The gay-culture magazine is about to release its latest "Out 100" list, which honors annual significant contributions to gay life. The roster, in the magazine's December issue, will hit newsstands Tuesday.

In addition to the 100 gay men and women "who've done something noteworthy this year," according to Out editor Brendan Lemon, the list also recognizes "straight allies" who had a significant influence on gay life in 2005.

Sharing the cover of the issue are Chicago decorator Nate Berkus (well-known to fans of "Oprah"), Will Wikle (an openly gay contestant on "Big Brother 5") and Sharon Stone. The gay-friendly but straight Stone is praised for her anti-AIDS work, as well as for the "serious lesbian lovin' " in her upcoming film, "Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction."

More boldfaced names celebrated include WNBA superstar Sheryl Swoopes, who last month revealed she's in a committed same-sex relationship, now-out singer Lesley Gore (it's her sexuality and she can exclaim if she wants to) and actresses Portia De Rossi (aka Ellen DeGeneres' gal pal) and Cynthia Nixon (even though, the magazine fudges, she "has never officially come out").

Others on the list are Broadway star Nathan Lane, "Desperate Housewives" creator Marc Cherry, writer Bret Easton Ellis, straight Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (for helping usher in Spain's same-sex-marriage law) and bisexual actress Angelina Jolie.

"A talk-show host tried to get [Jolie] to reject her bisexual past," says Out executive editor Bruce Shenitz, who has helped assemble the roster for the past five years, "but she wouldn't go there."

To make the list, Shenitz explains, "there has to be something outstanding and current about what each person is doing in their field, whether it's entertainment, business, fashion, sports, whatever."

Which explains how Patty Bouvier, from "The Simpsons," made the cut. Marge's sapphic sis "boldly told the world she liked girls," notes Out, "and cartoon history was made. Woo-hoo!"

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