Celebrities Who Came Out: Their Stories and Impact
Meredith Baxter
“Family Ties” actress Meredith Baxter confirmed in December 2009 rumors that she is a lesbian. “Anyone who’s a friend of mine, anyone who knows and cares about me, knows,” the actress explained to Matt Lauer on the “Today” show. “It’s no secret that I’m gay, but it has been to the greater world.” Baxter is in a long-term relationship with a building contractor, Nancy Locke.
David Hyde Pierce
He had an 11-year run on “Frasier,” but it wasn’t until he returned to Broadway in 2007 that David Hyde Pierce confirmed his sexuality. The actor is married to writer/producer/director Brian Hargrove. Pierce first talked about his partner in an Associated Press interview about his Tony-nominated performance in “Curtains.”
Matt Bomer
While accepting a humanitarian award in 2012, “White Collar” star Matt Bomer said he “especially” wanted to thank “my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry. Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is.” The actor married publicist Simon Halls in 2011, and the pair had their three children via surrogacy.
Kevin Spacey
“House of Cards” star Kevin Spacey came out via a statement on Twitter after he was accused of alleged sexual misconduct in 1986. Spacey apologized to Rapp and mentioned, “I have loved and had romantic encounters with men throughout my life, and I choose now to live as a gay man.”
Aaron Carter
Aaron Carter shared a note with fans on Twitter in August saying that when he was around 13 years old he “started to find boys and girls attractive.” The singer went on to say that at the age of 17 he had his first experience “with a male that I had an attraction to who I also worked with and grew up with.”
Kristen Stewart
Actress Kristen Stewart referred to herself as “so gay” during her monologue when she hosted “Saturday Night Live” in February. In August she opened up more about her sexuality in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar U.K.</a>
Thomas Dekker
Actor Thomas Dekker came out publicly via a tweeted statement in July after he said “a prominent gay man used an awards acceptance speech to ‘out’ me.” Dekker also revealed that he had married in April.
Barry Manilow
Singer Barry Manilow married longtime partner and manager Garry Kief in a secret ceremony in 2014. Manilow came out after news of the marriage was made public in 2015.
Lauren Morelli
Writer Lauren Morelli said that working on “Orange Is the New Black” helped her realize that she was gay. In March 2017 she married one of the show’s stars, Samira Wiley.
Bob Harper
Bob Harper’s confirmation that he’s gay came about as a desire to comfort a “Biggest Loser” contestant. On a November 2013 episode, personal trainer Harper talked about his sexuality for the first time, sharing, “I’m gay,” Harper said. “I knew a very long time ago that I was gay.”
Conclusion
The journeys of these celebrities highlight their courage and the positive impact their openness has had on the LGBTQ+ community. By sharing their stories, they not only embrace their true selves but also inspire countless others to do the same.
