25 Most Notable Comings Out

Thousands of LGBT folks no doubt came out this year, but we had our eyes on the handful who helped push visibility in the worlds of entertainment, politics, and athletics.

Gay weather anchor on Good Morning America

In a story about another gay anchorman's wedding — MSNBC's Thomas Roberts — the Champion mentioned his own engagement. He was married in December.





Gay actor and star of The Big Bang Theory

The television star's career sure hasn't slowed down since coming out. He's nominated for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild award, and a People's Choice Award.





Transgender director of The Matrix and Cloud Atlas

Nearly a decade after announcing her transition, the director finally made an appearance on camera to promote her newest project.





Gay actor and star of White Collar

The Magic Mike star mentioned his partner and their three children while accepting an award for HIV/AIDS activism in February.





Lesbian U.S. soccer player and Olympian

Ahead of winning gold for the U.S. team in the Olympic, the Seattle Sounders midfielder came out during an interview with Out magazine.





First openly gay pro boxer

The boxer from Puerto Rico is ranked number 4 by the World Boxing Organization and told USA Today in October that being gay is just another part of his identity.





Lesbian actress, former teen star on TV and in Little Darlings

The child star, who is now 49, told People magazine it was time to come out so she could help send a message of hope to bullied youth.





Lesbian Jamaican reggae star

The star posted a message in June to her Facebook page announcing she's a lesbian and inviting people to respond with "WHO CARES."





Bisexual astronaut and first American woman in space

The famed space explorer came out only after her death when an official obituary posted on her organization's website included mention of her partner of 27 years.





Queer actor and star of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The up-and-coming actor told Out magazine he identifies as queer during an August cover story on his latest movie.





Transgender lead singer of Against Me!

She told Rolling Stone in May that it was important to be a role model because of the rarity of openly trans musicians.





Bisexual Wisconsin state representative

Before her successful reelection bid, the lawmaker told local reporters she was coming out in case it might help young people struggling with their identities.





Queer trans man, writer (see The Collection), and celebrity offspring

The son of Warren Beatty and Annette Bening shared what it's like being him as part of a video series called WeHappyTrans.





R&B crooner who was once in love with another man

In the lyrics from his album, Channel Orange, Ocean sang about his love for another man. Then he went on to multiple Grammy nominations.





Gay CNN anchor and host of eponymous talk show

In an email conversation that was posted online in July, the newsman told blogger and friend Andrew Sullivan that he's gay.





Lesbian U.S. soccer player

Another who would go on to win Olympic gold, Lindsey has a mother who is a lesbian and who encouraged her to come out publicly.





Gay gymnast

The talented gymnast came out in an interview with Out magazine before not making the cut this time for the six spots on the U.S. men's Olympic team.





Lesbian Olympian and basketball star with the WNBA’s Lynx

The Minnesota Lynx basketball star announced in an interview in May with The Advocate that she is getting married to a woman.





Gay Australian football player

The Australian football player came out in September and said his teammates were quick to accept him.





Lesbian wrestler

(Pictured far left) The wrestler married her wife the day after Olympic trials but was cut from the team after testing positive for marijuana use.





Gay and HIV-positive Olympic trampoline gymnast

The silver-medalist came out after seeing the impact that Anderson Cooper had with his letter and wrote one of his own.





Lesbian Olympic archer from South Africa

The archer came out publicly for the first time in a statement to OutSports just before the Olympic games.





Bisexual mixed martial arts fighter

After years of fighting on American Top Team, she told Sports Illustrated in May that she'd learned to be more open about her sexuality.





Gay activist and former football player for the Titans, Redskins, and Seahawks

The former NFL player, who spent time with the Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, and Seattle Seahawks, came out during an interview with OutSports.





Gay newspaper chain chairman and former sports team owner

The former owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates told the New York Times he is gay in September. He is now chairman of the board for the McClatchy newspaper company.