Some celebrities come out publicly as LGBTQ+ to big fanfare, but others may have been out for years or may have come out quietly. PinkNews brings you a list of 56 iconic stars who, even if they personally avoid labels, are still LGBTQ+ role models. Take a look through some of the celebrities that you might not know are lesbian , gay or bisexual .
Hugh Hefner
The late Hugh Hefner was the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine. (Getty Images)
The late Playboy mogul was rumoured to have been with men despite his penchant for women at the Playboy mansion, according to the biography Mr Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream.
“Hefner’s thirst for sexual experience became so strong that he even had a one-time homosexual experience,” wrote author Steven Watts. “One evening in downtown Chicago he was propositioned and, according to [Hefner’s friend Eldon] Sellers, he ‘thought, what the hell’. Found it an interesting experience.”
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus wants to soundtrack Heated Rivalry season 2. (Kevin Winter/Getty/Sabrina Lantos/HBO)
‘Flowers’ singer Miley Cyrus came out publicly as pansexual back in 2015, and later confirmed she is gender-neutral.
The daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus first achieved fame as Disney Channel character Hannah Montana, but took a more singular path with her 2013 turning-point album Bangerz.
Ian Thorpe
Ryan Channing dated Ian Thorpe for four years. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage) (WireImage)
Legendary Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe came out publicly as gay back in 2014 following years of tabloid speculation.
“I’ve wanted to [come out] for some time…” he explained during a TV interview. “I’m comfortable saying I’m a gay man.”
The Australian five-time Olympic gold medallist since spoken at length about about his reasons for not coming out publicly.
Jess Glynne
Jess Glynne has been open about her relationships with women but avoids using labels. (Getty Images)
The ‘Rather Be’ singer came out publicly in 2015, saying she wanted to be honest with her fans.
Glynne later said she didn’t want to put a label on her sexuality and helped a gay couple get engaged.
The chart-topper had previously spoken of how her debut album, 2015’s I Cry When I Laugh, was inspired by breaking up with an ex-girlfriend.
The star later said she doesn’t want her honesty to mean she is branded as straight, lesbian or bisexual – instead, she wants to avoid labels altogether.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron won an Oscar for her portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003’s Monster. (Getty Images)
The Oscar-winning Monster star has spoken about being with women in her younger years.
Speaking to Andy Cohen, Theron said: “I mean, it’s so strange when we talk so much about it. It should be normalised by now… When I was young, yes. I feel when you’re young, you’re just kind of exploring it all, but it was pretty clear that I really liked dudes.”
Michelle Rodriguez
Michelle Rodriguez came out publicly as bisexual in 2013. (Getty Images)
The Fast and the Furious actor Michelle Rodriguez came out publicly as bisexual back in 2013, saying she is “too curious not to be”.
Rodriguez got into some hot water when she defended her role in 2016’s controversial action film The Assignment, which saw her play an assassin who undergoes a ‘forced sex change’ at the hands of a crazed doctor, played by Sigourney Weaver.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan dated DJ Samantha Ronson from 2008-09. (Getty Images)
The Mean Girls star had a tumultuous relationship with DJ Samantha Ronson between 2008 and 2009, when the couple were often spotted together in public.
After previously saying she did not want to “classify” her sexuality, she told Piers Morgan in 2013 that she still identifies as straight even after relationships with women, saying: “I know I’m straight. I have made out with girls before, and I had a relationship with a girl. But I think I needed to experience that and I think I was looking for something different.”
Tim Cook
Tim Cook was appointed CEO of Apple Inc in 2011. (Getty Images)
The Apple CEO came out publicly as gay in 2014, three years after taking over from the late Steve Jobs.
Cook was even reportedly considered by Hillary Clinton as a possible running mate for her 2016 presidential bid.
In 2017, the Apple CEO won The Newseum Institute’s Free Speech Award for his work protecting LGBT rights.
Matt Bomer
Matt Bomer shares three children with his husband Simon Halls. (Getty Images)
The American Horror Story star has been out publicly as gay since 2012. He married his husband Simon Halls in 2011 and the couple have three children.
The Magic Mike star has previously shared his parents’ shocking reaction to finding out he was gay.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato identifies as bisexual and non-binary. (Getty Images)
The ‘Cool for the Summer’ singer identifies as bisexual and non-binary.
In a 2015 interview, Lovato said: “I don’t feel like any of my past or future — when it comes to relationships that may have happened or not have happened — are of any concern to anybody… By the way, love is fluid … Humans are humans, and when you connect with somebody on a spiritual level it doesn’t matter.”
Jason Collins
Jason Collins became the first NBA star to publicly come out in 2013. (Getty Images)
Jason Collins became the first NBA star to publicly come out as gay back in 2013.
Collins later praised the NBA for moving its All Star game out of North Carolina over an anti-LGBTQ+ bathroom law.
Collins gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 as Hillary Clinton prepared to accept the party’s presidential nomination.
In his speech, Collins reveals that the Clintons knew he was gay before he told the world.
Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne has had several high-profile relationships with women. (Getty Images)
The Paper Towns actor and model has had high-profile relationships with women.
In July 2017 she said she doesn’t like being “pigeonholed” by people who insist on labelling her gay.
The Suicide Squad star has also been open about her battle with depression, with a view to opening up a dialogue on the subject.
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster publicly came out during the Golden Globes in 2013. (Getty Images)
Jodie Foster came out publicly as gay in a speech at the 2013 Golden Globes, opening up about her partner.
A hilarious clip of Foster dealing with a heteronormative interviewer this year resurfaced and went viral.
The two-time Academy Award winner married Alexandra Hedison in 2014.
Bella Thorne
Bella Thorne identifies as bisexual. (Getty Images)
Disney star Bella Thorne came out publicly as bisexual in 2016 after posting a video on Snapchat of her kissing a woman.
She later confirmed her sexuality to a Twitter user who asked if she was bisexual, disclosing that she is.
Margaret Cho
Margaret Cho identifies as bisexual. (Getty Images)
Margaret Cho has included her bisexuality as a theme in her shows.
The comedian says she has had “a lot of experience in the area of polyamory and alternative sexuality in general”.
She discussed her sexual orientation in the 2002 show Notorious C.H.O.
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Paulson is currently in a relationship with actress Holland Taylor. (Getty Images)
American Horror Story star Paulson has been out for years and has been in a relationship with actress Holland Taylor since 2015.
Paulson was named alongside Gavin Grimm and RuPaul as one of the most influential LGBTQ+ people by TIME magazine.
Jim Parsons
Jim Parsons played The Big bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper for 12 seasons. (Getty Images)
The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons came out publicly as gay in 2012, and later said it was “wonderful” to come out quietly.
During his time on the hit sitcom he was thought to be the highest paid out gay actor in Hollywood.
Parsons married his long-term partner Todd Spiewak in 2017.
Gillian Anderson
Sex Education star Gillian Anderson has publicly discussed her relationships with women. (Getty Images)
As well as helping Kate McKinnon to realise her own sexual orientation, The X-Files star Gillian Anderson has also had relationships with women.
Back in 2014, years after revealing she had relationships with women, the Sex Education actress said she owed it to a late female partner not to keep their relationship a secret.
Michael Sam
American footballer Michael Sam came out publicly as gay in 2014. (Getty Images)
American footballer Michael Sam came out as gay in 2014 and was the first out gay NFL player to be drafted.
After coming out he had brief spells with the NFL’s St Louis Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, and Canadian Football League’s Montreal Alouettes.
He later said coming out ruined his NFL career, and called out racism in the gay community.
Joel Grey
Joel Grey (right) starred in the 1972 film adaptation of Cabaret opposite Liza Minnelli. (Getty Images)
Cabaret star Joel Grey played the Emcee on Broadway and in the classic 1972 film adaptation starring Liza Minnelli.
The actor proved it’s never too late to come out, publicly confirming that he is gay back in 2015 at the age of 82.
In an interview with People magazine, he said: “I don’t like labels, but if you have to put a label on it, I’m a gay man.
“All the people close to me have known for years who I am. [Yet] it took time to embrace that other part of who I always was.”
Mara Wilson
Getty
The Matilda star came out publicly back in 2016 in the wake of the Orlando Pulse massacre.
“I *used* to identify as mostly straight. I’ve embraced the Bi/Queer label lately,” said Wilson at the time.
She more recently called for more boring representation of bisexual people in film and television.