| Famous Out-Of-The-Closet Lesbian, Bisexual or Gay People (from the soc.motss network newsgroup) Mark in Virginia THEY CAME OUTYOU CAN, TOO! A list of some living, famous people who have publicly acknowledged that they are lesbian, gay or bisexual (as of October 1992) Roberta Achtenberg, San Francisco city supervisor Edward Albee, playwright (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) Pedro Almodovar, filmmaker (Tie Me Up!, Tie Me Down!; Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) Tom Ammiano, schoolteacher, comedian, San Francisco School Board member (and first-place vote-getter) Emily Anderson, photographer Virginia Apuzzo, adviser to Governor Mario Cuomo; former head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Greg Araki, filmmaker (The Living End) John Ash, poet and literary critic John Ashbery, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Don Bachardy, artist; life partner of the late novelist Christopher Isherwood Guido Bachmann, writer Joan Baez, singer (basically straight, but has written and spoken about a onetime lesbian affair) Ann Bancroft, explorer and teacher (*not* the actress Anne) Paul Bartel, filmmaker John Bartlett, fashion designer Robert Bauman, conservative gay activist; former Republican Congressman from Maryland Pia Beck, singer and pianist Andy Bell, lead singer of Erasure Miriam Ben-Shalom, sued military for reinstatement after expulsion for being lesbian Eric Bentley, critic, theatre director and translator Sandra Bernhard, comedian George Birisima, actor and playwright Mr. Blackwell, fashion designer; creator of annual "Ten Worst Dressed" list Marie-Claire Blais, French-language novelist Nayland Blake, artist Robin Blaser, writer Dirk Bogarde, actor Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny Bono and Cher John Boswell, historian Angela Bowie, poet and performance artist; ex-wife of David Bowie David Bowie, rock star and actor (*but* now claims he was just experimenting with gay sex) Paul Bowles, writer Boy George, pop star (formerly of Culture Club) Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Episcopal priest and writer Joe Brainard, poet and artist Marlon Brando, actor (predominately straight, but has written openly of his gay experiences) Robert Bray, spokesman for National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Harry Britt, former President of the San Francisco City Board of Supervisors Nicole Brossard, novelist James Broughton, poet, filkmaker and playwright Olga Broumas, poet Rita Mae Brown, novelist and Charlottesville resident (Rubyfruit Jungle; Bingo; etc.) John Brunner, writer Glenn Burke, ex-Major League baseball player William S. Burroughs, novelist Scott Burson, artist Charles Busch, writer, director and actor Aldo Busi, Italian novelist Dick Button, Olympic athlete Paul Cadmus, artist John Cage, classical composer Jerome Caja, artist Pat Califia, advice columnist Michael Callen, singer, member of The Flirtations Simon Callow, actor Jack Campbell, millionaire Florida businessman and activist Renaud Camus, French novelist Craig Carver, artist Richard Chamberlain, actor Carl "Spitz" Channell, fundraiser for the Nicaraguan contras Margaret Cho, comedian Meg Christian, singer Christopher Ciccone, artist and set designer; brother of Madonna Craig Claiborne, food writer Kate Clinton, comedian Arch Connelly, artist Janet Cooling, artist John Corigliano, classical composer Alfred Corn, poet Tee A. Corrine, artist Midge Costanza, White House aide to President Carter Quentin Crisp, writer and humorist (The Naked Civil Servant) Louie Crew, professor, founder of Integrity (lesbigay Episcopal group) Mort Crowley, playwright (The Boys In The Band) Joe Dallesandro, actor in Andy Warhol films Mary Daly, feminist writer Gasparino Damata, Brazilian writer Betsy Damon, artist Juan Davila, writer Craig Dean and Patrick Gill, male couple suing D.C. government for a marriage license Donna Deitch, filmmaker (Desert Hearts) Samuel R. Delany, African-American science-fiction writer John D'Emilio, historian Patrick Dennis, novelist The members of Depeche Mode David Diamond, classical composer Rev. Johannes Willem DiMaria-Kuiper, minister Thomas M. Disch, poet and science-fiction writer Alix Dobkin, folksinger Jerry Dreva ("Jerri Bonbon"), writer Tom Duane, New York City Council member Martin Duberman, historian and writer (Cures) Robert Edward Duncan, poet Andrea Dworkin, feminist writer and anti-pornography activist Sally Edwards, athlete and businesswoman Kenward Elmslie, writer and librettist Evelien Eshius, member of Dutch parliament Rupert Everett, actor (Another Country; A Room with a View) Perry Farrell, lead singer of Jane's Addiction Justin Farshanau, British pro soccer star David F. Feinberg, novelist (Eighty-Sixed; Spontaneous Combustion) Dominique Fernandez, French novelist Ferron, folksinger Edward Field, poet Harvey Fierstein, actor, playwright and female impersonator (Torch Song Trilogy) William Finn, Tony-winning Broadway actor (Falsettos) Gary Floyd, leader of Sister Double Happiness Barney Frank, U.S. Congressman (Democrat from Massachusetts) Jedd Garet, artist Sally Gearhart, professor, writer and activist David Geffen, billionaire record and film magnate Dante Germino, professor and political theorist Gordon Getty, classical composer Sir John Gielgud, award-winning actor Ronnie Gilbert, folksinger, member of The Weavers Gilbert and George, visual artists Allen Ginsberg, poet Peggy Glanville-Hicks, classical composer Deborah Glick, New York state legislator John Glines, Broadway producer Rev. John Gomes, chaplain of Harvard University Jewelle Gomez, writer Juan Goytisolo, Spanish novelist Annemarie Grewel, Dutch politician and scholar Barbara Grier, writer and publisher Doris Grumbach, writer and critic Daniel Guerin, French journalist Thom Gunn, poet Allan Gurganus, novelist (Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All) Marilyn Hacker, poet Andrew Halloran, novelist Christopher Hampton, playwright Michael Hardwicke, challenged Georgia's sodomy law; the U.S. Supreme Court, on a 5-4 vote, upheld the law in 1986 Joy Harjo, Native American poet (recently visited U.Va.) Sherry Harris, Seattle City Council member; first African-American lesbian elected official in U.S. Lou Harrison, classical composer Bob Hattoy, adviser to Bill Clinton; spoke at Democratic convention Harry Hay, founder of the modern gay-rights movement Bruce Hayes, Olympic gold medallist in swimming Essex Hemphill, African-American poet Joseph Herzenberg, mayor pro-tem of Chapel Hill, N.C. Jon Hinson, gay-rights activist; former Republican Congressman from Mississippi David Hockney, painter William S. Hoffman, playwright (As Is) Jeff Horton, member of Los Angeles School Board Richard Howard, poet, translator and editor Tom Hulce, Oscar-nominated actor (Mozart in "Amadeus") David Hutter, painter Kate Hutton, seismologist Janis Ian, singer Robert Indiana, artist Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) Bob and Rod Jackson-Paris, pro models/bodybuilders Marc Jacobs, fashion designer Derek Jarman, filmmaker (Edward II) Elton John, pop star Jasper Johns, artist Holly Johnson, lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood Phillip Johnson, architect Sonia Johnson, feminist, minor-party presidential candidate Bill T. Jones, African-American dancer Cleve Jones, initiator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, now running for San Francisco city supervisor Frank Kameny, longtime activist; first openly gay person to run for Congress (1971) Arnie Kantrowitz, writer, teacher and activist Jonathan Ned Katz, historian Dennis Kelly, poet Maurice Kenny, poet Billie Jean King, pro tennis champion David Kopay, retired NFL player (incl. the Washington Redskins) Larry Kramer, playwright (The Normal Heart), activist, founder of ACT-UP and Gay Men's Health Crisis Friedrich Krohnke, German writer Hanif Kureishi, novelist and screenwriter (My Beautiful Laundrette; Sammy and Rosie Get Laid) Lili Lakich, artist k. d. lang, country singing star Lynn Lavner, comedian David Leavitt, writer (The Lost Language of Cranes) Fran Lebowitz, writer and satirist Ursula LeGuin, novelist Sergei Lemeshev, Russian opera singer Raymond Leppard, classical composer Simon LeVay, medical researcher; found physiological differences between brains of gay and straight men Denise Levertov, poet Jeffrey Levi, former head, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Marvin Liebman, conservative activist, top aide to William F. Buckley Little Richard, rock singer (*but* claims a Christian conversion expelled his homosexuality) Jenny Livingston, filmmaker (Paris Is Burning) Audre Lorde, African-American poet and activist Lance Loud, columnist; came out to his family on TV during 1973 PBS documentary series "An American Family" Greg Louganis, three-time Olympic gold medallist in diving Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, co-founders of the Daughters of Bilitis, first lesbian organization in the U.S. Donald Maclean, British spy Jean Marais, French actor Miriam Margoyles, actress Johnny Mathis, singer Armistead Maupin, writer (Tales of the City) Glen Maxey, Texas state legislator Bernard Mayes, Episcopal priest, journalist, founding chairman of National Public Radio, now Asst. Dean of U.Va. College of Arts and Sciences Rev. Renee McCoy, African-American minister and activist David McDermott, artist Tim McFeeley, head of the Human Rights Campaign Fund Peter McGough, artist Sir Ian McKellen, award-winning actor Rod McKuen, poet and songwriter Brian McNaught, writer Rev. John J. McNeill, Jesuit priest, scholar and writer Taylor Mead, poet and actor Robert Medley, painter Mary Meigs, painter Gian Carlo Menotti, opera composer Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, British film producers William Meredith, poet James Ingram Merrill, poet Duane Michaels, photographer Carole Migden, San Francisco city supervisor Kate Millett, writer (Sexual Politics) Donna Minkowitz, Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Paul Monette, novelist Cherrie Moraga, writer Mark Morris, dancer and choreographer Morrissey, rock star (formerly of The Smiths) Dee Mosbacher, activist; daughter of President Bush's campaign chairman and Secretary of Commerce Yves Navarre, French novelist Martina Navratilova, pro tennis champion The "NEA Four" (Karen Finley, John Fleck, Holly Hunter and Tim Miller), performance artists whose federal grants were cut off because of "homoerotic" content in their work Holly Near, folksinger Joan Nestle, writer Simon Nkoli, South African anti-apartheid activist Elaine Noble, first openly lesbian or gay person elected to a state legislature (Massachusetts, 1974) Harold Norse, poet Richard Bruce Nugent, writer and artist Rudolf Nureyev, ballet star Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Donald Olson, writer Camille Paglia, writer (Sexual Personae) Dave Pallone, ex-Major League umpire (author, Behind the Mask) Juan Palomo, newspaper columnist Robert Patrick, playwright (Kennedy's Children) Ross Paxton, artist Darcy Penteado, Brazilian writer Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Churches Robert Peters, poet, critic and teacher Roger Peyrefitte, French writer Phranc, folksinger Charles Pierce, female impersonator Jody Pinto, artist Minnie Bruce Platt, poet and teacher Iggy Pop, rock star Jill Posner, photographer Rosa von Praunheim, German filmmaker Deb Price, Gannett newspapers columnist Edward Reynolds Price, novelist Dusty Pruitt, sued military for reinstatement after expulsion for being gay Anne-Imelda Radice, acting head of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), appointed by President Bush John Rechy, writer Lou Reed, rock star (*but*, like Bowie, now says he was just experimenting) Reno, comedian Adrienne Rich, novelist Marlon Riggs, African-American filmmaker (Tongues Untied) Sviatoslav Rickter, Russian pianist Herb Ritts, photographer Larry Rivers, painter and sculptor Svend Robinson, member of the Canadian Parliament Tom Robinson, singer/songwriter Edouard Herbert Roditi, writer Romanofsky and Phillips, folksingers Ned Rorem, classical composer and writer A. L. Rowse, historian William Rubinstein, gay-rights lawyer Jane Rule, writer Joanna Russ, feminist and science-fiction writer Paul Rutherford, singer, Frankie Goes to Hollywood Yves Saint-Laurent, fashion designer Dick Sargent, actor (second Darrin on Bewitched) Jose Sarria, drag entertainer; first openly gay candidate for public office in U.S. history (San Francisco, 1961) May Sarton, writer Ben Schatz, gay-rights lawyer John Schlafly, son of anti-gay conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly and lawyer for her Eagle Forum organization John Schlesinger, filmmaker Maria Schneider, actress (Last Tango in Paris) James Schuyler, poet David Scondras, Boston City Council member Antony Sher, actor Randy Shilts, journalist (The Mayor of Castro Street; And the Band Played On) Siegfried and Roy, comedians Michelangelo Signorile, journalist, activist, co-founder of Queer Nation Aguinaldo Silva, Brazilian writer Ingrid Sischy, editor of Interview magazine Christopher Smith, member of the British Parliament Jimmy Somerville, pop singer (formerly of Bronski Beat, The Communards) James Spada, writer Allan Spear, Minnesota state senator Stephen Spender, poet and critic Martin Sperr, German writer Joe Steffan, top Naval Academy cadet expelled for being gay, now suing for reinstatement Samuel Steward ("Phil Andros"), writer Tom Stoddard, gay-rights lawyer Jeff Stryker, star of gay, straight and bi porno films Gerry Studds, U.S. Congressman (Democrat from Massachusetts) Andrew Sullivan, editor of The New Republic magazine Terry Sweeney, comedian (Saturday Night Live's Nancy Reagan) Mutsuo Takahashi, Japanese poet Carla Tardi, artist Karen Thompson, obtained custody of her disabled lover Sharon Kowalski after six-year court battle Scott Thompson, comedian (The Kids in the Hall) Lt. j.g. Tracy Thorne, U.S. Navy officer who came out on Nightline, now fighting expulsion Michel Tournier, French writer Pete Townsend, lead guitarist of The Who, composer Arthur Tress, photographer C. A. Tripp, psychologist (author, The Homosexual Matrix) Tommy Tune, Tony-winning Broadway singer/actor Robin Tyler, comedian, producer and activist Urvashi Vaid, head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Gus Van Sant, filmmaker (My Own Private Idaho) Gore Vidal, novelist The members of Village People John Waters, filmmaker (Pink Flamingos; Polyester; Hairspray) Sgt. Perry Watkins (ret.), won Supreme Court case for reinstate-ment to Army after expulsion for being gay; African-American George Weinberg, psychologist; coined the term "homophobia" in his book "Society and the Healthy Homosexual" Eudora Welty, novelist Edmund White, novelist (A Boy's Own Story) John Wieners, poet Gale Wilhelm, novelist Jonathan Williams, poet and teacher Cris Williamson, folksinger Val Wilmer, photographer and writer Millie Wilson, artist Fran Winant, artist Jeanette Winterson, novelist Monique Wittig, writer B. D. Wong, Tony-winning Broadway actor (M. Butterfly) Holly Woodlawn, actor in Andy Warhol films NOT OUTnot used in display (I include these names in that they were passed along by people who believed, and in some cases insisted, that they were out of the closetthat is, had publicly acknowledged being gay, lesbian or bisexual. I have verified that, to date, they have not.) Laurie Anderson, performance artist Matthew Broderick, actor Tracy Chapman, African-American folksinger Barry Diller, entertainment executive Jodie Foster, actress and director Merv Griffin, singer, talk-show host and entertainment executive Christian Laettner, pro basketball star Kristi McNichol, actress The members of Pet Shop Boys Larry Sabato, political analyst and professor Sidney Scheinberg, entertainment executive Tom Selleck, actor Michael Stipe, lead singer of R.E.M. Lily Tomlin, comedian/actress John Travolta, actor Jane Wagner, playwright, life partner of Lily Tomlin Alice Walker, African-American novelist Pete Williams, Pentagon spokesman (Again, those in this last group are NOT OUT in that they have not *publicly* acknowledged being gay, lesbian or bisexual) . | |
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