2024 has been a landmark year in LGBTQ+ representation, with a stunning array of celebrities coming out. These inspiring disclosures across entertainment, sports, and public life have boosted visibility, shattered stereotypes, and expanded societal acceptance.
As we close out this year, here’s a look at some of the trailblazers who’ve stepped into the light, showcasing the power of living authentically.
Bethany Antonia
Bethany Antonia, known for playing Baela Targaryen in House of the Dragon, was responding to racist trolls online when she decided to open up about her sexuality.
“Wait till they find out I’m gay too.”
Parvati Shallow
Parvati Shallow, famed Survivor contestant, rang in the New Year by publicly coming out and announcing her relationship with comedian Mae Martin. The couple shared their joy through a charming photo booth strip and a lively beachside Ferris wheel video, both embracing the caption: “We’re here. We’re queer. Happy new year.”
Tom Hollander
The versatile actor described his sexuality as “sufficiently liberal,” sparking discussions on sexual fluidity and personal identity.
“My own sexuality is sufficiently liberal to have encompassed many different experiences, which are not anyone’s business.”
Zoe Lister-Jones
Best known for her roles in Life in Pieces and Confirmation, Zoe took a significant step by openly identifying as queer.
“I’m here, I’m queer, I have some fear but I’m working through it.”
She arrived at the Spirit Awards in February with her partner, filmmaker Sammi Cohen.
Sophia Bush
Sophia Bush, famed for her role on One Tree Hill, openly shares her queer identity and her relationship with soccer star Ashlyn Harris in Glamour. At 41, Bush describes feeling a profound sense of freedom and joy, marking a fresh start and a new chapter in her life.
Reneé Rapp
Star Reneé Rapp made a bold statement on Saturday Night Live, proudly announcing she’s lesbian, after previously identifying as bisexual. This revelation sparked immense support from fans and a candid discussion about embracing one’s true self in the face of skepticism and challenges.
However, Reneé does not care about what the haters have to say. “If I say I’m a lesbian, I am a lesbian,” she tweeted, adding a sprinkle of sass to ward off the doubters, “I’ve had enough of you witches.”
Related | Reneé Rapp Calls Out Haters: “If I Say I’m a Lesbian I Am a Lesbian”
Matt Terry
This singer proudly declared his LGBTQIA+ identity, adding a vibrant note to the symphony of queer voices in the music industry.
Amanda Tori Meating
This charismatic star from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 came out as a trans woman, becoming a beacon of hope for the transgender community.
“[I was] in this environment for the first time where everyone’s calling me Amanda and not my government name, and realizing how good that felt, and I started to feel a bit more comfortable in the reformation of my identity.”
Madame LaQueer
Also from RuPaul’s Drag Race (season 4), she embraced her identity as a trans woman, using her platform to champion transgender visibility. She now goes by the name Cassie when outside of drag.
“It’s something I’ve been pondering for myself for years,” she told Entertainment Weekly. “It’s now or never…It’s never too late to come out and live your true experience and be yourself and be authentic. There’s nothing like feeling loved in your own skin.”
Colin Grafton
Known for his graceful moves on Dancing On Ice, Colin skated into the spotlight of queer representation by coming out as gay.
Erika Casupana
Erika Casupanan, the first Filipino Canadian Survivor winner, came out as a lesbian in a playful Instagram video. Fans and the LGBTQ+ community celebrated her, marking another first in her trailblazing journey. Fellow contestants and fans expressed joy and support for her revelation.
Grace Wilson
This Australian soccer powerhouse came out as non-binary, challenging traditional gender norms in sports. They became the first A-League soccer player in the country to come out as nonbinary. “It simply just means that my gender, and my perception of gender doesn’t fit into the Western standards of man or woman. And so, for me, personally, I don’t really feel like I’m anywhere near that.”
Sean Gunn
Zimbabwean Olympic swimmer Sean Gunn, 30, has courageously shared his journey of coming out as gay, admitting he struggled with telling his family for a long time. Gunn revealed that he first came out to his teammates at the University of Kentucky in the United States, where he moved in 2012 to study and compete in swimming. He found acceptance and support from his team and felt his friendships grew stronger. Gunn, who now lives in South Africa with his boyfriend, expressed gratitude for the love and acceptance he’s received from friends and family since coming out at age 27.
Daniel Bedingfield
Daniel Bedingfield, brother of Natasha Bedingfield, made a candid revelation during a recent performance at London Palladium on April 23, where he disclosed that his song ‘Borderline’ was penned about a former male love interest. The British singer-songwriter, known for hits like ‘Gotta Get Thru This,’ shared, “I wrote this song with a man I loved about a girl we both loved.”
Taylor Tomlinson
Comedian and late-night host Taylor Tomlinson recently came out as bisexual during her stand-up special “Taylor Tomlinson: Have It All.”
“So, anyway, I’ve been trying to figure out if I’m bisexual, or if I just binged Euphoria too fast,” she shared with her audience. Addressing the challenges of dating women, she humorously admitted, “I’ve been trying to date women, but it is so hard. I don’t know how to get women to like me.”
Jessica Madsen
Pride Month is kicking off with a bang, thanks to Bridgerton star Jessica Madsen. The actress, known for her role as Cressida Cowper on the hit show, has just revealed the leading lady in her life.
Madsen posted a joyful video on her Instagram stories, featuring herself adorned in rainbow-colored face jewels with her hair blowing in the wind. Her caption read, “In love with a woman, loud about it and proud about it!”
Last year, Madsen first opened up about her identity, sharing a post that read, “Bi the way…. Happy Pride month.” This year, her announcement about being in love with a woman received an outpouring of support, especially from her Bridgerton co-stars.
Jessica Gunning
British actress Jessica Gunning, star of Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, has come out publicly as gay. The 38-year-old actress, who plays the character Martha in the hit thriller-comedy series, shared her personal story during a recent podcast interview.
“I came out in November 2022. And that was a mega, mega thing for me,” she revealed. “I am surrounded by gays, like all my friends are gay, so it wasn’t that I was repressing anything, it was just that I didn’t think that I could be.
She continued, “I still can’t articulate it in the best way. But I realized I was a big, old gay. I was like, ‘That’s what it’s been, that’s what it is’. And that was like a massive moment where everything kind of clicked and I made sense of myself then.”
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan, one of pop music’s freshest talents in recent years, delighted her fans with a bold update: “I’m a lesbian now,” she proudly declared in a video reposted by @subwaymp3. Formerly identifying as queer, Roan’s announcement sparked joy and celebration among her supporters.
“Some sh*t’s changed… but, b*tch, I hope you’re happy, cause I’m a lesbian now!”
Maren Morris
On June 9, the Grammy-winning artist took to Instagram, sharing photos from her Phoenix stop on the RSVP Redux Tour. Among the snaps was a picture of Morris waving a Pride Progress flag, accompanied by the caption: “Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+. Happy pride.”
Deshawn Radden
Survivor 41 runner-up Deshawn Radden celebrated Pride Month by coming out as a “queer Black man,” sharing, “I came out to my family and a few close friends a few years ago.” Reflecting on his journey, he navigated challenges reconciling his identity with faith but found strength in loved ones’ unconditional support. Overcoming fears of rejection, Radden now embraces his authentic self, grateful for the chance to live openly and wholly.
Nick Dumont
In early December, Oppenheimer star Nick Dumont publicly embraced their identity as transmasculine and non-binary, announcing their pronouns as they/them.
Julia Fox
Julia Fox, known for her bold personality and iconic role in Uncut Gems, hinted at coming out as a lesbian in a cheeky TikTok this July.
In the clip, Fox responded to a TikToker’s comment: “I love when I see a lesbian with their boyfriend. It’s like, ‘Aww, you hate that man.’” With her signature wit, Fox replied, “That was me. I was that lesbian. So sorry boys, won’t happen again.”
Bruce Joel Rubin
Oscar-winning screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin, best known for the 90s classic Ghost, came out as gay in a May interview with The Guardian. At 81, Rubin shared that he has “always known” he was “fully gay” and revealed that his wife has been aware of his sexuality for over 50 years.
Lauv
“I’m So Tired” singer Lauv revisited the topic of his sexuality, building on his “gay but not gay” remark from last August.
In a March TikTok, he shared, “I feel like I’m gay, OK. I’ve said this so many times and still not claimed to actually ‘be,’ because I’ve not had enough experience to actually say.”
Jinkx Monsoon
In March, Jinkx Monsoon, a two-time RuPaul’s Drag Race champion and Doctor Who star, opened up to fans about her gender identity, sharing that she is trans-femme and now uses she/her pronouns.
In a heartfelt social media post, she discussed her decision to undergo facial feminization surgery, expressing that it’s “never too late” to live authentically. Jinkx also revealed her new personal name, Hera Hoffer, and spoke about how portraying Audrey in the Off-Broadway run of Little Shop of Horrors helped affirm her gender identity in a meaningful way.
Louisa Jacobson
Actress Louisa Jacobson, the talented daughter of Meryl Streep, chose Pride Month to share her LGBTQ+ identity with the world proudly. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Jacobson declared she is “blessed to be entering the Joyful New Era bb,” accompanied by a pride flag emoji. The 33-year-old actress, known for her role in HBO’s The Gilded Age, embraced this special month to celebrate her true self in a vibrant and public way.
Sasha Colby
The RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 winner revealed she is polyamorous, sharing that she was romantically involved with three people.
“I have three partners! I have two partners and someone else I’m dating,” she explained.
Johann Vera
In August, a rising Latin pop star opened up about his sexuality through a heartfelt new song, earning widespread support from fans. Known for his early start on The X Factor in Colombia as a preteen and later competing on Ricky Martin and Simon Cowell’s La Banda, the singer even received encouraging words from Ricky Martin himself following the announcement.
Sasheer Zamata
In a September interview with Them, comedian and actress Sasheer Zamata, known for her time on Saturday Night Live and her role in Agatha All Along, shared that while she’s been out in her personal life, she’s now ready to embrace her identity publicly. “I guess I’m one of those late-in-life lesbians,” she said, adding that she feels “very comfortable and confident” in who she is. Fans have celebrated her openness and authenticity, praising her for living unapologetically.
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