It’s National Coming Out Day! If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve already come out—so congrats on that! So far this year we’ve seen a number of big-name outings—athletes, actors, singers, social media stars, even cartoon characters. We’ve compiled 15 notable folks who announced they’re LGBTQ since last National Coming Out Day…
The 26-year-old pro wrestler came out as bisexual after posting a video with his boyfriend, Michael Pavano, to YouTube. He followed that up with an announcement on Facebook that read:
I’m not going to make this a long winded post but I think it’s time. Just wanted to let everyone know I’m Bisexual. I look forward to changing perceptions and breaking stereotypes as I continue on my journey. I have zero patience for negativity so if this bothers you please delete me. Thanks!
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
In a video posted to his Instagram page in August, the 41-year-old Nurse Jackie actor announced that not only is he gay, but he’s also “a total bottom.”
“I am a gay, Muslim, Arab-American man,” Sleiman said, “and I’m going to take it even further. Not only am I gay, but I’m also a bottom. Not only am I a bottom, but I’m also a total bottom, which means I like it up you-know-where.”
Always good to know!
The 26-year-old fashion and lifestyle blogger and model came out to his 250,000 followers in June in a video appropriately titled “Coming Out The Real Me.”
“It’s not necessarily something I hide,” Cunard said. “I am who I am and I’m so proud and happy of who I am and who I’ve become.”
The 23-year-old 13 Reasons Why actor came out in a heartfelt Instagram post last month, which he also used to make a plea for marriage equality in Australia.
“Too many of my friends have been kicked out of their homes, kept in the closet, beat up, killed, ridiculed by church and state, institutionalized,” Flynn wrote. “Equality takes courage, it worries me that too many people in this world lack the balls to stand up for what is right.”
The 34-year-old actor came out as trans… by playing a trans character on the hit TV show Queen Sugar.
“I began my career post-transition and am not ‘visibly trans,'” Michael told GLAAD. “I knew that at some point I would want to explore my trans experience in my work, but I wanted to make sure my self-understanding and skills were sharp enough to do justice to this deeply personal subject.”
In an interview with People, the 31-year-old actor not only came out–he also announced he recently tied the knot!
“Being a young actor in the industry, I had a lot of people who strongly advised me to stay quiet. That was hard to live with,” Amboyer said. “But I’ve never played a gay role before and I didn’t want to be limited by some strange perception.”
The popular character from Netflix’s reliably nihilistic animated series Bojack Horseman came out as asexual last month.
Voiced by Aaron Paul (formerly of Breaking Bad), Todd Chavez is Horseman’s quasi-slacker roomie and co-conspirator. In episode 3 of just-released season four, Chavez opens up to Horseman about his sexuality.
“I think I’m asexual,” Todd hesitantly revealed. “It actually feels nice to finally say it out loud. I am an asexual person. I am asexual.”
The 51-year-old former Olympic silver medalist and two-time World Champion hurdler made his big reveal in an interview with Swedish television program on SVT. Jackson, who now works as a sports commentator, said he waited to come out publicly because he didn’t want his personal life to be “sensationalized.”
The 29-year-old former tween pop star came out in a lengthy Twitter post in August, publicly acknowledging that he’s attracted to men and women, and has identified as bisexual since he was thirteen.
“When I was around 13-years-old I started to find boys and girls attractive,” he wrote. “There were years that went by that I thought about, but it wasn’t until I was 17-years-old, after a few relationships with girls, I had an experience with a male.”
The 25-year-old actor formerly known as Charice Pempengcon and best known for appearing as Sunshine Corazon on Glee announced on Twitter in June that his new name is Jake Zyrus and he now identifies as a man. Zyrus, who previously performed under the mononym Charice, rose to fame via YouTube. When his album launched in 2010 he became the first Asian performer to debut in the Top 10 on the Billboard 100.
The 20-year-old singer entered the public consciousness when he covered Lady Gaga’s “Paparazzi,” which went viral after he performed it for Ellen Degeneres at the ripe old age of 12.
In July, he announced on Instagram, “I came to fully recognize that I was gay when I was sixteen. I decided not to publicize my sexuality largely due to a matter of privacy … Nevertheless, I figured now was the time to let a few more friends know that I am happy, I am here for you, and I am proud of who I am.”
The 25-year-old Australian actor, who currently stars on the CW’s The Flash, made his big announcement via Instagram in May, writing: “I like to change my hair, I like to take risks with how I dress, I like girls, & I like guys (yes), I like growing, I like learning, I like who I am and I really like who I’m becoming.”
We like it, too!
The 29-year-old model and Big Brother contestant broke a few hearts in January when he announced that he’s neither gay nor straight nor bisexual. He’s asexual, and he’s not ashamed to say it.
“I am like a nun in bed,” he said. “I am not going to go out with someone and have sex with them. Even after a fourth or fifth date. That’s not what I want.”
To each his own!
Proving it’s never too late to come out, the 72-year-old actor, best known for playing Adam Carrington in the original Dynasty, told the Daily Beast he didn’t come out in the ’80s because doing so “would have been professional suicide without question.”
“It’s not something I’ve ever announced,” Thomson elaborated. “I’m assuming that people know, and now that I’m my age that’s fine. I don’t go out of my way because it’s my generation, I think.”
In April, the 73-year-old hitmaker broke his decades-long silence on his sexuality by coming out publicly for the very first time.
Speaking to People, the iconic “Copacabana” crooner finally opened up about his relationship with husband/manager Garry Kief, confessing to the publication that thought he “would be disappointing [my fans] if they knew I was gay.”
“So I never did anything,” Manilow said. “When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was beautiful — strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it.”
Bob LaBlah
Oh, ok, I get it. Never mind the fact that I, ol’ Bob Lablahblahblah came out in 1973 at fifteen they get priority because they screwed the right…………ok, I get it. Not that I’m jealous, mind you, but I do get it now that THEIR importance and not mine is what counts here. Were it not for Gordon I would start yelling age discrimination. And by the way, who in their right mind didnt know Barry Manilow, a frequent performer in gay bathhouses and notorious for hanging around LONG after his performance was over wasn’t gay? Again, not that I’m jealous. I’m just saying.
Kangol
Liberace, one of the gayest creatures ever to walk this earth, sued a journalist who had called him homosexual in print, and won! Millions of women went to see Liberace perform, and could not be persuaded that he was gay. The same is true of Johnny Mathis, who did come out. So even though Barry Manilow has sort of morphed into Barbara Walters and was flaming up stages for decades, this was a revelation to…someone.
Glad to see both young and old, and gay, bi and trans coming out. Colin Jackson still looks gorgeous too, and Haaz Sleiman…bottom, you say?
HaguePeter
So not one famous women came out?
ps Carl is the cutest
Xzamilloh
“Notable”? Okay, that’s generous
RomanHans
Didn’t you say “celebritIES”?
OzJosh
Should Aaron Carter even be on this list? His coming out was clearly just one in a series of desperate publicity stunts. His most recent statement qualified that he’d had ONE sexual encounter with a man at 17, and could only envision being with women in future. This hardly qualifies as gay pride!
Hussain-TheCanadian
I agree with Oz; Aaron is just fronting. If he’s bi then I’m straight.
Nahald
I myself cannot wait for the day when people don’t have to “come out” any longer and people can just be people. You never see straight people “coming out” and the same should go for everyone else.