Bass continued his acting career with roles in Randal Kleiser's Lovewrecked (2005), which he also produced, Dennis Dugan's I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007), and G. Lewis Heslet's Girl Camp (2007). He also appeared as himself in Ben Stiller's Zoolander (2001) and Tropic Thunder (2008) and Wes Craven's Cursed (2005). Bass made his Broadway debut in August 2007, when he began a six-month engagement as Corny Collins in Hairspray.

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Bass founded Lance Bass Productions with an eye to developing television series. None has yet made it to the small screen, but Bass was a contestant on the ABC network's extremely popular Dancing with the Stars program in its 2008 season.

Bass and professional dancer Lacey Schwimmer were not among the pairs touted as favorites when the season started, but they survived the early rounds despite some criticism from the judges for their sometimes unorthodox choreography. As Bass grew in proficiency as a member of the dance team, their scores improved, and they defied the odds by making it to the finals, where they finished third. When the competition ended, judge Carrie Ann Inaba told Bass, "You never took the safe road once, and so I applaud you."

A fan favorite, Bass was invited to join the "Dancing with the Stars" nationwide tour that began in January 2009.

Bass has been generous in supporting charitable causes, including children in need, the environment, and animal welfare. In October 2005 he participated in a benefit concert at the University of Mississippi to raise funds to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Reality television viewers have come increasingly to expect the appearance of gay men and lesbians on these shows because their presence helps further underscore the "reality" in Reality TV.

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The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) is a national organization in the United States dedicated to creating safe school environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender students.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons have had tremendous influence on popular music, though some musical genres have been more receptive to a homosexual presence than others.

Gay and lesbian content in music videos was rare in the early 1980s, but with more openly gay and bisexual artists that situation has gradually changed.

The musical has been a significant aspect of American gay male culture, manifesting itself both in diva worship and, more recently, in the presentation of openly gay characters and shows written by gay writers primarily for gay audiences.

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Gay, lesbian, and bisexual actors and actresses are among the elite of contemporary theater, but only recently have many come out publicly.

Accomplished actor and singer John Barrowman has won plaudits as a musical theater star, as well as for his roles in film and television.

Singer and lyricist Andy Bell, half of the synth-pop duo Erasure, is one of the few openly gay, high-profile rock musicians.

A pop icon with a rich soulful voice, Boy George, who fronted the band Culture Club in the 1980s, managed to survive homophobia, drug addiction, and fame.

Singer, songwriter, and actor Stephen Gately gained fame as one of the lead vocalists in the Irish pop group Boyzone.

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a watchdog group dedicated to promoting accurate representations of the glbtq community in the media.

Ari Gold, the award-winning recording artist, is unusual for his openness in an industry that has not exactly welcomed openly gay performers.

Rob Halford--dubbed "The Metal God" by fans and critics--is one of the most talented vocalists in heavy metal music and one of the few out artists in the genre.

Child actor Neil Patrick Harris has made a successful transition to mature roles, showcasing his singing and dancing abilities along the way; he has also spoken out on behalf of glbtq causes.

The largest glbtq political organization in the United States, the Human Rights Campaign has emerged as the leading national organization representing glbtq concerns.

Pop superstar Elton John's combination of melodic skills, dynamic charisma, and raucous performance style have make him a remarkably popular musical artist.

Popular singer and songwriter George Michael, who confirmed his long-rumored homosexuality after an arrest for "lewd behavior" in 1998, has devoted much effort to AIDS charities since 1992.

The first rock band entirely composed of gay musicians who sang frankly gay-themed tunes, Pansy Division have recently emerged with a more mature sound.

The recordings of the British pop duo Pet Shop Boys may be seen as a reaction to events that stirred the British gay community in the last two decades of the twentieth century.

One of Brazil's most popular rock singers, Renato Russo challenged homophobia in his homeland by coming out as a gay man.

A Manchester pop group that flourished from 1982 to 1987, The Smiths created a highly original brand of punk-inspired music with queer subtexts; the group's singer and lyricist, Morrissey, in his solo career cultivates an androgynous image.

Noted for his diminutive size and amazing voice, Jimmy Somerville achieved fame as the lead singer with the openly gay pop groups Bronski Beat and The Communards; many of his songs are overtly political and deal with such issues as gay relationships and the loss of friends to AIDS.

Lead singer, lyricist, and composer for the rock band R.E.M., as well as a movie producer, Michael Stipe identifies himself as a queer artist.

Singer and songwriter Rufus Wainwright, dubbed the "thinking gay man's sex symbol," has built a successful career with witty lyrics and rich melodies.