One of the most prominent groups that of the LGBTQ+ community that was also one of the first visible groups is that of the gay female, lesbian, or bisexual communities.
These powerful women have been staunchly fighting for their own and others equal rights for many, many years and while not everyone is yet comfortable being visible as a member of the community for various personal, societal, or religious, there are some who have taken the incredibly momentous and brave step to be visible to the whole public as LGBTQ+.
This can be especially difficult for celebrities, who are constantly in the public eye. We thought we’d discuss some of the brave, gay, female celebrities who have come out over the years in this article today.
1. Jodie Foster
Probably one of the most famous lesbian celebrities of all time, Jodie Foster has been a Hollywood tour de ’force for many years playing the leading actress in films such as ‘Silence of the Lambs’, ‘Panic Room’, and ‘The Accused’.
In more recent times, she has even moved into a director’s role, directing episodes of ‘Orange is the New Black’ and ‘Black Mirror’.
Foster came out publicly during a speech at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards, explaining that her trusted friends and family already knew, and cracking some jokes about it as well.
2. Wanda Sykes
As a comedian, writer, voice actress, and general actress, Wanda Sykes has worked extremely hard over the years to establish herself and has done so with poise and confidence. However, it was extremely hard to come to terms with her sexuality.
She didn’t come out privately until her late 30s and early 40s, before coming out publicly in 2008 at a same-sex marriage rally in Las Vegas.
She has stated how it was incredibly difficult to come out to her conservative parents, but she and them have since reconciled.
3. Ellen DeGeneres
For all the controversy that she has caused in recent times and for all the information coming out about her mistreatment of her staff, it should still be noted that Ellen DeGeneres’ coming out in the late 90s to becoming one of America’s most popular talk show hosts helped a lot of LGBTQ+ people realize their authentic selves.
Having one of the most popular prime time presenters openly talk about her homosexuality gave a lot of people a big boost in confidence, so at least she did some good as well.
4. Cameron Esposito
Very few people have embraced their queer identity as much as Cameron Esposito has, she is an actor, stand-up comedian, and a podcaster on the podcast ‘Queery’, a show centered around queerness and discussions with queer guests.
Esposito has been openly a lesbian for a long time, but recently came out as gender-fluid in 2021 as well, and uses the pronouns ‘she’ and ‘they’ to describe themselves.
5. Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne started her career as a model after leaving school in 2009, before moving into movie roles as an actress in 2012 for the film adaptation of ‘Anna Karenina’.
Since then, she has starred in multiple movies, including ‘Suicide Squad’ and ‘Paper Towns’. She has even appeared in the video game GTA V as one of the radio hosts that you can listen to.
Delevingne is openly gay and identifies as bisexual and pansexual. She has made no secret of her sexuality or relationships, but she has also not gone out of her way to make them known, living her life as she wants to.
6. Sarah Paulson
If you love drama or horror movies or TV shows, then you will know the name Sarah Paulson, she is a powerhouse that has appeared as a lead in many hits, including ’12 years a slave’, ‘Bird Box’, and ‘American Horror Story’.
She has described her sexuality as a ‘fluid situation’ and has never put a moniker on it, but has remained in a stable relationship with Holland Taylor for many years.
7. Kate McKinnon
Kate McKinnon has appeared in many roles in comedy movies in her time, with her most famous appearance probably being in ‘Ghostbusters’. However, she came to realize she was gay by watching ‘The X-files’ with her mum.
After coming out to a few trusted friends, she came out emotionally to her mum, who was absolutely fine with it all, telling her ‘whatever you want to be’.
8. Lena Waithe
Known for being the first African-American woman to win a prime-time Emmy for outstanding writing for a comedy series for the comedy-drama series ‘Master of None’, Lena Waithe is more used to being a powerhouse behind the screen.
However, in recent times she has definitely appeared more and more as an actress, including in ‘Westworld’ and ‘Big Mouth’.
She has been out and proud for a while, being a masc-presenting lesbian that has continued to win awards.
9. Jane Lynch
Although most famous among young people for her performance in ‘Glee’, Jane Lynch has starred in a multitude of shows and movies over the years including ‘Best in Show’, ‘The 40-year-old virgin’, ‘Paul’, ‘The Marvelous Mrs Maisel’, and ‘Wreck-it Ralph’.
Lynch never really came out, but has been open and honest about her sexuality when asked. She has noted that most of the time she was never asked by writers of shows or casting directors, so she just never bothered to say.
10. Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenberg is considered one of the most influential teens of the modern day. Her first acting role was in the action movie ‘Colombiana’, but her real breakthrough role was as Rue in ‘The Hunger Games’.
Since then, her career has gone from strength to strength, and she has appeared in a number of roles since.
One of the most prominent things she is known for is for speaking out on the rights of LGBTQ+ people, publicly stating that she herself is a gay person and a non-binary person as well (using the pronouns she/her and they/them).
11. Ruby Rose
Known for a variety of roles she has had over the years, Ruby Rose has been a model, a presenter, and an actress in both movies and TV shows, such as ‘Orange is the New Black’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’.
In all these roles, she has appeared as the same confident person that she always has been.
She has even been confident in her sexuality, coming out at the age of 12, and although she had many hardships when coming out, that confidence has never gone away.
12. Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart first came to prominence starring as Jodie Foster’s character’s daughter in ‘Panic Room’, but rose to new heights as Bella Swan in ‘Twilight’, becoming the world’s highest paid actress in 2012.
Since then, she has starred in a number of roles, but mostly in roles she wishes to do thanks to the money she has already earned.
Stewart came out as bisexual in 2017 and was warned about the impact on her career. However, she brushed off the warnings, stating that she would not want to work with people who can’t accept her girlfriend and her.
13. Aubrey Plaza
Aubrey Plaza is perhaps most famous for starring as April Ludgate in ‘Parks and Recreation’, but she has had many other prominent movie roles as well, such as in ‘Scott Pilgrim vs the World’ and in ‘Black Bear’.
When asked about her sexuality, she kept it casual, saying that: ‘I fall in love with guys and girls. I can’t help it.’.
14. Michelle Rodriguez
Known for playing the tough, but fun Letty Ortiz in the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise, Michelle Rodriguez is very similar to her character in real life, with her favorite hobbies including skydiving, DJing, and tactical gun training.
Rodriguez has mentioned that she is interested in both guys and girls, and that she is bisexual under the LGBTQ+ moniker in the past.
Her statements about her sexuality have always been fairly nonchalant and laid back, mentioning how she does as she pleases, which is very like her overall approach to life.
15. Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus might be one of the best known singer-songwriters in America, with one of the most intense career trajectories that there has been.
For a long time, she struggled being a child-star singing and writing songs that were not what she wanted. In more recent years, she has become more open and written in genres and different songs that are more her own style.
Cyrus came out as pansexual at 14 and has mentioned how she loves people for people rather than for their specific gender. She is also one of the biggest advocates and supporters of LGBTQ+ rights.
Conclusion
There are many gay female celebrities out there, many of them openly talking about their sexuality.
These women have inspired and given courage to others who may not be able to be as open about their sexuality, which is fantastic for those who may still be hiding.
Hello, my name is Gay Worlley - no, really - and I love learning about all things queer. I am also a qualified gardener and enjoy traveling in my spare time.
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