Most famous gays
12 LGBT icons from history you should know about
Marsha P. Johnson was an African American transgender-rights activist, whose work in the 1960s and 1970s had a huge impact on the LGBT community.
At this time, being gay was classified as a mental illness in the Combined States. Gay people were regularly threatened and defeated by police, and were shunned by many in society.
In June 1969, when Marsha was 23 years old, police raided a gay bar in Fresh York called The Stonewall Inn. The police forced over 200 people out of the bar and onto the streets, and then used excessive abuse against them.
Marsha, who was living and working in New York at the time, was one of the key figures who stood up to the police during the raids.
Marsha resisted arrest, but in the following days, led a series of protests and riots demanding rights for gay people.
News of these protests spread around the society, inspiring others to unite protests and rights groups to fight for equality.
Read more about Marsha P. Johnson here.
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Whilst there are, thankfully, a growing number of prominent LGBT figures across the world from all walks of being today, when it comes to considering some of the most influential and/or prominent members of the LGBT society over the last 150 years, we have compiled the following top ten.
Of course, as always, let us understand if there is anyone you assess we have missed who should be on the list.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Wilde was a celebrated playwright, poet, and writer, known for his brilliant wit, extravagant style, and tragic imprisonment for “gross indecency” due to his homosexual relationships at a moment when it was illegal to be gay in the UK. His works, including “The Importance of Being Earnest” and “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” continue to be celebrated for their wit and critique of social norms. Wilde is a symbol of the struggles faced by the LGBT group and the enduring spirit of defiance and resilience. In recent years he has been named as the “most quotable figure” in the history of the English language.
Alan Turing (1912-1954)
Turing was a pioneering mathematician
36 celebrities who are openly proud about being LGBTQ
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- These 36 prominent celebrities are outspoken advocates for the LGBTQ community.
- Many have shared gay experiences through music, fond Halsey, Lil Nas X, and Yung Miami.
- Actors favor Bella Ramsey, Asia Kate Dillon, and Laverne Cox have reflected the expansive spectrum of gender on-screen.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Noah Schnapp came out as gay on TikTok.
Schnapp posted a TikTok video in January that read, "When I finally told my friends and family I was gay after existence scared in the closet for 18 years and all they said was 'we know.'"
In the video, the actor also lip-syncs to voice-over audio that says, "You know what it never was? That serious. It was never that serious. Quite frankly, will never be that serious."
Schnapp, who plays Will Byers on the Netflix hit show "Stranger Things," alluded to the reality that he and his character were more a
Our roundup of some of the most famous same-sex attracted actors of all day who are proudly flying the flag for our awesome LGBTQ community.
Representation, whether plain as a horrible eyebrow job or as subtle as a carefully coordinated outfit, is leisurely but surely growing for the LGBTQ+ community in Hollywood.
More and more actors are coming out and opening up about their gender, emboldened by the lesser potential for backlash aimed in their direction. While some favor to maintain their privacy – not out of fear but out of “God, the paparazzi are getting on my nerves about this!” – others proudly announce engagements, present breakups for all the world to see, and post their vacation snaps featuring their beloved partners – and sometimes kids too!
We still aren't where we need to be when it comes to equal treatment and opportunity for a lot of folks in Show Business but with the list of openly famous queer stars growing each year and the support for them following suit, it's only a matter of time before the score evens out.
1. Sir Ian McKellen
We dare you to find someone who doesn’t adore Ian McKellen. Go on… we’ll wait.
Even the for
Top 20 Famous Lgbtq+ Actors of Hollywood 2024 [LGBTQ+ Icons]
Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen is an acclaimed star known for his versatile performances on stage and screen. Beyond his acting prowess, McKellen is also recognized for his activism, particularly in LGBTQIA+ rights. His career did not suffer post-coming out. Instead, it flourished, with McKellen taking on a range of more emotionally resonant roles that resonated with audiences worldwide. McKellen came out during a BBC radio broadcast in 1988 as an operate of protest against Section 28, a proposed law in the UK that sought to prohibit the "promotion of homosexuality." His spontaneous revelation was a bold move during a time when gay rights faced significant legal and societal challenges. Reflecting on the impact of his coming out, McKellen noted that it changed his life "for the better," improving his relationships, personal satisfaction, and even his approach to acting, allowing him to embody characters with greater authenticity.
Ian McKellen's contributions to LGBTQIA+ culture and history extend far beyond his personal coming out story. He co-founded Stonewall, a UK-based LGBTQIA+ rights organiz