In previous times, when gays were essentially banned from “normal” life, many became artists. They were actors, writers, dancers. The pull to art has always been larger than that, though. Theater comes naturally to many gay men who had to “play” straight people. Whole gay communities centered around the nomadic and flexible artistic life: Provincetown had frequent meet-ups of Tennessee Williams, W. H. Auden, Christopher Isherwood, and currently has houses owned by John Waters and Dan Savage, among others. Fire Island, though a bit more businessman-oriented, has similar tales. Historically, the arts—especially theater—were accepting queer men way before it was acceptable to be out. The great faggot haven of the arts still gleefully accepts gays who all feel they have something to say and the talent to say it.
Jobs making art: painter, musician, writer, furniture designer, graphic artist, wig maker.
