June is also known as Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a perfect opportunity to look back at several celebrities who were inspired by their LGBTQ+ roles to come out. Despite the progress made in terms of LGBTQ+ representation and rights, coming out can still be a challenging experience with potential consequences, especially for celebrities worried about the impact on their careers. However, some queer stars have embraced LGBTQ+ roles and found inspiration in them. Through well-written storylines or authentic representation, these celebrities have felt empowered to live their gender and/or sexuality openly, leading to powerful and touching coming-out moments.
For example, Jake Borelli, known for his role as Levi Schmitt in Grey’s Anatomy, announced his own coming out on Instagram after portraying a character exploring his sexuality on the show. Mae Whitman, who voices Amity in The Owl House, came out as pansexual, inspired by the diverse sexualities represented in the animated series. Sara Ramirez, who portrayed Callie Torres in Grey’s Anatomy, has also shared her bisexuality and non-binary identity after playing LGBTQ+ characters on screen.
Ncuti Gatwa, who plays Eric Effiong in Sex Education, has hinted at identifying as queer, influenced by the positive messages about sexuality and gender in the series. Ellen DeGeneres famously came out as gay both in real life and on her show Ellen. Kit Connor, after facing backlash from fans accusing him of queerbaiting, revealed his bisexuality and emphasized the importance of respecting individual journeys in coming out.
Reneé Rapp, known for her role in The Sex Lives of College Girls, found solace in playing a lesbian character on screen, helping her navigate her own sexuality. Samira Wiley, famous for her role as Poussey Washington in Orange is the New Black, had her lesbian identity revealed by a co-star before officially coming out. Adamo Ruggiero, who portrayed Marco in Degrassi: The Next Generation, was inspired by his character’s coming out to embrace his own sexuality publicly.
Kate Moennig, known for playing Shane in The L Word, credits the show for helping her explore her own sexuality and find a supportive community. These celebrities’ journeys of self-discovery and coming out demonstrate the powerful impact of LGBTQ+ representation in media and the importance of authentic storytelling. As society continues to progress towards acceptance and inclusion, these stories serve as reminders of the ongoing journey towards equality and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community.