Tammy Faye

Tammy Faye Messner was a woman best known for her garish makeup, but there was more to her than big blonde hair and a painted face. She was one of the few women televangelists, and the only to show tolerance to homosexuals. At a time when little was known and much feared about AIDs, she interviewed people with AIDs on her show and encouraged her followers to pray for them. After her second marraige to a thieving husband failed, her comeback was largely due to her gay following. She was especially popular with drag queens, perhaps because they had the false eyelashes in common?

Sadly, on July 20, 2007, Tammy Faye died of lung cancer after an 11-year battle with the disease. Her son, Jay Bakker, now preaches his own brand of punk gospel with the Revolution Church.