36 celebrities who’re overtly proud about being LGBTQ

Noah Schnapp got here out as homosexual on TikTok.

Schnapp posted a TikTok video in January that learn, “After I lastly advised my family and friends I used to be homosexual after being scared within the closet for 18 years and all they mentioned was ‘we all know.'”

Within the video, the actor additionally lip-syncs to voice-over audio that claims, “You already know what it by no means was? That critical. It was by no means that critical. Fairly frankly, won’t ever be that critical.”

Schnapp, who performs Will Byers on the Netflix hit present “Stranger Issues,” alluded to the truth that he and his character had been extra alike than he realized. Will expresses his emotions for his finest pal Mike on the present.

“Clearly, it was hinted at in Season 1: It was at all times sort of there, however you by no means actually knew, is it simply him rising up slower than his buddies?” Schnapp advised Selection in a July 2022 interview. “Now that he is gotten older, they made it a really actual, apparent factor. Now it is 100% clear that he’s homosexual and he does love Mike.” 

Bella Ramsey has opened up about being nonbinary and has praised her present “The Final of Us” for its illustration of queer relationships.

In 2023, “The Final of Star” Bella Ramsey advised The New York Occasions her gender “has at all times been very fluid,” and that she considers herself “nonbinary.”

“I am very a lot only a particular person,” she advised the outlet. “Being gendered is not one thing that I significantly like, however when it comes to pronouns, I actually could not care much less.”

Ramsey spoke overtly about sporting a chest binder on the set of the hit Max present, and praised “The Final of Us” for portraying constructive queer relationships on-screen. 

Throughout an look on the Glad, Unhappy, Confused podcast in February, she mentioned: “I feel it is simply very nice and essential that folks can really feel represented, and the hope is that it impacts individuals who aren’t locally simply as a lot because it impacts people who find themselves.” 

Rapper Yung Miami of the Metropolis Ladies confirmed that she was bisexual throughout a Could podcast look.

Throughout an look on the podcast “The Jason Lee Present” in Could, rapper Yung Miami spoke about her bisexuality and admitted that she had a crush on Megan Thee Stallion.

“I’mma smash all day and tomorrow,” she mentioned of Megan.

“Sexually, I have been with a lady earlier than, I find it irresistible,” she added.

Elliot Web page described himself as trans and queer in a letter to followers.

The “Umbrella Academy” star, who was nominated for an Academy Award for the 2007 movie “Juno,” clarified his title and pronouns in a letter shared on Twitter.

“I really feel fortunate to be penning this. To be right here. To have arrived at this place in my life,” he wrote. “I really feel overwhelming gratitude for the unbelievable individuals who have supported me alongside this journey. I am unable to start to precise how exceptional it feels to lastly love who I’m sufficient to pursue my genuine self.”

Within the letter, Web page denounced politicians “who work to criminalize trans well being care and deny our proper to exist,” and “all of these with a large platform who proceed to spew hostility in direction of the trans group.” 

He added: “I really like that I’m trans. And I really like that I’m queer. And the extra I maintain myself shut and totally embrace who I’m, the extra I dream, the extra my coronary heart grows and the extra I thrive.”

Web page, who’s married to dancer Emma Portner, beforehand got here out as homosexual throughout a 2014 speech at Time to Thrive, a convention to advertise the welfare of LGBTQ youth in Las Vegas.

“I’m uninterested in hiding and I’m uninterested in mendacity by omission,” the actor mentioned. “I suffered for years as a result of I used to be scared to be out. My spirit suffered, my psychological well being suffered and my relationships suffered. And I am standing right here in the present day, with all of you, on the opposite facet of all that ache.”

Rina Sawayama has been hailed as “the way forward for queer pop.”

Sawayama, who identifies as pansexual, has celebrated the LGBTQ group in songs like “Chosen Household” and “This Hell.”

She can be an outspoken advocate for queer illustration in music and variety within the studio.

“Why will we let straight white males dictate what our music ought to sound like, and what we must be listening to on the radio, and what our tales must be?” she advised the Homosexual Occasions.

“I perceive that while you’re with a label or a writer it is onerous to show down these individuals, however as girls, and particularly as queer individuals, we have to say no to issues and be heard and stick our head above the water,” she continued. “It is a difficulty, and I am always attempting to work with completely different individuals.”

Followers of Brendon Urie have at all times seen him as a queer icon.

Because the entrance man of Panic! on the Disco, Brendon Urie grew to become identified for rejecting stereotypical masculinity, toying with androgyny, and embracing sexuality.

“I am married to a lady and I am very a lot in love together with her however I am not against a person as a result of to me, I like an individual,” he advised Paper journal in 2018. “Yeah, I assume you may qualify me as pansexual as a result of I actually do not care. If an individual is nice, then an individual is nice. I identical to good individuals, in case your coronary heart’s in the suitable place. I am undoubtedly drawn to males. It is simply those who I’m drawn to.”

Janelle Monáe has opened up about her “free” sexuality.

“Being a queer black girl in America, somebody who has been in relationships with each women and men — I contemplate myself to be a free-ass motherf—er,” Monae mentioned in an interview with Rolling Stone.

Because the article makes clear, Monae first recognized as bisexual.

“However then later I examine pansexuality and was like, ‘Oh, these are issues that I determine with too,'” Monae mentioned. “I am open to studying extra about who I’m.”

Laverne Cox is arguably essentially the most recognizable trans actor in historical past.

The “Inventing Anna” star lately grew to become the primary transgender girl to encourage her personal Barbie doll.

“I feel it is essential to have the ability to be like, ‘Sure, your shoulders are broad, sure your arms are huge and your voice is deep and also you’re actually tall and folks discover you, and that makes you noticeably trans, however that does not make you any much less lovely,'” Cox advised Self journal. “You are not lovely regardless of these issues, you are lovely due to these issues, and [believing] that needs to be an energetic acutely aware course of.”

“I am attractive and I will personal that as a result of I feel trans girls are attractive,” she continued. “Plenty of us are attractive not regardless of our transness, however due to our transness. That is simply the reality.”

Jim Parsons has taken roles that amplify and discover the experiences of homosexual males.

Parsons publicly got here out as homosexual in a 2012 New York Occasions characteristic, which explored his position as a younger homosexual activist onstage in “The Regular Coronary heart,” a Broadway present that grapples with AIDS.

“As soon as it was out within the public, I used to be like, ‘Properly, f— you! For those who nonetheless have an issue with homosexual individuals, you straight have an issue with me,'” he lately advised Selection. “Being a full-fledged member of it and claiming it, there was simply an elation there, and there nonetheless is! I nonetheless really feel it. It is an enormous aid, and it is also very nice to generally be capable of really feel righteous anger.”

The actor is ready to star in a Netflix adaptation of the drama “The Boys within the Band” alongside fellow homosexual actors Matt Bomer and Zachary Quinto. The story follows group of homosexual males who discover solace in one another, amidst their struggles in a close-minded society.

Hayley Kiyoko is understood by her followers as “Lesbian Jesus.”

Kiyoko hopes that, by singing about her personal experiences and that includes same-sex love tales in her movies, she can assist queer followers settle for themselves.

“That is the entire purpose for doing pop music and being within the mainstream and being daring: attempting to showcase not [being] scared. I do not need individuals to be like, ‘Properly, my life’s gonna suck for the following 10 years.’ No! Your life may be superb now,” she advised The Guardian.

Kehlani’s “Honey” is a celebrated homosexual love track.

Kehlani clarified that she’s a lesbian in 2021 after beforehand figuring out as queer. The singer has lengthy been a visual member of the LGBTQ group, significantly after the discharge of her 2017 love track “Honey.”

“I imply, I have been making music about girls my complete profession, however I by no means felt the necessity to write ‘she,’ essentially. It wasn’t within the forefront of my thoughts,” she later mentioned in an interview with The Fader.

“However now I’ve seen how individuals reacted to my track ‘Honey,’ or after I’ve used the proper pronouns and put girls in my music movies,” she continued. “Simply seeing how a lot individuals felt like they wanted that illustration or how a lot it impressed them undoubtedly inspired me to step into this new section of creating music.”

Asia Kate Dillon grew to become the primary non-binary actor with a starring position on American TV.

Dillion performs Taylor, a non-binary character in Showtime’s “Billions.”

“I’d have by no means wished to play Taylor if it had been a one-off episode and in that episode it might have been all about their gender identification,” Dillon advised NBC Information. “If it hadn’t been a completely fleshed-out character, I would not have wished to do it, as a result of that illustration is outdated hat, frankly, and never attention-grabbing. Non-binary individuals are multi-dimensional human beings.”

Dillion additionally performed a non-binary character often known as The Adjudicator within the 2019 “John Wick” movie.

Tessa Thompson revealed that she’s “drawn to males and likewise to girls” in 2018.

As a queer girl, Thompson pushed for her “Avengers” character to be explicitly bisexual onscreen and often advocates for extra inclusion in Hollywood. 

“I do not assume any artist has the duty to be the ambassador, particularly in terms of who you’re keen on,” she lately advised Time. “I do not begrudge anybody who needs to maintain that separate from their skilled life. There’s not only a perceived threat of popping out in Hollywood. There’s an actual one.”

Billy Porter advocates for higher roles for homosexual actors.

In a 2017 op-ed for the New York Occasions, Billy Porter revealed he had been bullied and bodily and sexually abused all through his childhood.

“None of this was simple,” he wrote. “I misplaced high-profile roles I knew I may have gotten, and the paychecks that went with them. Homelessness and chapter had been a part of this journey as nicely.”

He mirrored on his evolution as a homosexual man in theater, his current success on Broadway, and FX’s “Pose,” and his refusal to maintain taking part in stereotypes.

“The world has caught up with me,” he concluded, “and I am a residing witness that goals do come true, even when they don’t seem to be those you begin out with.”

Lauren Jauregui has invoked her bisexuality to make a political assertion.

“I’m a bisexual Cuban-American girl and I’m so pleased with it,” Jauregui wrote in an open letter to Trump voters. “I’m proud to be a part of a group that solely initiatives love and training and the help of each other.”

Kim Petras has spoken about embracing her trans identification at a younger age.

Petras, who got here out as trans at a younger age, opened up about feeling “suicidal” within the improper physique in a 2018 video for MTV.

The German pop star started hormone remedy at age 12 and now says she’s proud to be “a job mannequin for younger trans youngsters.”

“In my profession, I selected to not discuss being transgender to start with, ‘trigger I wished my music to do one thing itself, and it did,” Petras advised Insider in 2019.

“I really feel like I’ve actually confirmed myself as a songwriter,” she continued. “Now, I am right down to be transgender nonetheless I need and discuss it as a lot as I need. As a result of I’ve at all times been open about it, however now I do not care anymore, ‘trigger I do know I am right here due to my music.”

Lucas Hedges says he exists on the LGBTQ spectrum.

“I owe it to this half to talk as actually as potential,” Hedges advised Vulture about his movie “Boy Erased,” which offers with conversion remedy.

“Within the early levels of my life, a number of the individuals I used to be most infatuated with had been my closest male buddies,” he continued. “That was the case by way of highschool, and I feel I used to be at all times conscious that whereas for essentially the most half I used to be drawn to girls, I existed on a spectrum. Not completely straight, but additionally not homosexual and never essentially bisexual.”

Elton John is among the most iconic overtly homosexual musicians of all time.

The “Rocket Man” singer has habitually donated and drawn consideration to LGBTQ causes, together with founding the Elton John AIDS Basis in 1992, the identical yr he advised Rolling Stone that he felt “fairly snug being homosexual.”

In 2019, he shared a message for younger individuals battling their sexuality: “Simply be your self.”

“Do not let anyone do you down,” he shared throughout an interview with Selection. “I have been very privileged as a result of I am in a enterprise that sort of accepts homosexual individuals. There are children that are not privileged. They arrive from poor backgrounds. Their dad and mom do not perceive; faith offers them a tough time.”

Evan Rachel Wooden says “labels are tough,” however has traditionally fought for bisexual visibility.

“I favor ‘queer,'” Wood wrote on Twitter in 2013. “Bisexual works too besides I do not exclude transgender individuals. This is the reason labels are tough.”

The “Westworld” actress then addressed quite a lot of biphobic assumptions in a collection of tweets in 2015.

“I can guarantee you that no matter ‘straight privilege’ I generally get accused of getting, will get erased by #biphobia,” she wrote. “Bear in mind, bisexuality doesn’t suggest midway between homosexual or straight. It’s its personal identification.”

Earlier than he discovered success within the music business, Troye Sivan got here out as a YouTuber in 2013.

Sivan addressed his sexuality in a 2013 video on his fashionable YouTube channel, titled “Coming Out.” 

“This isn’t one thing that I am ashamed of, and it is not one thing that anybody ought to must be ashamed of,” he mentioned.

He adopted he candid video with a “Half 2” in 2015 and now, as a pop star and actor, Sivan has continued to overtly talk about his experiences as a homosexual man. He is additionally a vocal advocate for intersectional help of the LGBTQ group.

“Step one and the toughest step is popping out to your self,” he advised Dazed in 2016. “Realizing who you might be and your identification — as soon as you have gotten previous that course of — ensure you’re in a secure atmosphere. And in case you really feel it’s a secure atmosphere, I’d extremely, extremely advocate popping out. I can converse from private expertise and say it has been the perfect factor I’ve ever executed in my whole life.”

Kristen Stewart, who identifies as bisexual, famously joked about being “so homosexual” on “Saturday Night time Reside.”

“You are not confused in case you’re bisexual,” she advised The Guardian in 2017. “It is not complicated in any respect. For me, it is fairly the other.”

Stewart additionally spoke to the complexity that comes with having her sexuality within the highlight.

“I imply, it is onerous to speak about,” Steward mentioned. “I do not need to appear presumptuous, as a result of everybody has their very own expertise. The entire challenge of sexuality is so gray. I am simply attempting to acknowledge that fluidity, that grayness, which has at all times existed. However perhaps solely now are we allowed to start out speaking about it.”

Billy Eichner makes use of his platform to help pro-LGBTQ political candidates and improve illustration in Hollywood.

As Brent Lang wrote in a profile of Eichner for Selection, “On social media, he is turn out to be one of the vital vocal homosexual voices of the resistance” and often urges his followers to become involved politically.

Notably, the comic will quickly hit the large display screen in “Bros,” a romantic comedy about two males with dedication points from Judd Apatow’s manufacturing firm. Based on Selection, this makes Eichner the primary overtly homosexual man to write down and star in a significant studio film.

“I am honored that it is me, however it ought to have been another person 30 or 40 years in the past,” he advised Selection. “I hear individuals speaking about variety and inclusion, however I typically see homosexual individuals disregarded of these conversations. The comedy group, which has at all times been such a straight man’s recreation, has not been sort to overtly homosexual males, and I nonetheless see a lot homophobia in terms of casting.”

Sia revealed she identifies as queer in 2013.

In 2017, for Billboard’s “Love Letter to the LGBTQ Group” collection, Sia wrote that she “determined to dedicate myself to the queer group in a extra significant method.”

The singer largely used her temporary letter to highlight the struggles and many-varied faces throughout the LGBTQ group.

“I’m so very grateful for my queer group and would have withered away way back with out them,” she wrote. “Particularly my supervisor David, who has held my hand now for 12 years, by way of mild and darkish. He lately got here out publicly as HIV constructive, and the transformation of his disgrace into self acceptance has been magic to observe. I’m so completely satisfied and pleased with him.”

When Kesha falls in love, she says it is “not a couple of gender.”

“I do not love simply males. I really like individuals,” Kesha advised Seventeen Journal. “It is not a couple of gender. It is simply in regards to the spirit that exudes from that different particular person you are with.”

Sara Ramirez, who performed the longest-running queer collection common in TV historical past, got here out as bisexual in 2018.

Ramirez starred because the bisexual orthopedic surgeon Callie Torres on “Gray’s Anatomy” for 10 years. The actor got here out as bisexual six years after leaving the present.

Ramirez advised Huffpost they waited to return out as a result of they was apprehensive it might negatively have an effect on their profession. Within the time since, the actor has turn out to be a robust advocate for the LGBTQ group.

“Due to the intersections that exist in my very own life: girl, multi-racial girl, girl of colour, queer, bisexual, Mexican-Irish American, immigrant, and raised by households closely rooted in Catholicism on each my Mexican and Irish sides, I’m deeply invested in initiatives that permit our youth’s voices to be heard,” Ramirez mentioned throughout a speech at True Colours Fund’s 40 to None Summit.

Ramirez presently stars as a non-binary comic named Che Diaz on HBO’s “And Simply Like That.”

“What I really like about Che is that Che is sophisticated and messy and human. Che is a superb reminder that even after we do not like somebody in our group, they nonetheless deserve love, security and pleasure, like everybody else,” Ramirez advised Selection. “However the motion for liberation consists of everybody, even individuals we do not like. This motion, this struggle, this get together of satisfaction, is not only for the individuals who make us really feel cozy and cute — it is for everybody.”

Amandla Stenberg identifies as gender non-binary and pansexual.

“Gender and sexuality are so fluid. It is OK to alter your thoughts 1,000,000 instances and work out what works for you. It is OK to take your time,” Stenberg advised Seventeen journal in 2018. “I really like that we now have this umbrella time period of ‘queer,’ and so many issues can exist beneath it, however I noticed that a part of my journey was hiding beneath that umbrella, as a result of I used to be scared — on a private and a public stage — to confront what I used to be.”

“It was simpler for me to say ‘I am bi’ or “I am pan’ as I used to be figuring it out,” they continued. “However I got here to a spot the place I felt actually pleased with my sexuality, and I made a decision I wished to share that satisfaction.”

Frank Ocean’s celebrated music typically explores his relationships with males.

Simply earlier than the discharge of his debut album, “Channel Orange,” Ocean posted an intimate observe on his Tumblr that clarified its inspiration.

“4 summers in the past, I met anyone. I used to be 19 years outdated. He was too,” Ocean wrote. “It was my past love, it modified my life.”

“I haven’t got any secrets and techniques I would like stored anymore,” he continued. “I really feel like a free man.”

Whereas Ocean has largely prevented any particular label, many followers interpret his 2017 single “Chanel” as an exploration of bisexuality.

Neil Patrick Harris got here out as homosexual in 2006.

In his 2014 memoir, “Select Your Personal Autobiography,” Harris mirrored on his expertise with coming to phrases along with his sexuality.

“After a protracted inside journey, you now embrace being homosexual, recognizing it as an exquisite and integrally essential element a part of the totality that’s you,” he wrote.

Sam Smith, who identifies as non-binary and genderqueer, mentioned they “determined to embrace myself for who I’m, in and out.”

“After a lifetime of being at struggle with my gender I’ve determined to embrace myself for who I’m, in and out,” the “Keep With Me” singer mentioned after they clarified their pronouns.

“I’m at no stage simply but to eloquently converse at size about what it means to be non binary,” they continued, “however I am unable to watch for the day that I’m. So for now I simply need to be VISIBLE and open.”

Smith had beforehand opened up about their fluid strategy to sexuality and the way they “float someplace in between” female and male throughout an interview with Jameela Jamil.

“Non-binary, genderqueer is that you don’t determine in a gender,” Smith mentioned. “You’re a combination of all various things. You might be your individual particular creation. That is how I take it. I am not male or feminine, I feel I float someplace in between. It is all on a spectrum. I feel the identical with sexuality.”