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List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people

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This is a partial list of confirmed and debated famous people who were or are gay, lesbian or bisexual. The historical concept and definition of sexual orientation varies and has changed greatly over time— the word "gay" wasn't used to describe sexual orientation until the mid 20th century. See homosexuality and bisexuality for more about the primary (and by far the most controversial) distinguishing criterion of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people.

Some historical figures on this list wouldn't be considered lesbian, gay or bisexual by today's standards, but they are included here because they were known to have had same-sex relationships. But even by today's standards, a relationship or two doesn't necessarily mean one is bisexual. Many people who identify as gay or lesbian have had different-gender relationships in their youth, and many who identify as heterosexual have experimented with same-sex relationships. Due to social norms that have remained consistent throughout history, little information about such matters when discussing historical figures is available; therefore, only educated guesses can be made, based on limited evidence.

Controversy

The sexual orientation of famous individuals is often the subject of rumor and reports in the tabloid press. For example, the actor Tom Cruise has been such a case and has pursued libel suits on three occasions. In 1998, he successfully sued a British tabloid that alleged that his marriage to Nicole Kidman was a sham designed to cover up his homosexuality. In another suit, he obtained a default judgment against a gay porn actor (Chad Slater, aka "Kyle Bradford") who had given an interview to a tabloid newspaper in which he claimed he had a sexual relationship with Tom Cruise, and he sued Michael Davis, a magazine publisher, who alleged that he had photographs that would prove Tom Cruise was homosexual: this suit was dropped in exchange for a public statement by Davis that Tom Cruise was heterosexual.

Radical gay rights campaigning groups have on occasion campaigned by outing - publicising the homosexuality of well-known people in specific circumstances. In 1994 the British group OutRage! revealed the names of 10 Church of England Bishops whom it invited to "tell the truth". Such a policy is invariably controversial among gay rights campaigners and more generally because of the risk of inaccuracy and potential harm to family relationships. While supporters of outing as a tactic regard its targets as having, by their behaviour, forfeited the right to privacy about their sexual orientation, its opponents contend that this right is fundamental.

For the above reasons inclusion in this list must be supported by the evidence discussed in the person's biography article. Note that several of the people on this list were prosecuted for their behaviour under existing "sodomy laws".

Persons of debated lesbian, gay, or bisexual orientation

Persons of confirmed lesbian, gay or bisexual orientation

The following list includes people who have confirmed their homosexuality or bisexuality, or whose homosexuality or bisexuality is not debated.

If you wish to add someone to this list please ensure that he or she has a Wikipedia article and that article contains reasonable documentation for inclusion on this list. If you wish to remove someone from this list, please move the name to the talk page, and add a comment explaining your reason for removal.

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  • Colin Quinn, American comedian and actor, admitted to having several same-sex encounters in his late teens and early twenties.

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Persons of debated lesbian, gay or bisexual orientation

The following list includes those who some people legitimately believe there is meaningful evidence the person is or was gay, lesbian or bisexual. This speculation should be supported by documentation or historical record. More information about what is known about each individual's sexuality should be available in the individual's biography.

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  • Juan Gabriel, Mexican singer
  • Prince George, Duke of Kent, British royal (uncle of Queen Elizabeth II)
  • David Gest, American ex-husband of Liza Minnelli
  • Emma Goldman, Lithuanian-born famous anarchist activist, bisexuality disputed
  • Cary Grant, British actor, bisexual [10]); also Hollywood Gays: Conversations With: Cary Grant, Liberace, Tony Perkins, Paul Lynde, Cesar Romero, Brad Davis, Randolph Scott, James Coco, William Haines, David Lewis by Boze Hadleigh; Behind the Screen: How Gays and Lesbians Shaped Hollywood 1910-1969 by William J. Mann.
  • Thomas Gray, British poet
  • Emile Griffith, Virgin Islands boxer

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  • King James I of England and VI of Scotland, noted for bisexual behavior, notably with the Duke of Buckingham
  • Rafael Jose, Puerto Rican singer and show host, "outed" in a Puerto Rican television show

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Persons no longer identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual

The following list includes people who at one point identified as gay, lesbian or bisexual but no longer do.

See also

Sources

  • Aldrich, Robert and Wotherspoon, Gary (Eds.) (2001). Who's Who in Contemporary Gay & Lesbian History: From World War II to the Present Day. New York: Routledge. ISBN 041522974X.
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