Our roundup of some of the most famous gay actors of all time, proudly flying the flag of our amazing LGBTQ community.
Representation, whether as simple as a sculpted brow or as subtle as a carefully coordinated outfit, is slowly but surely growing for the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood.
More and more actors are coming out of the closet and opening up about their gender, encouraged by the diminished potential for backlash directed at them. While some prefer to maintain their privacy, not out of fear, but out of"God, the paparazzi are making me nervous about this!"– others proudly announce engagements, flaunt breakups for all the world to see, and post their vacations with their beloved partners– and sometimes children too!
We're still not where we should be when it comes to equal treatment and opportunities for many people in show business, but with the list of famous openly gay stars growing every year and the support that follows them, it's only a matter of time. before the score is evened.
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1. Sir Ian McKellen
We dare you to find someone who doesn't adore Ian McKellen. Come in... we're waiting.
Even former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher couldn't resist her charming personality and masterful acting. The Iron Lady even recommended him for a knighthood, which McKellen graciously accepted.
However, that didn't stop him.he managed to utter a few well-chosen words as he passedin 2013. She cut through the noise of heartfelt dedication from world leaders, politicians and artists, and ensured that people remember all the horrific discriminatory policies implemented during their reigns. That takes some balls considering how divisive she was as a character.
Ian came out in 1988, putting his career and reputation on the line to actively protest the Section 28 Bill, a law that prohibited the "promotion" of homosexuality in a positive light.
Today he is the gay community's most famous grandfather, surviving the days when being gay was illegal and the AIDS epidemic.
Her relationship with Patrick Stewart is also a testament to the best that straight and gay men can be. Ian even started Patrick's wedding ceremony!
2. Jodie Foster
Jodie burst onto the Hollywood scene as a child star, appearing in blockbuster films likeBugsy Malone, Freitag Freaky, of course,taxi driver🇧🇷 But it was the legendary thriller/horror movie.Silence of the innocents,where she played FBI trainee Clarice Starling,this cemented his status as one of the greats.
After starting to direct intermittently since the late 1980s, he began to establish himself behind the camera in the 2010s.Orange is the new black, house of cards,yblack mirror.
Despite having been in a relationship with a man for most of her life, Jodie was constantly hounded by the press, who speculated that she was a "closet lesbian", including a gay magazine that should have known better.
When she finally came out as part of the LGBTQ community in 2013, her fans were overjoyed. All those years of rolling your eyes at the annoying interview questions are over.
And things got even better for Jodie when she married her partner, actress and photographer Alexandra Hedison.
3. Stephen Fry
Writer, comedian, director, actor, storyteller: is there anything Stephen Fry can't do?
Stephen is one of those instantly recognizable British actors, both for his performance and his voice. He is a master comedian who started his career doing hilarious skits with his friend and fellow actor Hugh Lawrie.
His screen debut was none other than gay playwright Oscar Wilde. His performance received rave reviews, with critics praising his ability to fully embody the Irish writer. Just look at the side-by-side photos - the resemblance is incredible!
He is also known for saying to thoseharry potterAudiobooks so that millions of children know it only by voice.
Although he initially struggled with being gay in his youth, he has become an outspoken and proud advocate for LGBTQ rights. He called for a boycott of the 2014 Winter Olympics, which were held in Russia. The UEA Student Union also awarded him an Honorary Life Membership of the Union for his reporting on the experiences of LGBTQ students in the Union.
Fry married her partner Elliott Spencer in 2015.
4.Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris is probably one of the most famous and widely recognized members of Hollywood's gay community since he came out in an interview in 2006. We know that he is gay. You know he's gay. People who don't know him because of the neighbor's cat know he's gay!
But Harris himself wasn't so sure until Burt Reynolds(Yes, you read the name right!)she playfully kissed him on the set ofBachelor of Law String Instruments1980s crime drama TV series. And if you were a fan of his most recent role as the flirtatious Barney, you'd be delighted.How I met your mother, you were probably incredibly surprised when you found out the truth:we definitely were!Most recently, Harris starred in the hit BBC series 2021it's a sin(alongside Olly Alexander) with an amazing British accent!
Although Neil PH has dated women in the past, it's safe to say that she prefers life with husband David Burtka and adorable twins Gideon Scott and Harper Grace.
5. Cynthia Nixon
The question of whether you were Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, or Charlotte dominated the early 2000s. Initially, the character of dogged and skeptical lawyer Cynthia Nixon was often dismissed as the most hated girl in fandom. People said she was too judgmental and annoying...
But in hindsight Miranda was a famous badass, smart, sassy and sexy. And it all depends on how Cynthia played the iconic role. And while the show originally aired, Miranda was seen by lesbians as a "queer" replacement in an era when LGBTQ people craved representation.
Cynthia herself has always been a strong advocate for gay rights. Even before she came out as a queer. She was a strong advocate for marriage equality and even met her future wife at an LGBTQ rally in 2002. She spoke about how using the queer label is much more liberating than identifying as gay or bisexual, as she feels it encompasses her years. of life. .Heterosexual.
Her son Samuel came out as trans in 2018. Despite her initial struggles with using the correct pronouns, Cynthia spoke about coming to understand trans issues through her own research.
He has played several gay roles including Sarah Paulson's love interest on the Netflix show.Ratchet🇧🇷 He also encouraged the 2021 Writers of the Year.and so,to explore Miranda's strangenesson themsex and the Cityrestart.
6. Alan Cumming
You can always count on the Scots to be loud and proud.
Alan is a truly famous stage and movie star. He has won numerous awards for his acting, including his starring role inI seein 1994. It took home the Tony Award for Best Performance in a Musicalcabaret🇧🇷 He has starred in high art films such asEyes wide shut, GoldenEye,yspice world(What? This movie is a masterpiece!)
But one of his greatest honors was being named an OBE by the Queen for his services to film, theater and activism for LGBTQ rights.
Alan has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights since coming out as bisexual. He has been MC-ed and participated in fundraising events for GLAAD and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). He also appeared in an Equality Network video campaign to raise support for gay marriage in Scotland. He has also worked closely with AIDS/HIV charities to destigmatize and raise awareness of the disease.
In 2012, she legally married her partner, illustrator Grant Shaffer, in New York, having previously formed a civil partnership in 2007.
7. Olly Alejandro
Olly Alexander is a man of many talents and many problems in his youth. He appeared in the 2021 BBC British TV series,"It's a sin", covering the period before the devastating AIDS epidemic. Instead, be sure to check out the chilling homage to all things Gothic.Groschenroman.
In addition to his acting accolades, Olly is also widely known for his role as the lead singer of the synth pop band.years and yearsand your documentarygrow up gay🇧🇷 Not only does the film tell the stories of other LGBTQ youth struggling with outside prejudices and their own mental health, it also explores Alexander's own struggles as someone who grew up knowing he was gay, in a world that is not always accepted.
When not performing, she visits schools and gives inspiring and inclusive talks as an LGBTQ role model. We could definitely use a few more templates around the world, not just for the younger generation in our community, but for almost everyone!
The moment Olly stole our hearts was when he delivered this moving speech at Glastonbury Festival 2019, championing LGBTQ rights and calling for an end to racism, ableism and sexism.
8. Billy Porter
It's crazy to imagine a world without Billy Porter. From his incredible voice to over-the-top fashion moments, Billy never misses a moment to make himself known. And at a time when we need queer, confident people of color to make room at the table, Billy is a true example of how we can always be louder and more cheerful.
But before there wasPoseofancy bootsor the iconic tuxedo dress that got Glenn Close on the red carpet, described Billyfeeling crushed by the industry🇧🇷 He struggled to find work, casting people always questioning masculinity or insisting he looked "too flamboyant".
Fast forward to today and things have certainly changed!
In 2019, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work.Pose, becoming the first openly gay black actor to do so. In 2013, she received a Tony for her role as drag queen Lola infancy boots🇧🇷 The Broadway cast also won a Grammy that same year, which means Billy is one letter away from picking up an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony).
9. Jane Lynch
Who knew the famous button-eyed, snake-tongued, track-suit cheerleading coach from the hit show?happiness, could he be that soft in real life? Jane Lynch has several stage and television credits to her name, but it was Ryan Murphy's hit music show that put her on the map.
And even if her character was straight, as gay as it gets, Jane Lynch is.
Rather than following in the footsteps of Ellen or Rosie O'Donnell, Jane never officially came out and, unlike many other gay stars, was never advised to stay in the closet.
That said, Jane was still struggling to accept herself as an adult. In 2014 she participated in the webseriesimproved, with queer celebrities sharing their stories. Jane shared that she never understood why the neighborhood boys didn't want her to play baseball with them (she was probably afraid a girl would hit her!) and how bad she felt.
However, Jane overcame her shame and is now a strong advocate for gay rights. She campaigns for LGBTQ movements around the world and is now married to her partner Jennifer Cheyne.
10. Lucas Evans
Luke Evans is one of the biggest and most famous actors to have quietly emerged in recent years. She has never been so vocal about partnerships, largely due to pressure from agents and publicists hoping to "preserve" her burgeoning career. But he certainly isn't willing to hide the facts either!
Although currently single, many posts onInstagramshow it to an old friend, director Rafa Olarra. That same insta feed also has some thirst traps we could add!
Originally from Wales, some of Evans' biggest roles include films such asdracula untoldand the heroic bard entersO HobbitTrilogy. We also like him in his role as the obnoxious, conceited Gaston inBeauty and the Beast, which was a fairly new movie for Disney as they were introducing theirsfirst gay character– LeFou, who has already been shown to havefeelingsfor Gaston.
Maybe there was an alternate ending in a different universe, where the antagonist survives, overcomes his massive ego, and he and LeFou can find a nice country house to decorate with horn decor...A Disneyrd can dream, right?
11. Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons is best known for his iconic role as Sheldon Cooper on the hit television series.teoria do big bang, for which he received several awards. Don't you just love to see gays win?
He showed upthe normal heart, a made-for-television film depicting the devastating effects of the AIDS epidemic in 1980s New York. He played 1940s Hollywood producer Henry Wilson on the Netflix show.hollywood- notoriously withdrawn and notorious for sleeping with men to make them stars. ythe boys in the band(both on stage and screen). Talk about a resume!
not jimofficiallyHe left. During an interview with her, she casually mentioned her partner.The New York Times dies🇧🇷 No problem, that's the way it should be!
Despite a positive response from the public, the intensity of the response made Parsons nervous about his homosexuality.would have serious consequences for the TV show🇧🇷 As the years passed, Jim said he began to feel responsible for his gay identity: "When it was officially released, I felt responsible, and this was very new for me, and I felt like a more active member." Community."
12. Ben Wishaw
Ben is a sweetheart! You can't help but fall for her youthful charm...
Ben has starred in many famous blockbusters including the voice of Paddington Bear, the next generation of Mr. banks.The Return of Mary Poppins,suffragettes,the Danish girl, and like Millennial Q in the James Bond films –heavy rain,spectrum, youno time to die🇧🇷 He also acted in important works like Hamlet and The Crucible. In other words, when it comes to acting, there's so much more to this guy than just a pretty face!
But the icing on the cake? We remember being super excited when Ben became famous in 2013. While being in the limelight outside of character roles has never been his strong suit, he has opened up enough to prove himself and his partner Mark Bradshaw(Aren't rhyming last names a good sign?)– entered into a registered civil union in 2012. We definitely look forward to seeing more of Ben W's upcoming movies!
13. Page of Elliot
Amidst all the horrible news 2020 has brought us, there was a saving grace when Elliot Page emerged as his true authentic self. Spurred on by the growing anti-trans rhetoric online, Elliot revealed to the world that he was a trans man, using “he/they” pronouns as a starting point.
He was quickly hailed as a beacon of hope for trans and non-binary people everywhere, and we couldn't agree more. At the time she came out, Elliot was recovering from major surgery, which she described as a "life-saving" procedure.
Best known for his work onJuno,whip, start, youcity stories, Elliot originally came out as a lesbian in 2014 while coming out as a woman. At that time, Elliot received worldwide acclaim for his speech, in which he spoke about how he was tired of hiding who he was. Later he spoke about it.an experience to be discoveredof the director ofX-Men: The Last Stand.
Since coming out as trans, Elliot has continued in his role.the umbrella academy, with screenwriters incorporating his identity as part of his character's story. Netflix has also updated all of Elliot's credits to reflect his new name.
14. Portia de Rossi
Portia de Rossi announced in 2018 that she was retiring from acting. And all despite heartbroken fans knowing he wouldn't add more iconic TV credits.McBeal Allyydevelopment stopped, it's fair to say that his legacy it's practically set in stone.
We love seeing a famous and popular lesbian actress win countless awards. But Portia didn't always plan on coming out as gay. She was originally married to a man (although this was actually part of a scheme to obtain a green card, which she later cancelled). She talked about the relationship not being for her.
He met his wife Ellen DeGeneres at an awards show in 2004, and the two have become one of Hollywood's most famous couples (wipe that out, one of the worlds).
Portia used her platform to speak out about issues she struggled with, like anorexia.
She has also been involved with numerous charities, including Locks of Love, which provides human hair wigs to children suffering from alopecia. She is a huge animal lover, just like Ellen, and works with the Alley Cat Allies, who help provide a loving home for stray cats.
15. Jorge Takei
Nerds love him for his famous role as Hikaru Sulu inStar Trek🇧🇷 Gay men love him for his tireless support of LGBTQ rights. And everyone loves him because he's a great guy in every way!
He is such a popular character in American entertainment that he has made numerous appearances as himself in various television sitcoms such asMalcolm Mittendrin, Will & Grace, The Big Bang Theory, youFuturama🇧🇷 He even received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (we're still waiting for our induction).
He also made a name for himself in Britain by appearing on reality television.I'm a celebrity get me out of hereand the gameSR Sra.
George "officially" arrived in response to Arnold Schwarzenegger's vote against gay marriage in California during his tenure as governor. However, he admitted that his devoted fans and close friends had known he was gay for years.
She married her longtime partner Brad Altman in 2008. They were the first gay couple to apply for a marriage license in West Hollywood, with Star Trek alums Walter Koenig and Nichelle Nichols serving as best man and lady. honor, respectively.
16. Zachary Quinto
Zachary Quinto, most notable for playing Spock in the last few episodes of the seriesStar TrekUniverse that emerged after the tragic death of Jamey Rodemeyer in 2011 instead of continuing to hide from his fans and followers. He wanted his viewers to know that they are not alone in their feelings and that no amount of social rejection should steal their love and joy.
Although he also played the main antagonist in theheroesseries, your off-screen actions show support for your community, which we think is absolutely heroic! We wish such drastic measures had not been taken to unite and be proud.
Other notable film roles for Zachary include starring in Emmy nominee,American Horror Story: Asil,margin call,What is your number?yHotel Artemis.
17. Ruperto Everett
She played Julia Roberts' gay best friend inMy best friend's wedding, a gay student in 1930s England in the filmanother land, the king of the fairies inA Midsummer Night's Dreamand provided the voice of Prince Charming in bothShrek 2yShrek el 3🇧🇷 What a resume.
Some people were surprised when Rupert spoke out against the introduction of gay marriage. But he is only against marriage in general, for both heterosexual and homosexual couples.told the guardian:: “I hate heterosexual marriages. The wedding cake, the party, the blisters, the inevitable divorce two years later. In the straight world this is a complete waste of time and in the gay world I personally find it beyond tragic that we are trying to emulate this institution which is clearly a disaster."
Rupert also commented on the debate over whether straight men should be cast as gay characters. in one (n)interview with himIndependent, insists Colin Firth took the lead role from hima single manbut he said the question is more"Why can't gay actors play straight roles? ... We shouldn't make rules about it."
18.Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Miller hasn't always been particularly open about public curiosity. Like many other actors, he preferred to keep his love life mostly to himself unless he had no other options.
Can't say we blame him; Curious smarties can become boring, famous or not. But after turning down an invite to a Russian film festival in 2014 amid anti-LGBTQ laws, it didn't take long to connect the dots. Thisprison BreakThe star felt uncomfortable supporting an event in a country where her community was so vehemently ostracized and oppressed by love.
One day the world will be free for all of us to travel and explore without having to tiptoe, at least we hope so!
And when Wentworth couldn't get any sexier, she also played the love interest in Mariah Carey's music video.we belong to each other.
19. John Barrowman
You can meet him fromI'm a celebrity get me out of here🇧🇷 the one ofDoctor who🇧🇷 Or a West End show. No matter where you first met John Barrowman, you'll remember his strong, metallic, theatrical voice and his signature line, "fabulous!"
Born in Scotland, Barrowman moved to the United States at the age of eight, where he participated in his school's drama program. He made his West End debut in the 1989 musicalEverything goes, plays the lead role of Billy Crocker. From then on he continued playing.Senhorita Saigon, Sunset Blvd., youBeauty and the Beast.
Eat, sleep and breathe theater. Hell, she even met her husband Scott Gill backstage during a production ofCorda.The famous couple tied the knot in 2013 under California's marriage equality legislation.
Away from the stage are among his achievements as an actor.Doctor who,wooden torch, youdesperate house donuts🇧🇷 He also worked as a judge.ice dancing.
Outside of acting, Barrowman is a vocal and vocal member of the LGBTQ community. He has worked with the British charity Stonewall on campaigns against homophobia in schools. The group placed hundreds of tracks across the UK with the tagline:"Some people are gay. Get over it!"
20. Rosie O'Donnell
everyone whoDonald Trump publicly attackshe is a friend of ours!
We all know the orange asshole isn't a fan of strong, powerful women who speak their minds. Add in the fact that Rosie is an outspoken activist for LGBTQ rights and has established herself as the enemy of all Republicans in America.
Rosie gained fame by hosting her own talk show. It featured Madonna and a teenage girl, Britney, and often tackled hard-hitting topics such as gun control and 9/11.
Rumors that Rosie might be a lesbian began to surface after she played a lesbian mother.will and grace🇧🇷 Ultimately, Rosie bit the bullet and announced to the world that she was gay, saying, "I don't know why people make such a big deal out of gay things. People are confused, shocked, like this is a big revelation to someone. ??
She came out during an interview with Diane Sawyer when she wanted to drawAttention to a terrible ban on gay education in Florida that moment.
The comedian/actress is an enthusiastic supporter of gay couples' adoption rights. Rosie has raised and adopted children herself, raising a total of 5 children (and we find it tough being a cactus mom!)
For more inspiration:
- Be sure to check out ours too.Summary of the best gay youtubersfor your viewing pleasure!
- As much asour favorite gay instagramers
- Here they areThe most gay friendly countries in the world
- and these areThe best gay travel appswe like to use it when we travel
- read ourTips and Tricks for Gay Travelers to Stay Safe While Traveling
- You must visit some (if not all!).the gayest cities in europe
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