2019 is a year when a lot of big names decided to live in their truths, whether they were announcing their sexuality or gender identity for the first time or publicly adopting a different label. Here are their words and stories.
Anthony Bowens
The pro wrestler came out as gay in January after previously labeling himself as bisexual. “As you get older, your viewpoints change,” he told YouTube viewers. “The way you look at the world changes, the way you look at yourself changes.”
Related: Gay and bi guys share the bizarre ways they came out of the closet
Valentina
Amid Valentina’s RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 4 run and before her appearance in FOX’s live production of Rent, the drag queen told Out she identifies as nonbinary. “I don’t completely feel like a man, I don’t completely feel like a woman,” she said. “I feel like a goddess. I feel like I’m my own gender.”
Tessa Ganserer
Ich bin Frau, mit jeder Faser meines Körpers.Und nun auch Frau Landtagsabgeordnete.
Posted by Tessa Ganserer on Friday, January 4, 2019
This German MP returned to the Bavarian regional parliament a trans woman in January. “I am a woman with every fiber of my body and now Madam regional MP as well,” she wrote in German on Facebook.
Stormy Daniels
Donald Trump’s alleged mistress came out as bi in January after cracking a joke about “using [her] fists” on right-wing commentator Tomi Lahren. “I like to f*ck men and women,” she later tweeted. “It’s called bisexual.”
Matt Pacifici
The retired soccer star came out as gay in January via an Instagram photo of himself and boyfriend Dirk Blanchat. “This relationship is the one that makes me the most happy ever in my life,” Pacifici told OutSports. “The more people who come out, the easier it will be for other people to follow.”
Related: Son of famous singer says he was inundated with x-rated pics from strangers after coming out as bi
Woody Cook
Cook, the son of famed DJ and producer Fatboy Slim, announced he’s bisexual in a January interview with Boys by Girls magazine. “It’s very fluid,” he said. “Love is love, you can be who you want and love who you want. That’s my viewpoint.”
Ben Platt
The Dear Evan Hansen star publicly acknowledged he has had relationship with men in February as he released the music video for his single “Ease My Mind.” He told People: “I’ve been out since I was 12 years old to my family and anyone in my life. I’ve never sort of hidden that or been ashamed by it. It’s just part of me.”
Dolly-Rose Campbell
Campbell, who has starred on the British soap opera Coronation Street since 2014, confirmed she’s bisexual in February after being named ambassador for Manchester Pride. “The love and acceptance shown by the people of Manchester allowed me to accept my bisexuality and be proud of who I am,” she told Yahoo.
Ryan Sampson
Hi y’all. So. I was on Instagram and I looked at my direct messages and it turned out someone was trying to rope me in to some (pretty creaky) homophobic banter. Huh! So, for clarity, here’s a pic of me and the boyf. Just to, y’know… straighten that one out. As it were. ?? pic.twitter.com/c7dZpfPfIy
— Ryan Sampson (@MrRyanSampson) February 20, 2019
Sampson, an actor from the British sitcom Plebs, warded off “homophobic banter” from an Instagram user with a photo of himself and his boyfriend. “Just to, y’know… straighten that one out,” he wrote on Twitter. “As it were.”
Lilly Singh
This YouTube star and self-described “Superwoman” identified herself as “female, colored, [and] bisexual” in a February Instagram post. “Throughout my life these have proven to be obstacles from time to time,” she wrote. “But now I’m fully embracing them as my superpowers.”
Jussie_Racist_Clown
Stormy Daniels, who usually looks hard and whorish looks great in that pic. Imagine the ancients looking at her for the first time. That blonde hair and blue eyes. She’d be their goddess because of her fair looks.
@HarryB at q-meet.us
Fair look – really it is great
Zambos271
Woody Cook looks like he could be Grant Gustin’s little brother.
Valentina looks amazing in that photo!!
skeldare
Kind of a crappy list so far.
OzJosh
Yes, a drag queen coming out in not exactly news.
Thad
Still more interesting than People’s “most beautiful.”
Esscourt
No one sucks the energy out of a room faster than a drag queen.
Bryguyf69
How about that actor whose character came out in Gray’s Anatomy? I believe he came out the same day his character did. He’s certainly more relevant to American readers (the majority of Queerty users) than most of the British personalities here.