While some people might feel pressured to come out as queer or LGBTQ+ at a younger age, others may take their time to fully understand and accept their sexuality. It’s never too late to embrace your true self, and for some people, that means coming out as LGBTQ+ later in life. Celebrities are no exception to this, as some chose to wait until much later to come out to the public as a part of the LGBTQ+ community. To learn more about these brave individuals, read on and learn about 8 celebs who came out later in life as LGBTQ+ when they were ready.
Rebel Wilson: Age 41
In early 2021, Wilson revealed that she had come out at the age of 41. Wilson’s announcement was met with support and admiration from her fans and the LGBTQ+ community. “I thought I was searching for a Disney prince… but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney princess,” she said in the Instagram post when she came out to the world.
Ian McKellen: Age 49
In 1988, when he was 49 years old, Sir Ian McKellen publicly came out as gay, becoming one of the most prominent openly gay celebrities at the time. His decision to come out was a courageous one, as it was still considered taboo in many circles to be openly gay.
Sara Ramirez: Age 41
After coming out at age 41, Sarah Ramirez has been open about her personal struggles and journey being non-binary. They said, “I felt quite limited in the way that I could exist given that I was assigned female at birth.”
Wanda Sykes: Age 44
At the age of 44, Sykes publicly came out as a lesbian during a rally in Las Vegas in 2008. Since then, she has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and has used her platform to promote equality and acceptance for all.
Ricky Martin: Age 40
In 2010, Ricky Martin publicly came out as gay, which was a significant moment for the LGBTQ+ community. Martin’s coming out was a personal and emotional decision, and he has been open about the struggles he faced in his journey towards self-acceptance.
Cynthia Nixon: Age 54
Cynthia Nixon came out at the age of 54, and is married to Christine Marinoni. They got married in 2012 after being in a relationship for eight years. Nixon has been open about her exploration of identity within the LGBTQ+ umbrella. “It was like, I have fallen in love with different people in my life and they’ve all been men before. Now, this is a woman and she is amazing. So I feel like ‘queer’ is an umbrella term, and it includes my formerly straight self too,” she said.
Ellen DeGeneres: Age 39
In 1997, Ellen DeGeneres made television history by coming out as gay on her sitcom “Ellen.” This was a groundbreaking moment not only for DeGeneres but also for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. It was a time when LGBTQ+ representation in media was scarce, and those who did exist were often reduced to harmful stereotypes. By coming out on television, DeGeneres challenged societal norms and helped pave the way for greater acceptance and visibility of the LGBTQ+ community.
Anderson Cooper: Age 45
Anderson Cooper came out at the age of 45 years old. In an email to a journalist, Cooper stated, “The fact is, I’m gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn’t be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud.” Cooper even says he knew he was different from the age of 6. “I’m not sure I knew the word ’gay’ at the time, but I realized something was up,” he said.
