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(#1) Ellen DeGeneres
- 61
Actress and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is one of the most popular people in film and television. She famously came out as gay in Time magazine in 1997. A few weeks later, her character Ellen Morgan came out on her hit show Ellen.
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(#2) Kevin Spacey
- 59
In an interview with Buzzfeed in October 2017, actor Anthony Rapp said Kevin Spacey forced himself on Rapp when he was 14 years old and Spacey was 26. Spacey tweeted out a statement in response:
I honestly do not remember the encounter, it would have been over 30 years ago. But if I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.
This story has encouraged me to address other things about my life... I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.
Spacey had been private about his sexual orientation until this statement.
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(#3) Barry Manilow
- 75
In 2017, Barry Manilow told People magazine that he's gay. While there had been plenty of speculation about Manilow's sexuality, it was the first time he publicly confirmed it. He and long-time partner, Garry Kief, secretly wed in 2014 after 39 years of being together. He said he didn't disclose his sexuality publicly because he was worried he would disappoint his fans.
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(#4) Elton John
- 71
Elton John is arguably the most popular queer musician in the world. He first came out as a bisexual in a 1976 interview with Rolling Stone, and in 1988, he announced that he was comfortable identifying as gay. John has been in a relationship with David Furnish since 1993, and the couple have two children together.
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(#5) Rosie O'Donnell
- 56
Actor and comedian Rosie O'Donnell publicly came out in 2002 at an Ovarian Cancer Research benefit at Caroline's Comedy Club. She has since been a fierce advocate for gay rights, same-sex marriage, and gay-adoption rights.
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(#6) Wanda Sykes
- 54
Comedian and actor Wanda Sykes publicly came out at a same-sex marriage rally in 2008. She married her wife, Alex, earlier that year, and the couple have two children together.
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(#7) Neil Patrick Harris
- 45
Actor Neil Patrick Harris is openly gay. He came out to People magazine in 2006, saying, "I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love." Harris and his husband, David Burtka, have been together since 2004 and have two children together. They wed in September 2014.
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(#8) Anderson Cooper
- 51
Anderson Cooper publicly came out when he allowed Andrew Sullivan to publish a statement from him which said:
"The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud."
He dated Benjamin Maisani from 2009 to 2018. -
(#9) George Takei
- 81
Star Trek actor George Takei officially announced in Frontiers magazine that he was gay in 2005. He has since become a popular champion for gay rights. He married his longtime partner, Brad Altman, in 2008.
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(#10) Jodie Foster
- 56
Actor Jodie Foster publicly came out in 2013 during her acceptance speech of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award. She said, "I already did my coming out about 1,000 years ago back in the stone age, those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends and family and co-workers, and then gradually and proudly to everyone who knew her, to everyone she actually met."
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(#11) Clay Aiken
- 40
American Idol alumnus Clay Aiken announced that he was gay in 2008 to People magazine. He has been an advocate for stopping anti-gay bullying in schools. He even ran for Congress in his home state of North Carolina to continue to fight for gay rights and behalf of children with disabilities.
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(#12) Lance Bass
- 39
*N Sync singer Lance Bass came out as gay in 2006 to People magazine. He said, "The thing is, I'm not ashamed — that's the one thing I want to say. I don't think it's wrong, I'm not devastated going through this. I'm more liberated and happy than I've been my whole life. I'm just happy."
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(#13) Cynthia Nixon
- 52
Cynthia Nixon began dating Christine Marinoni, in 2004, and the couple married in 2012. They welcomed a child together in 2011.
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(#14) George Michael
- Dec. at 53 (1963-2016)
George Michael was outed by the mainstream media after he was arrested for lewd conduct in 1998. He has since become an outspoken advocate for queer rights and AIDS research and frequently performs benefit concerts to support these causes. He showed humor and humility after his arrest by mocking the incident with his music video for "Outside."
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(#15) Melissa Etheridge
- 57
Melissa Etheridge first came out at a gay celebration of President Bill Clinton's first inauguration. She is an outspoken advocate for gay rights, and she has never let society's judgments stop her from living her life the way that she intends.
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(#16) Ricky Martin
- 47
Ricky Martin came out as gay in 2010. He wrote a statement on his website, saying, "These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed." He has since become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and same-sex marriage.
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(#17) Portia de Rossi
- 46
Arrested Development actress Portia de Rossi is a supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and same-sex marriage, being queer herself. According to her, she "truly" came out when she attended the Golden Globe Awards in 2005 with her then-girlfriend, Ellen Degeneres. The couple married in 2008.
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(#18) Jim Parsons
- 45
The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons publicly came out in an article in the New York Times in 2012. He was in a relationship with Todd Spiewak for almost 15 years before marrying him in 2017.
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(#19) Ellen Page
- 31
Juno actress Ellen Page came out in 2014 during a speech at the Human Rights Campaign's LGBT youth benefit, the Time to Thrive conference. She said, "I'm here today because I am gay, and because maybe I can make a difference, to help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility. I am tired of hiding, and I am tired of lying by omission."
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(#20) T. R. Knight
- 45
Greys Anatomy actor T.R. Knight confirmed that he was gay in a 2006 interview with People magazine. He married his partner, Patrick Leahy, in 2013.
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(#21) Matt Bomer
- 41
Actor Matthew Bomer publicly acknowledged he was gay in 2012 during his acceptance speech at the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards. He and his partner, Simon Halls, have three sons.
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(#22) Jason Collins
NBA player Jason Collins came out as gay in an interview with Sports Illustrated in 2013. He was the first active athlete to publicly come out as gay in any of the major American sports. His announcement provoked mixed reactions from his fellow players and the mainstream media.
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(#23) Maria Bello
- 51
Actor Maria Bello revealed that she was gay in 2013 in an essay she wrote for The New York Times.
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(#24) Adam Lambert
- 37
American Idol alumnus Adam Lambert confirmed rumors that he was gay in an interview with Rolling Stone after the show's season ended in 2009. He has since been an advocate in the LGBTQ+ community. He has even pushed the envelope by sharing a kiss with his male keyboardist on the American Music Awards.
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(#25) Robin Roberts
- 62
Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts publicly announced she was gay in 2013 via a Facebook post, saying, "At this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude. I am grateful to God, my doctors and nurses for my restored good health...I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together." She has been with her partner Amber Laign for more than 10 years.
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(#26) Sean Hayes
- 48
Actor Sean Hayes is best known for his portrayal of Jack on the hit show Will & Grace. For years, he chose not to speak publicly about his private life, and when asked why, Hayes replied, "I feel like I’ve contributed monumentally to the success of the gay movement in America, and if anyone wants to argue that, I’m open to it." He publicly came out in 2010, and as recently as 2017, Hayes has said that he regrets waiting so long to publicly acknowledge his sexuality.
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(#27) Victor Garber
- 69
Actor Victor Garber officially came out in an interview with Hollywood Reporter Greg Hernandez in 2013. Garber prefers to keep his private life out of the public. He has been with his partner Rainer Andreesen since 2000.
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(#28) Wentworth Miller
- 46
Actor Wentworth Miller played the straight character Michael Scofield on the show Prison Break. Miller came out in 2013 by posting an open letter in which he declined attending a Russian film festival because of their anti-gay laws.
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(#29) Brian Boitano
- 55
Olympian Brian Boitano publicly came out in 2013 by releasing a statement, which read, "First and foremost I am an American athlete and I am proud to live in a country that encourages diversity, openness and tolerance. As an athlete, I hope we can remain focused on the Olympic spirit which celebrates achievement in sport by peoples of all nations." He made his announcement in conjunction with being named to the US delegation for Sochi.
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(#30) Zachary Quinto
- 41
Actor Zachary Quinto publicly came out in 2011 in an interview with New York Magazine. He supports several gay rights organizations.
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(#31) Jillian Michaels
- 45
The Biggest Loser coach Jillian Michaels first addressed her sexuality in a 2010 interview with Ladies' Home Journal, saying, "If I fall in love with a woman, that’s awesome. If I fall in love with a man, that’s awesome. As long as you fall in love… It’s like organic food. I only eat healthy food, and I only want healthy love." She and her former partner, Heidi Rhoades, have two children together.
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(#32) Jenna Wolfe
- 44
Today correspondent Jenna Wolfe publicly came out on the show in 2013 when she announced that she and her partner, NBC correspondent Stephanie Gosk, were expecting a daughter together.
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(#33) Bob Harper
- 53
The Biggest Loser coach Bob Harper publicly came out during a 2013 episode of his popular reality show while talking to a contestant who was afraid of coming out to his parents.
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(#34) Tyler Glenn
Tyler Glenn, lead singer of New Wave-pop quartet Neon Trees, came out as gay in the March 28, 2014 issue of Rolling Stone magazine. The singer and band are from Provo, Utah, and Glenn was a Mormon his entire life. He told Rolling Stone he has known he was gay since he was a child.
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(#35) Jameela Jamil
- 32
After being criticized for her casting on HBO Max's show Legendary, Jameela Jamil shared a lengthy message on Twitter about her sexuality, clarifying that she has never hidden the fact that she identifies as queer.
"This is why I never officially came out as queer. I added a rainbow to my name when I felt ready a few years ago, as it's not easy within the south Asian community to be accepted, and I always answered honestly if ever straight-up asked about it on Twitter," Jamil wrote. Speaking about her casting on the vogueing show (about a style of dance/expression spearheaded by New York's black and Latinx queer and trans communities), she also wrote, "I know that my being queer doesn't qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and a large following to bring to this show (as does the absolutely iconic Megan Thee Stallion), and it's beautiful contestants and ballroom hosts."
In this message, Jamil also announced that she would be taking a break from Twitter following the backlash.
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About This Tool
Sam Damshenas came out in 2021, that is a brave Pride event. Celebrities who come out on the media often arouse intense discussions on the Internet. As supporters of the LGBTQ+ community, there are more stars proudly showing up and waving rainbow flags. It is 2021 now, a person's gender identity should no longer be headlines, but for those stars who are struggling to accept their true self, it takes great courage to come out publicly.
Looking back at history, there is never a shortage of great gay stars who came out to the media, including Elton John, Barry Manilow, Kevin Spacey, etc. They deserve respect and love for their contributions.
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