LGBTQ Celebrities Who Are Open About Their Sexuality
LGBTQ – which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer – has many advocates in Hollywood and beyond. While LGBTQ celebrities or community, in general, has always been there, featuring same-sex love interests were restricted by many studios until the 1960s. Later, LGBTQ+ characters started getting more prominence in the movies, thankfully.
Given the stereotypes linked with the presentation of the LGBTQ community on the big screen, it is understandable that celebrities often don’t find themselves in a comfortable space to talk freely about their sexuality. However, as the world started welcoming the LGBTQ community, the celebrities also started to open up and overcome the pressure to keep the secret about their sexuality. They began to talk about their sexual interests and took a strong stand in supporting LGBTQ+ rights. For decades, the LGBTQ celebrities stayed quiet, but now they have come out in the face of adversity and supported the community in a positive way.
We have a handful of A-listers who have decided to live their truths to the world publicly. So, in this article, we will talk about some of the LGBTQ celebrities who have openly come out to the public and are proud of it.
1. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus, the former Disney star and singer, hasn’t shied away from talking about her sexuality. In the past few years, she was seen opening up about being pansexual and gender-fluid in various interviews. Since then, she has become a dedicated and vocal advocate for multiple LGBTQ rights and issues. Miley Cyrus also has her own organization, named Happy Hippie Foundation, which sheds light on the LGBTQ+ communities and other vulnerable populations.
2. Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko, an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actress, is highly regarded by her fans as "Lesbian Jesus." Over the years, she talked about her sexual preferences and the LGBTQ community in general in multiple interviews and events. Hayley opened up about her liking for women since her younger age. Apart from that, she has also shed light on her experiences, how she managed to make her parents comfortable, and several same-sex stories in her videos to help her queer fans proudly accept themselves.
3. Billy Porter
Billy Porter, an actor and a singer, revealed in an interview the poignant moment when he identified himself as queer and the ways he had been bullied or abused for having different sexual needs. Billy Porter also showed his support for Black, gay, and trans people and refused to keep playing stereotypical characters. He’s a true champion of gay rights.
4. Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is a celebrated icon on the list of LGBTQ celebrities. She is one of the strongest supporters of this community and has openly talked about her sexuality several times on multiple platforms. In 2019, in an interview with Barbara Walters, Lady Gaga talked about being bisexual, and since then, she has never left any opportunity to support the LGBTQ community. Being such a strong supporter, she has managed to create a massive LGBTQ+ fanbase in the past few years.
5. Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres is a renowned comedian and talk show host who has long been a pioneer for the LGBTQ community. She worked endlessly for gay rights and opened up and talked about it on national television in 1997. She came out as a lesbian and accepted it with complete confidence in front of the entire world. Ellen made history by becoming the first gay lead character on TV, and later she started her own clothing line that aimed at breaking down gender stereotypes.
Celebrities who openly support LGBTQ rights
1. Beyoncé
Beyoncé is a fearless advocate of the LGBTQ community in Hollywood. She has been talking about issues connected with sexual, gender, and identity equality for years. She was never afraid of taking up such topics, and even in one of her speeches, she told the LGBTQ+ community that their queerness is beautiful and they should not hide anything. For always being upfront and fighting for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community, she and her husband Jay-Z won the GLAAD Vanguard Award a few years ago.
2. Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt has been a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights for several years now. He supports various charities for equal rights, human rights watch, and the human rights campaign. In 2012, Pitt donated $100,000 to a campaign that supported same-sex marriage. In one of his speeches, he also shed light on the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone, irrespective of their sexual interests or preferences.
3. Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway is another celebrity who is a fierce supporter of the LGBTQ community and their rights. She is a sister of a gay brother and has never hesitated in talking about him. She proudly accepted the sexuality of her brother and has spoken about LGBTQ rights several times. In several events and speeches, she showed her support for gay marriage, gay adoption, and gay rights. In 2018, she was honored with the Human Rights Campaign Ally Award for supporting the LGBTQ community.
Final Thoughts:
These are some celebrities who have been icons of the LGBTQ community in the past few years. They helped destigmatize the LGBTQ identities and enhanced the self-confidence of various people who are still struggling to speak freely about who they are. Seeing successful, renowned LGBTQ celebrities who are just like us is no less than a motivation to be comfortable with whatever sexual interest we have.
If you find this article interesting or helpful and are looking forward to talking more about the LGBTQ community, please take a look at gaycommunity.com.
