It started out as  a simple little poll…

AfterElton posted a poll looking for Man of the Decade, and with an impressive lineup the race between Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother, Dr. Horrible) and John Barrowman (Dr. Who, Torchwood) was within 20 votes of each other.

Then Twitter got involved.

First NPH posted a low-key appeal. Then Barrowman, new to Twitter but enthusiastic, responded. And then the battle was on, as the titans of Twitter began marshalling their forces to support their allies.

UK host Jonathan Ross supported Barrowman. Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day threw in between NPH. Comedian Chris Hardwick and actress Alyssa Milano also rallied to NPH's side which should have been it, but author and Twitter Lord Neil Gaiman cast his lot for Barrowman ("Captain Jack asked first.").

Follow #biggaybattle to see the soldiers fighting to rally other big name Twitterati as they battle for Man of the Decade! And go vote yourself. For whichever one; I'd be happy if either man won. Or if they tied, and had to fight it out with some sort of oil.