer as Folk as bad-boy-who-turns-out-to-have-a-heart-of-gold, Brian Kinney, Gale continues to burn in our minds as the poster boy of gay male sexuality and over the years, we’ve seen a lot of Gale on our television screens.
He’s really the only actor from the landmark Showtime series to make the transition to network television with a stint on the short-lived Vanished,followed by a recurring role on the ratings powerhouse Desperate Housewives. There he broke the hearts of more than one gay man by playing straight love interest to Teri Hatcher’s Susan rather than pairing up with Andrew or coming between husbands Bob and Lee.
Gale disappeared abruptly from Desperate Housewives earlier this year after suffering major injuries from a motorcycle accident during his time off. He’s recently returned, and rumors have it, the stud from QAF who would never settle down with poor Justin, will be popping the question before the end of the season.
Whatever his Desperate Housewives future, we hope that Gale protects his pretty face in the future, and keeps bad boy antics, like motorcycle riding, to his onscreen personas.
8. Hugh Jackman
How hot do you have to be to make sexy Ryan Reynolds insecure about his body? Why, just as hot as our #8 stud, Hugh Jackman, whom Ryan recently described as being in “terrifying shape.”
There’s something about Jackman that screams manly no matter what he does. He doesn’t have to be snarling as Wolverine to convey it; it can just as easily be when he’s singing on the Oscars with Beyoncé and doing jazz hands. And he doesn’t take himself too seriously, as evidenced by his budget-conscious opening number.
Being the star of stage and screen, being named People Magazine’s Sexiest Man alive, it’s no wonder that gay men would love to claim Hugh as one of our own. Hugh (and his wife) continues to laugh off the gay rumors, but in a very non-reactionary way. When Parade Magazine recently asked him for the umpteenth time about the rumors, he smiled, and in that oh-so-charming accent, said, “I’d be happy to go and deny, because I’m not. But by denying it, I’m saying that there’s something shameful about it, and there isn’t anything shameful.”
This class act can claw his way into our hearts any time he wants.
7. Cheyenne Jackson
OK, we admit it. We at AfterElton.com have a problem. We’re completely, totally, head-over-heels in love with Cheyenne Jackson. In fact, we need a support group, but can’t find one, because, seriously: who wants to be cured of dreaming about this hunk of 100% USDA Certified Grade-A beefcake with talent oozing out of every pore? Apparently no one, because we can’t find a single sponsor.
Since he wrapped up his acclaimed run in the fabulously campy, roller skating Xanadu on Broadway, Cheyenne’s shown up in a few guest spots on network TV, making a big impression each time. His glam rocker on Life on Mars stood out like a strobe light and he showed up as an adorable if far too brief love interest for Marc on Ugly Betty. He also took time to hang out and chat with AfterElton.com readers for an hour, and yet again proved himself to be just the sweetest guy.
While we know that Cheyenne is happily partnered, the fact that his boyfriend is camera shy allows us to nurse dreams that he’s actually single, and if given the chance would ask us to skate around the rink while Purple Rain played in the background.
6. Chris Evans
Discussing how hot many of the guys on our list are is a subjective thing, but with Chris Evans, we can actually get quantitative. Best known at this point for portraying the Human Torch in the Fantastic Four movies, we know precisely how hot Chris can get: 1,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, Chris Evans is officially hotter than the surface of the sun.
This guy’s oh-so-amazing abs, or those dimples aren’t the only reason he’s hot. We think he’s hot because he likes us, and isn’t afraid to say it. And Chris has a stake in the gay community, namely his brother, Scott. And Chris doesn’t need much prompting to share his thoughts on gay rights:
It’s mindboggling and appalling that human beings are being denied civil rights in this country. But time will heal all. I have to believe that in 10 years we won’t be having this conversation.
Of late, Chris has been moving away from superhero fare, and into more serious roles such as Sunshine, and now he’s tackling the role of Jack Kerouac in Kill Your Darlings. We’re hoping that while Chris stretches his acting chops, he occasionally dips back into fun movies that require him to take his shirt off.
But even if he doesn’t disrobe any time soon, he loves his brother, and he’s outspoken for his and our rights. And that just melts our hearts.
5. Jensen Ackles
Thinking about Jensen Ackles, of course, led us to think about his character, Dean Winchester on Supernatural. That led us to thinking about the relationship between Jensen and his onscreen brother, and why some of us prefer one or the other. Then we realized choosing between them is an age-old television dilemma: Mary Ann or Ginger from Gilligan’s Island?
While thoughtful egghead Sam is certainly (demon blood aside) sweet and goodhearted, like Mary Ann, Jensen gives his Dean a definite Ginger vibe. Dean is all about the good time – chasing women, drinking whiskey, and eating cheeseburgers. It’s all instant gratification with him.
And we do find him gratifying – chiseled face, great body, and thanks to a recent episode that had him impersonating a high school gym teacher, we know he’s got thighs he could crack walnuts with.
If we go out on a three-hour tour, and get shipwrecked on a tropical island, we can’t help but think we’d enjoy exile a little more with Ginger. We mean Jensen.
4. Jake Gyllenhaal
After two consecutive years at the top of the charts, the unthinkable has happened: Jake Gyllenhaal is not the hottest guy in the esteemed opinion of AfterElton.com readers. This isn’t to say Jake isn’t still smokin’ hot – he still manages to clock in at #4, after all. And don’t forget, Jake hasn’t had a movie released since 2007 and he still managed to beat out all but three other men in the entire world. That’s some residual heat he’s got going.
Don’t feel too bad for Jake – Hollywood hasn’t exactly forgotten him and thanks to the paparazzi, we know he’s spending a lot of quality time with Reese Witherspoon buying coffee and strolling around Santa Monica. No, life is good for Jake, and you’re about to see a whole lot of him.
The Brokeback Mountain star has three movies in post-production for release in 2009, and they show the range of this talented young actor. He’ll come to us first in Brothers, an Afghan war-era tearjerker, followed by the political satire Nailed. Then we get to the prize: Prince of Persia, based on the video game. Pictures from the set of Persia show Jake as a buff, ripped, action star, defying gravity and defeating the bad guys as his long hair ripples in the wind.
So, yes, the lovable Jake slipped a little this year. Call it out of sight, out of mind. But something tells us that come next year, Jake will have a good shot at regaining his Hot 100 crown.
3. Luke MacFarlane 
The twinkling blue eyes of our #3 entry have inspired AfterElton.com readers to come together every Sunday night hoping to get even just a glimpse of those dimples on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters.
It was on B&S that readers first fell in love with this Canadian-born actor who portrays half of the show’s gay supercouple and one of the only same-sex male couples on television. Luke is Scotty Wandell to Matthew Rhys’ Kevin Walker and together last fall, they had the first primetime gay wedding on U.S. television between regularly recurring characters. On top of that, they have the unusual distinction of being the only functional relationship on the entire show. Score one for gay marriage!
While AfterElton.com readers are adamant that there’s still just not enough of Luke on the show, the shy, out-and-proud actor keeps himself busy by having recently starred in the Canadian miniseries Iron Road as well as on stage in The Jazz Age as F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Luke also inspired many with his decision to come out last April, which propelled him to the 3# spot on last year’s list. Who knows? If Brothers & Sisters gives Scotty and Kevin a bit more screen time next season, a certain Canadian might just come out on top!
2. John Barrowman
It’s not often we feel sorry for Scottish actor John Barrowman – he’s an international star and is married to the adorable architect Scott Gill after all – but for the second year in a row, he’s blocked from the top spot by some cheeky Yank. Hopefully, when John hears the news, he’ll have the same reaction he had last year in placing second to Jake Gyllenhaal when he said, “I’m thrilled with the results. Who wouldn’t want to come in behind Jake Gyllenhaal?”
That, of course, is half the reason we love him so much. Then there are those blue eyes, that impish smile and those leading man good looks. While we fell for John as the saucy omnisexual time traveler Captain Jack onDoctor Who and Torchwood, Barrowman has his finger in many pies, writing an autobiography and working on a Torchwood comic with his sister, recording a new CD, judging reality competition shows, and appearing on stage. Yet despite all that, listening to his stories, you have to wonder if it’s all work or all play.
Doctor Who co-star David Tennant admits the two of them are pranksters, and have been known to have “competitive” farting competitions in the TARDIS. The Doctor Who prop department built him a full-size model of an evil Dalek from the series to sit in the foyer of his home. As visitors enter, it asks them questions such as “Would you like some fries with that shake?” He calls it a prized possession. He also recently apologized to the British public for exposing his “parts” on a radio program. Scott, his husband, must have the patience of a saint.
For his energy, his visibility, his sheer energy, not to mention that naughty grin, John is an AfterElton.com favorite year after year. Just don’t play naked hide-and-seek with him. We hear he cheats.
1. Neil Patrick Harris
Photo credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Here in the AfterElton.com newsroom, we’re not sure if our #1 Hottest Guy is steaming up our glasses or if we’ve got tears in our eyes. Not that we haven’t loved our top guy in the past, but this is the first year since we started the Hot 100 that an out gay man tops the list.
Last year, when we told Neil Patrick Harris he came in 5th, he jokingly said he was “hoping the four men above me age rapidly in the next twelve months.” We don’t think Neil moved up because anyone gained a single wrinkle or added a gray hair. Instead, Neil seemingly managed to be multiple places at once and turned the heat way up. Did you see his bod in “The Naked Man” episode of How I Met Your Mother earlier this year?
Neil’s a very busy guy and in his already lengthy career he’s played every kind of role, from iconic child doctor Doogie Howser to jingoistic Colonel Jenkins in Starship Troopers to womanizer Barney Stinson on the hit sitcomHIMYM. He even took advantage of the down time during the writers’ strike to play a hapless singing super villain in Joss Whedon’s iconic web series, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog. On top of that, he somehow found time to host the TV Land Awards, as well as the 2008 World Magic Awards, indulging his passion for that particular pastime.
Speaking of passions, Neil’s been with cutie actor David Burtka since 2004. Gay guys everywhere still get excited when the two appear together on the red carpet and applauded enthusiastically when Neil and Ellen DeGeneres traded stories about their spouses on Ellen’s show. That’s the kind of visibility some of us have waited our whole lives to see.
We feel like proud papas with Neil – first we watched him grow up on screen, and now he’s grown into the hottest, out proud man on the planet.
So say we all!
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