Visibility has never been more important.
Over the past few months, many stars have opened up about their sexuality and gender identity, revealing that they are all part of the LGBTQ+ community.
At a time when LGBTQ+ rights have come under fire in the United States and around the globe, including proposed anti-trans legislation in several states, as well as attempts to ban drag, these celebrities are all helping push back against ignorance, prejudice and intolerance in the fight for equality for every citizen.
For more information and more ways to help support the LGBTQ+ cause, check out organizations like HRC, GLAAD and The Trevor Project.
The singer-songwriter and older brother of “Pocketful of Sunshine” singer Natasha Bedingfield confirmed one of his songs has a queer backstory during a recent show in April 2024.
After performing his single “Borderline” at the London Palladium, he told the crowd he penned it with a man he had feelings for.
“I wrote this song with a man I loved about a girl we both loved,” he said, via Out. “In my era, you had to be gay or straight, or f–k you.”
“I’m not very gay, but we were on a hot spring, sitting on a rock, missing her…,” he added.
Bruce Joel Rubin
The screenwriter for the iconic supernatural romance Ghost came out at the age of 81, revealing he was “fully gay” for the first time in his new memoir It’s Only a Movie.
“I’ve never not been gay… I am fully gay, and I always knew it,” he explained to The Guardian. He also spoke of his wife of 50 years, Blanche.
“Clearly, I held back my sexuality. My sexual life was always very internalized. Of course, one wants orgasmic life, but I had orgasms with Blanche. She and I had a good sex life,” he revealed, also sharing that they explored polyamory over the years. “We had a conjoined relationship with a guy I liked in our ashram. She had a private moment with him, and so did I. Also, I had a few other things along the way, which I didn’t write about because they might embarrass people. It’s not like I’ve been dead to that world. But I’m happily gay. And I’ll tell you something you’ll find out: when you hit your 80s and you think your libido is gone, it comes flying back. So big! Male beauty for me is overwhelmingly powerful. Just seeing someone in the supermarket, I feel this explosive joy.”
Bethany Antonia
The House of the Dragons star revealed her sexuality while hitting back at a troll on social media in April.
She posted a screenshot of the message on her story, which read: “N-word, you look like a piece of s–t. It’s a miracle they even included you in the trailer. But we don’t care. I hope you accidentally die on set.”
In response, she added a comment underneath the screenshot, along with the clown emoji, writing: “Wait till they find out I’m gay too…”
Sophia Bush
In April 2024, the One Tree Hill alum wrote a lengthy essay where she is speaking out about her life over the past year.
Last year, Sophia and her husband of one year, Grant Hughes, broke up. Shortly after, it was discovered she was dating soccer player Ashlyn Harris, who was also going through a divorce from her wife, Ali Krieger. Sophia would clear everything up in an essay for Glamour.
“I sort of hate the notion of having to come out in 2024….I think I’ve always known that my sexuality exists on a spectrum. Right now I think the word that best defines it is queer. I can’t say it without smiling, actually. And that feels pretty great,” she wrote. Find out what else she said!
Matt Terry
The 30-year-old The X Factor 2016 winner opened up for the first time about his sexuality in 2024.
“I’m very proud [of my sexuality], and I’m no longer afraid,” he told GAY TIMES along with the release of his single “His Car,” along with an apology to the first man he ever fell in love with.
“I said to him, ‘You’re not allowed to tell anyone about this’ and he loved me enough to do so. It’s such a regret of mine, and I’m just really sorry,” he said of his secret romance while navigating fame from the TV show.
“I live now with an open mind and open heart, and I feel like we should all live by the statement that we all say: love is love.”
In an interview with GQ, Hunter Schafer was talking about her relationships.
She confirmed she dated Rosalía for about five months in 2019, with Rosalía‘s consent to share the info in the interview.
“It’s been so much speculation for so long. Part of us just wants to get it over with, and then another part is like, ‘It’s none of anybody’s f-cking business!’”
She added that “it’s something I’m happy to share. And I think she feels that way too.”
The two were recently spotted furniture shopping together and remain close friends. “She’s family no matter what,” Hunter said.
Lauv
The 29-year-old singer-songwriter revealed that after many years of blaming his anxiety and OCD for gay feelings, he has accepted that he is “into men.”
“i finally, around age 29 have reopened the door to the part of myself that feels…well…into men. and i don’t know where its gonna go but i think it’s important to talk about because i literally spent A LIFETIME blaming my anxiety & eventual really bad OCD for all my thoughts that had to do with being into men, always shoving it back down. but here i am, a few kisses and some fun in, a lot of songs in, and confused as ever but at least so much happier and more comfortable and less anxious because i’ve started to embrace a part of myself that i ran away from for so long. and yeah..idk where it goes or what i really AM, but that doesn’t really matter cause labels arent always necessary im learning (could u riddle me that, a boy with OCD not needing to label things?!?!?!)” he wrote on social media. Find out what else he had to say.
The 41-year-old actress and filmmaker revealed that she’s queer on the red carpet at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards, along with revealing her new romance with nonbinary partner Sammi Cohen following her divorce.
“I’m here, I’m queer, I have some fear but I’m working through it,” she said.
