Accepting their Identity
It's a thing of the past to look down upon people belonging to the LGBTQ+ community. Even when it comes to elite classes like Hollywood, celebrities no longer feel the need to hide their true selves.
In this day and age, LGBTQ+ is something that is widely being celebrated, and now that more and more celebrities are coming out of the closet, it inspires others to do so as well. Let's find out which popular celebs are part of the community—including a famous Game of Thrones star!
Miley Cyrus
We used to daydream about this gorgeous lady, courtesy of her famous role as Hannah Montana in our teens. Despite her scandalous run a few years ago, she has become hugely popular and, not to forget, successful as well!
But it wasn’t until 2015 when Miley finally broke the news that she is gender-fluid. Ever since then, she has become a rather passionate and vocal advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Elliot Page
Elliot Page has played many memorable roles in his career and is most famous for his roles in "Juno," "Hard Candy," "Tallulah," and "Inception.” 2014 witnessed him deliver a powerful speech at a human rights conference, and during the same speech, he declared he was part of the LGBTQ+ community.
In 2020, Page came out as a transgender, and his subsequent interview with Time magazine got celebrated across the globe for giving hope to those struggling with their respective identities.
Tim Cook
Apart from revolutionizing the electronic device industry, Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, is also a renowned name in the LGBTQ+ circles. Although he doesn’t necessarily consider himself an activist, he once stated to Stephen Colbert that he considers it his major responsibility to speak up about his LGBTQ+ status.
He remains private about his life, but in 2014, he publicly came out and revealed his sexual orientation in an open letter published in Bloomberg Businessweek.
Billie Joe Armstrong
At one point in time, Green Day formed a major part of our music playlist. In 1994, Green Day was fortunate enough when Billie Joe went mainstream as the frontman. He has always managed to make headlines on several occasions, but some people still have no clue about his bisexuality.
In 1995, he told the advocate, “I think I’ve always been bisexual. I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of, Oh, I can't. They say it's taboo, but in reality, it’s a very beautiful thing."
Clive Davis
He either launched or revived the careers of several celebrities, including the likes of Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, and Billy Joel, among other superstars.
He is a renowned music mogul, and the twice-married executive released an autobiography in 2013 titled “The Soundtrack of My Life.” In his autobiography, he detailed two long-term relationships that he had with other men.
Fergie
Fergie always manages to stay in the public eye. Be it her former gig with the Black-Eyed Peas, her unpopular 2018 performance of the national anthem, or her prior marriage to actor Josh Duhamel, Fergie finds it comparatively easier to stay in the headlines.
What’s lesser-known about the popular singer is the fact that she’s identified as bisexual since the early ’00s. Yep, that's shocking ... well, the next might knock your socks off!
Kate McKinnon
Kate McKinnon is renowned as the first openly gay woman star of ‘SNL’. Her discovery of herself being a part of the LGBTQ+ community is rather interesting as it wasn’t until she began watching the sci-fi TV series “The X-Files” when she realized she was attracted to women.
In the 1990s, McKinnon found herself swooning over actress Gillian Anderson. And even now, McKinnon continues to describe Anderson as the “queen of my heart.”
Gillian Anderson
That brings us to Kate McKinnon’s dream lady–Gillian Anderson. “The X-Files” star told The Telegraph in 2015 that she’d previously engaged in same-sex relationships. Not only this but she also admitted that she was open to doing so again!
Apart from gaining recognition from starring in “The X-Files”, she’s also famous for playing significant roles in other popular TV shows like “The Fall,” “Sex Education,” and “The Crown.”
Lady Gaga
It wasn’t particularly surprising for her fans when pop star Lady Gaga identified as bisexual in a 2009 interview with Barbara Walters. Because she already had a strong LGBTQ+ fan base courtesy of her open-minded performance style and provocative lyrics.
The pop star has also faced accusations of making up her LGBTQ+ status for marketing purposes. But in 2013, she openly stated, “It’s not a lie that I am bisexual, and I like women... This is who I am and who I have always been.”
Kristian Nairn
Every Game Of Thrones fan worth his penny will instantly remember Kristian Nairn for playing the character of the Noble Giant named Hodor.
His character might not say anything apart from his own name, but during an interview in 2014, he was pretty vocal about his sexual identity as he said, “I’ve never hidden my sexuality from anyone, my whole life in fact, and I’ve been waiting for someone to ask about it in an interview, cos it’s not something you just blurt out.”
Jason Collins
Many LGBTQ+ athletes keep their sexuality a secret because of the outward sense of machismo that comes complimentary with professional sports and its overzealous fan base. Jason Collins changed that and became the first openly gay man to play in one of the four major professional team sports.
Collins wrote a Sports Illustrated Article in 2014, and in the article, he expressed a desire to see more of his fellow athletes come out without facing repercussions.
Angelina Jolie
Now, who doesn’t know this iconic Hollywood actress! She has been openly LGBTQ+ for so long that most of us have even forgotten about it! In 2003 when she was asked if she was bisexual, this is what the lady had to say:
“Of course. If I fell in love with a woman tomorrow, would I feel that it's OK to want to kiss and touch her? If I fell in love with her? Absolutely! Yes!"
Victor Gaber
Apart from starring in popular movies like “Titanic” and “Argo,” Actor Victor Garber has also been a part of TV shows like “Alias” and “The Flash.”
Although he hadn’t exactly been hiding his LGBTQ+ status—or his more than 20-year relationship with Rainer Andreesen, it wasn’t until 2013 when he confirmed that he was gay. When asked about his sexual orientation, Garber said, “I don’t really talk about it, but everybody knows.”
Charlie Carver
In 2016, Charlie Carver came out in front of everyone and used Instagram to make the announcement. He is renowned for his roles in shows like “Desperate Housewives” and “Teen Wolf.”
Ever since he came out on a public forum, he has been pretty vocal about pigeonholing openly gay actors into playing specific types of roles, as well as Hollywood’s tendency to perpetuate negative LGBTQ+ stereotypes.
Amber Heard
Aquaman star Amber Heard has been openly bisexual since she revealed her sexual orientation in 2010 when she was dating artist Tasya van Ree. Not just for LGBTQ+ rights, but Amber Heard remains quite vocal about achieving equal rights for women in general as well.
In 2017, she gave an interview to Allure when she acknowledged that gender inequality is far more prevalent than she once suspected. This is what she had to say “I had been living with my head in the sand…I did not realize how far we have to go to be equal.”
Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne, an actress, singer, and fashion designer chose one unique and rather ‘in-your-face’ way to come out of the closet.
She posted a picture of her kissing another girl on Snapchat and then, later on, confirmed that she was indeed a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Ever since then, she has been living her life to the fullest in a rather unapologetic manner!
Amy Winehouse
Before her sad demise, singer Amy Winehouse used to remain in the news for a variety of reasons. So one shouldn’t be surprised if the word of her bisexuality might have slipped under the radar.
After her untimely death, Winehouse’s friends reported to News of the World that the famous British singer once said, "There is something about being with a woman that is very satisfying. I don't care what people think about me being bi—I do what feels good.”
Marlon Brando
One of the most iconic actors to ever grace the screen, Marlon Brando once told his biographer, "Like a large number of men, I, too, have had homosexual experiences and I am not ashamed. I have never paid much attention to what people think about me."
Despite the period that he lived in, he was able to land desirable roles no matter what he chose to do in his personal life. And that says a lot about his work because ‘The Godfather' remains one of the most iconic movies ever made!
Anna Paquin
Famous for her roles in “True Blood” and “X-Men”, actress Anna Paquin came out as bisexual in 2010 and during the same year, she married actor Stephen Moyer. She did face some backlash from the LGBTQ+ community but her reply to her critics shut everyone’s mouth as she said “I am a happily married woman and I married a man. I don’t think that negates that aspect of my life.”
In 2014, she told Cosmopolitan “The reason I feel like it's important to talk about this stuff is that the more normal and, frankly, mundane and boring this stuff becomes, I think the better it's going to be for everyone who is part of our community."
Lee Daniels
Before tasting fame for co-creating Fox’s “Empire” or directing movies like “Precious”, Lee Daniels was growing up in Philadelphia as a young gay man coming to terms with his homosexuality.
He recalled one instance in 2017 that his father once threw him in a trashcan after he came down the stairs wearing high heels. Empire fans may find the scene a bit familiar.
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X knew he was going to take the secret of his sexuality to his grave because he hailed from a conservative upbringing just outside Atlanta, Georgia. Thanks to his mega-hit song ‘Old Town Road’, Lil Nas X became a superstar at the age of 19.
He soon discovered that his superstardom has also made him a hero among the queer community. Fast forward to today and he proudly embraces his role as a representative and icon for LGBTQ+.
Andrew Scott
Andrew Scott has played many iconic roles from Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes to "the hot priest" in the British comedy series, "Fleabag."
What got the media’s attention was when said this during a GQ interview “"You're never described as openly gay at a party...'This is my openly gay friend Darren.' 'She's openly Irish.' It implies defiance I don't feel."
Lee Pace
The actor who played Joe Pitt in "Angels in America" on Broadway used to come out every time he used to play his character but it wasn't until 2018 when he came out to the public as himself, Lee Pace. In an interview given to The New York Times, he put it out there that his decision to keep quiet was to draw boundaries.
He wanted the public to know him as an actor who plays roles, and that's all that should matter. He also told The New York Times, "Once you say those words and the sky doesn't fall down, or the earth doesn't open up, a lightning bolt doesn't zap you. You really can be anything."
Tessa Thompson
It is widely believed that not all heroes wear capes but when it comes to Tessa Thompson, she most certainly does for the LGBTQ+ community. She ruled our hearts with her role as Valkyrie in "Thor: Ragnarok."
Marvel also gave her a separate and explicit LGBTQ+ storyline in Thor: Love and Thunder". It was a first for the brand and it not only made Thompson an icon for women but for the LGBTQ+ community, too.
Alia Shawkat
Shawkat ruled fans' hearts as the sardonic, envelope-pushing Maeby on “Arrested Development.” Fast forward to this day and she’s a filmmaker in her own right. Her debut film "Duck Butter” premiered in 2018 and conveys the story of L.A.-based 20-somethings, Naima and Sergio.
Over the course of 24 hours, they fall in and out of love with each other. The movie was deemed as a ‘queer utopia’ by Vulture. But that is exactly what bisexual Alia Shawkat and director Miguel Arteta had envisioned.
Vanessa Carlton
Carlton shot to fame in 2002 with her hit, “A Thousand Miles”. The song was also nominated for a Grammy that year. She made another debut in 2010 at Nashville Pride when she revealed that she is a “proud bisexual”.
She further revealed that she’s been part of the queer community since she was 13 years old. Today her songs are more evocative to the type of music she wants to be known for – emotional, deeply rooted in her personal experience and soothing.
Jim Parsons
Known for his acerbic (yet lovable) Sheldon Cooper character that he played in the sitcom ‘The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons has lately become a public champion for the LGBTQ+ community.
After ‘The Big Bang Theory ’ came to a conclusive end, Jim Parsons has moved into more of a producer's role. He recently also worked on the “Equal” docuseries which is based on the history of the LGBTQ+ movements.
Sam Smith
It wouldn’t be wrong if we say that the recording artist Sam Smith has turned out to be a trailblazer for the LGBTQ+ community. He is also one of the few celebrities to identify as nonbinary when he decided to adopt the pronouns "they/them," not "he/him," in 2019.
He is renowned for his record hits like "Lay Me Down," "Stay with Me," and "Too Good at Goodbyes”. When they made the official announcement on Instagram, Smith said “I understand there will be many mistakes and mis-gendering but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now. Thank you."
Demi Lovato
If we had to describe Demi Lovato with one of her songs, when it comes to owning their sexuality, it would definitely be "Sorry Not Sorry."
They told Andy Cohen on his "Radio Andy" SiriusXM show that their family's reaction could not have been more supportive and that telling Lovato's parents was emotional.
Jameela Jamil
Known for her role in the comedy with Ted Danson and Kristen Bell, Jameela Jamil is a British actress. You can hear her voice on her podcast, “I Weigh,” even though you won’t be seeing Jamil's face on “The Good Place” anymore. She came out as queer in February 2020.
Jamil did face some backlash because she had been in a five-year relationship with musician James Blake. Jameela Jamil told The Guardian that she had not come out before, “because I was worried that people would think I was jumping on a trendy bandwagon. So I understand the pushback.”
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore has been a household name because of her amazing roles in different movies. From a quirky little girl to a classy high-class woman, Barrymore has brought justice to everyone she portrayed on the big screen. Apart from being vocal in normalizing many issues like addiction, mental health, and such, Barrymore identifies herself as a bisexual.
In a 2003 interview with Contact Music, Barrymore said, “I have always considered myself bisexual.” Yep, we are not kidding! Last two to go folks!
Kristen Stewart
Yep, our favorite Bella is not just into men but also women. Of course, we loved Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson together, but hey ... the heart wants what it wants.
Kristen Stewart has been quite open about her sexual identity over the last few years and is a big supporter of the LGBTQ+ community. Wondering who's the last one on the list, fellas?
Frank Ocean
Last but not least is the very famous Frank Ocean! Of course, he has an unbeatable reputation in the hip-hop culture, but did you know that he's into guys?
In 2012, he posted a statement on his Tumblr account, in which he seemed to declare his love for another man. Nonetheless, he is probably among the biggest name in the music industry ever!
Wrapping It Up
That's it, folks. That's our list of LGBTQ+ celebrities who haven't just been vocal about their sexual orientation but have also provided a platform for others to come out in the open and accept their identity.
Which one did you find the most shocking? Leave a comment to let us know and don't forget to share this article in support of our LGBTQ+ friends!