Often, our commenters will ask whether certain celebrities are gay, and it can be tough for us to answer. While some gay celebrities and gay actors are out and proud, others have remained silent about their sexuality and past relationships, leaving us to dig around for clues about their LGBTQ identity.
So here’s a handful of celebs that people ask about the most, and our answers based on what we know. Keep in mind: We’re not definitively answering if these celebs are gay or not, we’re just saying whether they’re openly gay. We’re also not trying to out anyone or speculate based on superficial traits.
Let’s get started, shall we?
Is Vin Diesel gay?
No, Vin Diesel isn’t gay. At least, it doesn’t seem so. While the action film star is notoriously private about his personal life, it doesn’t seem like he’s gay. Diesel is married to a woman and has three kids. He has dated bisexual actress Michelle Rodriguez in the past, though. So, sadly, we can’t include him on a list of gay celebrities, even though he is very hunky.
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.
Is Kevin Spacey gay?
Yes, Kevin Spacey is gay, and he probably had the worst coming out ever. Following decades of speculation about his sexual orientation, the former House of Cards actor came out as gay on October 2017 while apologizing for drunkenly trying to seduce gay actor Anthony Rapp in 1986 when Rapp was 14 years old and Spacey was 26. Ick.
Gay celebrities, gay actors and others quickly criticized Spacey for linking his homosexuality to chicken-hawking. As such, he is one of the most problematic LGBTQ celebrities on this list.
Is Tyler the Creator gay?
No, Tyler the Creator isn’t publicly out as gay, but it makes sense why people might be confused about whether he’s gay or not.
While the rapper has gotten in trouble for using anti-gay slurs 200 times in his debut album, he has since suggested that he might be gay. He publicly stated in an August 2017 interview that he once had a boyfriend when he was 15 years old, but days later he said he was actually single at the time. One of his song’s lyrics also states, “I been kissing white boys since 2004.”
There isn’t enough info to include him on any list of LGBTQ or gay celebrities, but make of his past what you will.
Is Roxane Gay gay?
Yes, Roxane Gay is actually bisexual (despite her last name). The Haitian-American author initially came out as a lesbian, even though she knew she was bisexual. She explained that her own sexuality frightened her and she thought her attraction to men might die away once she began sleeping with women. However, it apparently didn’t.
Is John Travolta gay?
No, John Travolta has never publicly come out as gay, though gay rumors and accusations have long followed the American actor. In 1991, he married actress Marie Preston and subsequently had three kids with her. Regardless, deceased actress Carrie Fisher has said he is gay. His occasional co-star Kirstie Alley contends that he’s not gay.
Regardless, he has worked with other gay celebrities and gay actors throughout his career.
Is Kristen Stewart gay?
Yes, Kristen Stewart is bisexual. In a February 2017 episode of Saturday Night Live, the actress described herself as “So gay.” But in a March 2017 interview with The Guardian, Stewart identified herself as bisexual.
Is Sam Smith gay?
Yes, Sam Smith is gay. The Brit singer came out as gay in a May 2014 interview with The Fader. In the interview, Smith talked about wanting to find someone to love him. But years before he came out, his personal Twitter account was already pretty darned gay. Since his coming out, he has become one of the most outspoken gay celebrities.
Is Justin Bieber gay?
No, Justin Bieber isn’t gay. He briefly dated singer and actress Selena Gomez and is reportedly married to Hailey Baldwin. In a June 2015 Instagram post, the Canadian-born crooner publicly posted on Instagram that he isn’t gay. Despite that, he once publicly declared himself as Jaden Smith’s boyfriend, but it seems that was just a joke.
Is Bruno Mars gay?
No, Bruno Mars isn’t gay, as far as we know. A bad 2012 April Fools joke seems to have perpetuated the rumor that he might be gay, but his publicists have denied it. Rumor has it that he’s dating American model Jessica Caban. That’s too bad. We’d love to include the talented singer on our list of gay celebrities.
Is Todd Chrisley gay?
No, Todd Chrisley isn’t gay. Although the Georgia real estate mogul has described himself as “proudly flamboyant [and] unabashedly enthusiastic about fashion,” he is also married to a woman and has five kids. Because of his dramatic mannerisms and passionate self-expression, he has had to repeatedly deny gay rumors. But while he isn’t LGBTQ-identified, he’s still fun to watch on TV.
Is Cameron Monaghan gay?
No, Cameron Monaghan isn’t gay. Monaghan played an openly gay character named Ian Gallagher in the comedic Showtime drama Shameless. But in a 2013 Twitter chat with a fan, Monaghan reportedly stated, “No, I’m not gay. Yes, I play a gay character. No, the question should not be relevant.” Monaghan has worked with LGBTQ and gay actors though. He starred as a Joker-style character alongside out actor Cory Michael Smith in the superhero drama series Gotham.
Is Frank Ocean gay?
Yes, Frank Ocean is queer, though it’s unclear how he personally self-identifies. While he has never applied either the “gay” or “bisexual” labels onto himself, in a July 4, 2012 Tumblr post, the rapper wrote about falling in love with another man at age 19. Shortly after posting the message, he reportedly cried in gratitude of his newfound happiness and openness. Thus, we would call him LGBTQ or one of our favorite gay celebrities.
Is Shawn Mendes gay?
No, Shawn Mendes isn’t gay. Although someone hacked the Canadian-born singer’s Twitter account to post a coming out message in August 2017, he later posted a video stating that no, he is not in fact gay. In a November 2018 interview, he stated he has felt a lot of pressure to “prove” that he is straight, a pressure that he worried might drive some closeted LGBTQ artists to suicide.
Is Jaden Smith gay?
No, Jaden Smith isn’t gay. Though Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith’s son is known for his gender-fluid and neutral fashions, it seems as if he’s mostly dated women. He once dated model Sarah Snyder and after they broke up, a young woman named Odessa Adlon. It’s always possible that he might one day identify as LGBTQ, but for now, he doesn’t belongs on a list of gay celebrities.
Is David Muir gay?
No, David Muir isn’t gay. At least, it’s unclear whether the well-paid TV journalist is gay or not. For a while, people speculated over Muir’s sexuality after he attended a gay bar with openly gay journalist Gio Benitez. But then Benitez got married to his boyfriend, Tommy DiDario, leaving Muir’s sexuality unknown. Muir has never been married, has never publicly identified as LGBTQ, nor has he ever publicly dated a woman, but that’s all we know.
Is Ryan Seacrest gay?
No, Ryan Seacrest isn’t gay. And there’s plenty of evidence to suggest that the American Idol TV host most likely is straight. He has previously dated professional dancer Julianne Hough, model Shana Wall and actress Teri Hatcher. Nevertheless, Hough thought he was gay before they started dating.
While he isn’t LGBTQ, his American Idol co-host Simon Cowell made repeated insinuations that Seacrest was secretly gay. It is also said that Seacrest resorts to “homophobic innuendo and lascivious comments about female celebrities” on his podcast series On Air With Ryan Seacrest.
Is James Franco gay?
No, James Franco isn’t gay, despite being an artsy queerbaiter. However, he has previously said, “I like to think that I’m gay in my art and straight in my life.” Adding to his heterosexual cred, he has dated actresses Marla Sokoloff and Ahna O’Reilly. Nevertheless, he has also been involved in plenty of gay art films including Milk, I Am Michael, King Cobra, and Interior. Leather Bar.
Some people have criticized Franco and other heterosexual actors for taking gay and LGBTQ roles that they feel should be played by gay actors.
Is Zac Efron gay?
No, Zac Efron isn’t gay. The hunky box-office heartthrob has previously dated actress Vanessa Hudgens and model Sami Miró. Despite that, gay rumors have followed him since early in his career, possibly in part to his performance in musicals. In a September 2012 interview, he has said there’s nothing wrong with being gay and added that he had gay role models growing up.
Even though you won’t find him on any list of gay celebrities or gay actors, he still retains many enthusiastic LGBTQ fans.
Is Luke Evans gay?
Yes, Luke Evans is openly gay and is one of the few openly gay celebrities starring in major film roles today. Though the actor initially came out as gay in 2002, he then suddenly seemed to go back in the closet in 2010, just as he began starring in major mainstream movies.
Evans has since clarified that he doesn’t like to discuss his sexuality much in the press, but that he isn’t hiding either. He has added that it’s important for people to see him as one of many gay actors living a full, happy life as his full self.
Is Milo Yiannopoulous gay?
Yes, Milo Yiannopoulos is gay. Unfortunately, this toxic alt-right douchebag is one of the most visible gay celebrities in recent memory, and mostly for bad reasons. He married his husband in September 2017. But he has become a villain to both left-leaning gay people and conservative right-wingers who were shocked by his comments seeming to promote pedophilia. He is also friends with gay right-winger Chadwick Moore.
Is Anderson Cooper gay?
Yes, Anderson Cooper is gay. After a small stint living in the glass closet, CNN anchor Cooper finally came out in July 2012. Cooper says he initially refused to come out to maintain personal privacy in his work as a public journalist. But he came out because he didn’t want people to think he was hiding something. He says his gayness doesn’t affect his objectivity as a journalist. As one of the most visible gay celebrities on mainstream TV, he wields influence over LGBTQ and straight news-hounds alike.
Is Eminem gay?
No, Eminem isn’t gay, even though he once said he looks for dates on Grindr. (His publicist swears he was kidding.) The rapper was twice married to Kimberly Anne Scott and has used homophobic slurs in his work. However, he is also “close friends” with one of the most famous gay celebrities of all time: gay pop star Elton John.
Is Kenny Chesney gay?
No, Kenney Chesney isn’t gay. Rumors about the country star’s alleged gayness began after pouty-faced actress Renee Zellweger divorced him for “fraud” barely four months after they tied the knot. But Chesney’s publicist has said Chesney is “unequivocally not gay.” He’s still hunky though.
Is Queen Latifah gay?
No, Queen Latifah isn’t gay, by which we mean she has never publicly come out as gay. We have included Queen Latifah in our list of pop stars who should come out, but she has never publicly self-identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Nevertheless, credible lesbian rumors continue to follow her. In the past, she has played bisexual blues singer Bessie Smith and spoken out for marriage equality.
So while she’s very queer, don’t add her to your list of gay celebrities or gay actors just yet.
Lastly… is Mike Pence gay?
No, Mike Pence isn’y gay. In fact, we’d say it’s highly unlikely that Trump’s Vice President is even remotely gay, even though a widely circulated November 2016 photo purported to show a younger version of himself bearing his abs at a gay bar. (The photo turned out to be a Pence-esque gay adult film performer Brad Patton.)
It’s also rumored that Pence once credited ex-gay conversion therapy for saving his marriage, but that too was a hoax. Weirdly, it’s entirely true that Pence’s wife doesn’t allow him to spend any time alone with women. That’s not gay, but it is quite queer.
Billy Budd
Come on, people. Come on. John Travolta has always been gay. There are photos of him kissing one of his pilots (or an “assistant”) on the mouth, when leaving his airplane. Just google it. I can’t believe you don’t know he is gay.
Juanjo
Some 9 years ago Travolta was sued by several individuals, two of which [as I recall] had contracts as legitimate masseures] for his sexual assaults on them – basically trying to feel them up and get them to engage in gay sex. Those suits were resolved very quickly and quietly by Travolta’s people complete with NDAs.
MISTERJETT
he’s not gay. just because you want him to be gay doesn’t make it so. in a lot of cultures, men kissing is just a sign of affection. to bad our culture makes it into something else.
Billy Budd
Tom cruise is totally gay too.
MISTERJETT
again, just because you want him to be gay doesn’t mean he is gay.
Kangol
Queen Latifah has never come out but has repeatedly been photographed out and about with women she’s been romantically involved with over the years. Tyler the Creator would probably fit in the queer category, since he has expressed sexual attraction to other men in recent years. Since it’s Black History Month, though, it would be great if Queerty would highlight some out LGBTQ celebrities that usually don’t get play, like Keith Hamilton Cobb, screenwriter and playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney, artist, filmmaker and social activist Kortney Ziegler, etc.
Black Pegasus
This list is bullshtt..
that’s all..
randile
And we all know how reliable publicists are with telling the truth. When rumors don’t go away there must be reason for the rumors. People get tired of hearing and saying the same things so if there isn’t new information the rumors stop.
Jim
You have SO many above who are closeted, including that fool Pence and “mother.” Track Air Force 2 and its occasional unscheduled stops in Indianapolis for him to see his boyfriend.
Get a clue about your questionable ones by following who they’re photographed with on Facebook and Instagram instead of being such amateur reporters.
mr guy
This site has gone to shit
man5996853
Were you paid to write this? A good search or just plain old common sense could have been employed to draw these conclusions.
More importantly, you lost me with your inclusion of Milo in a list of celebrities. Hardly.
dinard38
Come on……we all know that John Travolta and Queen Latifah are gay!!! :-p
While I have no proof whatsoever, I do believe that some of the dudes in this list are totally gay. Zac Effron (sorry, my gaydar keeps going bananas every time I see him), David Muir, Todd Chrisley, Bruno Mars, Jaden Smith……and most definitely Rhiana Seacrest. He can pretend all he wants, but just search on YouTube where he’s rubbing oil on a body builder. He was loving it. Even the body builder said that. Haha.
Blackceo
Ok I f*cking screamed at “Rhiana Seacrest” LMAO!!!!!!!
LetsGetLit
Skip all the paragraphs beginning with “No,.” Only read the paragraphs that begin with “yes,” if you still have time to waste. That is all.
Mack
Pretty much what I did. If they’re gay and in the closet, then that’s on them for choosing to live their lives that way. None of us has any business outing anyone unless doing harm to the community.
paul dorian lord fredine
WTF, who’s asking if milo’s gay? ferchrisake, that closet needs a window. as much as most of us wish it wasn’t so…….
RomanHans
John Travolta’s wife is Kelly Preston, not Marie. And Jaden Smith has twice said Tyler the Creator is his boyfriend. Unfortunately, like with Justin Bieber, I think it’s gaybaiting.
IAMBROWN
Fact check: John Travolta is married to Kelly Preston. Not Marie.
Michael1500
I thought I was going to learn something when I started reading this article, only to find out it is an utterly STUPID article. All it does is “report” the current status of these stars, based upon what we ALL already know. This article states that certain obviously gay celebrities are not gay simply because they have not admitted that they’re gay. John Travolta is gayer than a pink hairnet, as is Queen Latifah. Yet this article states that they are not, simply because they haven’t admitted being so. Yes, Queerty doesn’t want to be sued, and I agree with the concept—- but the article shouldn’t be so misleading.
jjose712
Sorry, but it this a joke?
Not being out it’s not the same of not being gay, and i thought everybody knew that.
And we have plenty examples of people who deny being gay for years and years only to end coming out.
So basically this didn’t answer any question
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
I get it now!! Because someone is “dating” a member of the opposite sex, the absolutely positively CAN’T be Gay!!
Thanks Queerts for clearing that one up!
Will L
Boy, does Queerty enforce a double standard, or what?!?
If you look at the Trans community, for example, we are supposed to accept them as they present. Don’t question anything or you will get your ass burned.
Yet, here we have an “is he gay or is he straight” article.
We need to stop this. It’s no one’s business whether they are gay or straight. We should apply the rule of accepting everyone for how they present. Judge people only by their actions.
MISTERJETT
Sorry, but a few months back, Jaden Smith stated that Tyler The Creator is his boyfriend. so i guess, if true, you can take those two off of your straight list.
Donston
This article is problematic in a ton of different ways and just highlights how terrible and also how ridiculously pc this site has become.
If the point of this article is that people should embrace the identity they really want to embrace, that the spectrum is legit, that we should respect an individual’s identity and we also should stop speculating over celebs’ orientations then why have such an article in the first place? Secondly, so you’re telling me there’s no one in Hollywood or outside of Hollywood who is closeted? And no one has ever indulged any public manipulation when it comes to their image? Okay. Also, telling people that if they’ve ever dated someone that’s not their same gender then they can’t be “gay” is extremely ignorant, since maybe most gay people have dated someone of the opposite cis gender at some point in their lives. I used to date females, and hell, I’m not even homosexual, but I still see myself as “gay”. Finally, if we’re respecting individual identity and respecting whether a person chooses to stay closeted then you shouldn’t label Spacey as “gay” since he never came out of such. All he ever said was that he was “living the life a gay man”, not that he actually identifies as a gay man. There are people who live “homo lifestyles” who don’t really see themselves as “gay”, just as there are people who are not homosexual or people who don’t live completely homo lifestyles who do see themselves as “gay”.
Once again, this article is the basis of “problematic”. It really shouldn’t exist.
kiriakis1
What a ridiculous list. Whoever wrote it knows as much about these celebrities as the average person.
fur_hunter
Hey…..Watch the episode of South Park on the Scientology Religion, made up by L. Ron Hubbard. Yeah. That episode is a HUGE riot. just emphasizes how Tom Cruise and John Travolta need to “come out of the closet”. Watch it. You will be on the floor laughing your @$$ off. I love South Park. Check out the episodes on the Mormons. You will bust a gut laughing on those.
Terrycloth
Ryan Seacrest is gay. But wont come out..hes got a beard. A pretty blonde just for show…hes rich so pi t works i guess.its 2019 ypu can syop hiding and pretending…you CAN come out..same with Shawn Mendes ..
galileo
Scrolled down right to the comments to see how many Datalounge commentards would howl about Shawn Mendes, was not disappointed!
sydboy007
Funny how in the #metoo era that you think the pence rule is queer, socially since many men in senior positions are starting to follow it.
Donston
This article is pretty much click bait, giving us a brief summation of where some randoms stand on their public identities.
I stopped speculating about celebs’ orientations a long time ago. Constant rumors and speculation doesn’t equate to someone coming out or being “proud”. Some people will struggle with their sense of self, identity, knowing what they, and being comfortable and self-accepting forever. While the entertainment industry will always have a good deal of manipulation in it. And everyone is in their own particular spot when it comes to the romantic/sexual/emotional/relationship spectrum.
All we can do is try to make it an easier world for people to be themselves.
Anders69
The only reason I am taking the time to comment is to call out this incredibly massive example of click bait. Queerty, you are becoming one of the worst offenders on the internet….please, stop the madness.
Daggerman
…why are we being told this? It’s annoying and stupid because it’s so obvious all the Gay celebrities are out because they have ANNOUNCE there sexuality to the media. Where as all the others haven’t so, therefore we have to say there NOT Gay because they have NOT declared their sexuality. This is a waste of space..
RexRed
Is Vin Diesel gay? 80% of all men are bisexual… so this logic is that if they are married and do not identify as gay they are definitely straight? Even Mike Pence is most likely “bisexual” and probably even closeted gay… Sexuality is a preference, it is not black and white and that is why it is represented with a rainbow. Please stop insulting bisexual people by insinuating that if they are not openly gay that they cannot possibly be bisexual. MANY men married to females are bisexual. This kind of myopic article does serious harm to LGBTQ people.
impish
Chesney is at least bi. I had a friend that was lead backstage to meet him. They went out the doors to where the buses were. There was a picnic bench there and Chesney was sitting on top of the picnic table and a blonde surfer looking guy was in front and my friend says they were really going at it kissing. The security turned him around and brought him back up then Chesney came back up the ramp to meet him. My friend didn’t care but said it was so tempting to say something but he didn’t.