10 Celebrities Who Proudly Came Out to the World

When it comes to deciding whether to come out or stay in the closet, family support can play a crucial role in the decision-making process for many young people. And that’s especially true for those who live in countries where they don’t feel safe coming out. It’s important to note that families may need time and resources to learn how to be supportive of their gay or lesbian child. The examples of these 10 celebrities might show you that coming out can be a very positive experience.

1. Noah Schnapp

In a January 2023 TikTok video, the young actor revealed a significant aspect of his character as he came out as gay. The 18-year-old posted another TikTok video, using a soundbite of a woman saying, “You know what it never was?” which was the perfect sound for his text overlay. This marked the actor’s first public acknowledgment of his sexuality.

In the video, he wrote, “When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after being scared in the closet for 18 years, and all they said was ‘we know.’” This brave move was an important step for the actor, and it sends a positive message to others who may be struggling with their own sexual identity.

2. Bella Ramsey

Bella Ramsey, known for her roles in The Last of Us and Game of Thrones, recently shared in an interview with The New York Times that she identifies as gender fluid. “I guess my gender has always been very fluid. Someone would call me ’she’ or ’her,’ and I wouldn’t think about it, but I knew that if someone called me ’he,’ it was a bit exciting.”

Ramsey now selects “nonbinary” on forms that offer the option, and regarding pronouns, she stated that she doesn’t have a preference. “I’m very much just a person,” she said. “Being gendered isn’t something that I particularly like, but in terms of pronouns, I really couldn’t care less.”

3. Bretman Rock

In a video posted on February 25th, Bretman Rock shared their nonbinary gender identity. “I go by all the pronouns. I don’t go strictly by ’they/them.’ I go by all of them because I also am nonbinary, not because of like—this is the one thing that I’m not for clout about.”

Rock has previously discussed their nonbinary identity in a conversation with Demi Lovato in 2021, stating that they feel they have “2 souls” consisting of both masculine and feminine sides. They also spoke about how their language influenced their identity, saying, “We don’t really have a ’he’ or ’she,’ so I feel like, in a way, I’ve always been nonbinary, and even down to when I was a kid, my grandma would always introduce me to all her friends and call me like, this is my handsome and beautiful grandson. So she would always associate me with both feminine and masculine words. So I feel like I’ve always been nonbinary, to be honest.”

4. Diplo

In a podcast episode of Emily Ratajkowski’s High Low, Diplo discussed his sexuality and past same-sex experiences. When asked about his sexual orientation, Diplo replied, “I’m not not gay.” He further elaborated that he is more attracted to a person’s vibe than their gender and that he believes society has become more accepting of fluid sexuality.

5. Richard Armitage

Richard Armitage, the star of Obsession, recently gave an interview where he talked about the show’s steamy intimate scenes and his personal life. The British actor revealed that he has a male partner, marking the first time he has publicly spoken about his sexuality.

During the interview, Armitage discussed the intimate scenes in the show, which required a coordinator and conversations with the stars’ respective partners. He casually mentioned his male partner, saying, “We did talk about it. I reassured him that it was all going to be fine, and we were being well looked after. Charlie Murphy and I have met each other’s partners and gone for dinner.”

6. Ava Phillippe

Ava Phillippe, the daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, participated in an “Ask Me Anything” session on her Instagram story. During the session, a fan asked her about her sexual preferences. In response, Ava shared that she is attracted to people, regardless of their gender. Her inclusive and casual response has garnered attention and positive reactions from fans.

7. Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo opened up about her bisexuality in the August 2022 issue of British Vogue. The actress highlighted that the LGBTQ community still feels the need to justify why they deserve equality. Erivo stressed the importance of creating a safe and accepting environment for individuals to fully express themselves and embrace their true identities. Her comments shed light on the ongoing struggle for LGBTQ rights and have resonated with readers.

8. Jena Malone

Actress Jena Malone shared her journey of self-discovery and exploration of her sexuality on Instagram. In her post, she expressed a desire to use words to guide her rather than define her. Malone discussed exploring pansexuality, sapiosexuality, and polyamory as terms that felt more aligned with her personal expression. Her post encourages others to embrace their journey of self-discovery and the use of language to articulate their identities.

9. Alexander Lincoln

In January 2023, the actor known for his roles in Emmerdale Farm and In From the Side, publicly confirmed that he is not heterosexual. Although he did not use any specific labels, the British actor responded to a fan’s Instagram comment, revealing his sexuality.

10. Josie Jay Totah

Josie Totah publicly came out as a transgender female in 2018, sharing her journey and pronouns in an essay published by Time. In her essay, Totah expressed her realization of the importance of being true to oneself, stating that hiding her true self was unhealthy. She hopes that fans will accept her for who she is and use her preferred pronouns, she, her, and hers.

People like Jim Parsons have been very open about their coming out experience in Hollywood. Jamie Lee Curtis’ daughter also made her first appearance after she first came out as transgender. But it’s not just famous people who come out to the world. It’s the regular people around us that also have experiences to share.