2024 was a landmark year for LGBTQ+ representation, with an astounding number of celebrities coming out. These inspiring confessions in entertainment, sports, and public life raised awareness, shattered stereotypes, and expanded social acceptance.
Here are some of the pioneers who stepped into the light this year and demonstrated the power of authentic living.
Actors who light the way
Bethany Antonia
Bethany Antonia: House of the Dragondecided to be open about his sexuality while responding to racist trolls online.
“Just wait until you find out I'm gay too.”
Parvati Shallow
Parvati Shallow, famous Survivor The contestant started the new year by publicly coming out and announcing that she is dating the comedian. Mae Martin. The couple shared their joy through videos of a glamorous photo booth strip and a bustling beachside Ferris wheel, both of which they captioned with, “We are here. We are queer. Happy New Year.”
Tom Hollander
The multi-talented actor described his sexuality as “liberal enough”, sparking a debate around sexual fluidity and personal identity.
“My own sexuality is liberal enough to encompass a range of experiences that are no one else's.”
Zoe Lister-Jones
The best known are: A life in pieces and confirmationZoe took a big step by publicly identifying as queer.
“Here I am, I'm queer, I'm a little scared, but I'm trying to get through it.”
She attended the Spirit Awards in February with her partner, film director Sammy Cohen.
Sophia Bush
Sophia Bush is One Tree Hillhas openly shared his queer identity and relationship with soccer star Ashlyn Harris. GlamourNow 41, Bush says she feels a deep sense of freedom and joy as she begins a new start and a new chapter in her life.
Musicians making waves
Rene Rupp
Star Renée Rupp made a bold statement. Saturday Night LiveAfter previously identifying as bisexual, she proudly came out as a lesbian, sparking a huge response from fans and a frank discussion about embracing your true self even in the face of doubt and hardship.
But Renée doesn't care what the haters have to say. “If I say I'm a lesbian, I'm a lesbian,” she tweeted, adding a cheeky line to deflect doubters: “I'm so sick of you witches.”
RELATED | Rene Rupp slams haters: “If I say I'm a lesbian, I'm a lesbian”
Matt Terry
The singer proudly proclaimed his LGBTQIA+ identity, adding a vibrant note to the symphony of queer voices in the music industry.
Athletes and celebrities standing up proudly
Amanda Tori Meeting
This charismatic star RuPaul's Drag Race In season 16, she came out as a transgender woman and became a beacon of hope for the transgender community.
“[I was] For the first time, I was in an environment where people were calling me Amanda instead of my government name, and I realized how good that felt, and I started to feel a little more at ease with reinventing my identity.”
Madame Laquier
Also, RuPaul's Drag Race (season 4), she embraced her identity as a transgender woman and used her platform to promote trans visibility. She now goes by the name Cassie when she's not in drag.
“This is something I've been thinking about for years,” she said. Entertainment Weekly“It's now or never…it's not too late to come out and live a real experience and be yourself and be authentic. There's nothing better than feeling loved for who you are.”
Colin Grafton
Known for graceful movements Dancing on IceColin has been thrust into the spotlight as a queer expression by coming out as gay.
Erica Caspana
Erica Caspanan, the first Filipino-Canadian Survivor The winner came out as a lesbian in a playful Instagram video, with fans and the LGBTQ+ community congratulating her for marking a new chapter in her pioneering journey, while fellow contestants and fans expressed their joy and support for her confession.
Grace Wilson
The Australian football powerhouse has challenged traditional gender norms in sport by coming out as non-binary. They are the first A-League footballers in the country to come out as non-binary. “It just means that my gender, and my perception of my gender, doesn't fit into Western standards of male and female, so for me personally I don't feel like I'm anywhere near that.”
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