In celebration of Pride Month, here are some of our favorite stars who represent the LGBTQIA+ community, and create space for aspiring creatives to feel seen and heard!
1. Aunjanue Ellis
‘King Richard’ star Aunjanue Ellis recently opened up to Variety about her LGBTQIA+ identity for the first time ever, saying she’s “very clear about being bisexual.”
2. Billy Porter
‘Pose’ star, Billy Porter recently revealed that he officially came out in 1985 following a tumultuous upbringing. He met his husband, Adam Smith, in 2009 and they were married in 2017.
3. Lena Waithe
Lena Waithe, an actress, producer and Emmy-award winning writer, made a name for herself as an out-and-proud black gay woman in the entertainment industry. As a creative who’s been open about her sexuality throughout her career, she consistently empowers others in Hollywood to advocate for LBGTQ+ rights and representation.
4. Frank Ocean
Frank Ocean, a 2x Grammy-award winning singer, shared a “coming out letter” on Tumblr back in 2012 confirming he was bisexual after revealing that his first love was a man.
5. Niecy Nash & Wife, Jessica Betts
Niecy Nash, a famous actress and television host, was married to her wife Jessica Betts in an intimate California ceremony back in August 2020. While the news shocked many fans, the pair has proudly showed off their love!
6. RuPaul
RuPaul is cemented in popular culture as one of the most famous and iconic drag queens in the 90s and early 21st century. He’s been with partner Georges LeBar for over 20 years, but they were married in 2017.
7. Raven-Symone
Raven-Symone, the former Disney star, first came out about her sexuality publicly in a 2013 tweet applauding the government for legalizing gay marriage in more states. However, she said she’d known she was gay since she was 12.
8. Don Lemon
Don Lemon, a longtime CNN anchor, came out as gay in his 2011 memoir, ‘Transparent.’ He announced his engagement to boyfriend Tim Malone in 2019.
9. Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monae, a talented actress and Grammy nominee, has opened up about her sexuality multiple times over her career. Most recently, Janelle was featured on the season five premiere of Red Table Talk in April 2022 and said, “I’m nonbinary, so I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely. I feel all of my energy.”
10. Lee Daniels
Lee Daniels, the ‘Precious’ and ‘The Butler’ director, opened up in conversation with The Hollywood Reporter about being bullied as a kid and abused by his late father for being gay.
11. Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts, the longtime GMA anchor, revealed she was gay on a Facebook post in December 2013 and on GMA in January 2014.
12. Colman Domingo
Colman Domingo, a star in ‘Zola,’ ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ ‘Walking Dead,’ and ‘Euphoria,’ has been married to his husband, Raúl Domingo, since 2014.
13. Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox’s breakout role was as Sophia Burset in Netflix’s acclaimed ‘Orange is the New Black’ series, but rose to be one of pop culture’s strongest voices to advocate for transgender and gay rights.
14. Wanda Sykes
Wanda Sykes had an established career as a comedian and entertainer when she publicly came out at an equality rally in Las Vegas back in 2008.
15. Mo’Nique
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During her latest comedy special, Mo’Nique shockingly opened about her sexuality.
16. Jerrod Carmichael
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In his stand-up special, Rothaniel last year, comedian, actor, writer Jerrod Carmichael revealed that he’s also a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.