Despite the fact that he had been criticised by gay activists for hiding his HIV status, author Paul Russell included Mercury in his book The Gay 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Gay Men and Lesbians, Past and Present.
Napriek faktu, že Freddie Mercury bol kritizovaný homosexuálnymi aktivistami za skrývanie ochorenia HIV, ho spisovateľ Paul Russell zaradil do svojej knihy „The Gay 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Gay Men and Lesbians, Past and Present“.