Throughout 2020, stars from all across the entertainment industry have decided to open up to their fans about their own personal identities, coming out officially to the world at large.
With the world continuously struggling through the coronavirus outbreak, take a moment to look back at and celebrate the stars who found the courage to come out in 2020 so far.
Stacy London
In a New Year’s post, the former What Not to Wear star confirmed that she had been dating musician Cat Yezbak for more than a year and had previously decided not to come out as someone in a place of privilege. “Unlike me, there are countless people in the LGBTQIAP community who have had no choice in who they are, no love from family on which to lean, no support from anyone anywhere,” she wrote. “I fell in love, truly in love, with this beautiful, sexy, kind soul and I won’t apologize for that but I stand on the shoulders of a community that fought like hell for me to be able to do that openly and proudly and EASILY.”
Nikkie de Jager (a.k.a. NikkieTutorials)
The YouTube beauty guru, who has beat a number of famous faces including Lady Gaga, Bebe Rexha, Jessie J and more, revealed in a January video that she is a transgender woman. In her 17-minute video, the star spoke about her transition, being bullied and blackmailed, and the importance of learning to love who she is. “If you feel like you’re trapped and there is no way out, know that it gets better. Trust me, it gets better,” she told her fans.
Jameela Jamil
The Good Place actress found herself in hot water in early February, when she was announced as a judge on HBO Max’s upcoming ballroom & voguing competition series Legendary. After seeing many criticize her and the show for taking up space that should be saved for those in the ballroom community, the actress revealed in a tweet that she identifies as queer. “This is absolutely not how I wanted it to come out,” she wrote. “I know that my being queer doesn’t qualify me as ballroom. But I have privilege and power and a large following to bring this show (as does the absolutely iconic Megan Thee Stallion), and its beautiful contestants and ballroom hosts.”
Ricky Dillon
The YouTube star and singer officially came out in a video on his channel in February, where he revealed that he had been taught to be ashamed of being gay throughout his Christian upbringing. Ultimately, though, he said he’d learned to love himself and was ready to tell the world. “I’ve been with several guys now, and it’s the most natural and comfortable thing ever. It just clicks, it all makes sense. And it feels right. And I finally felt like I’m myself,” he said.
Da Brat
The Grammy-nominated Chicago rapper posted a photo on her Instagram in March, where she revealed that not only was she given an excellent surprise (a Bentley) for her birthday, but that she had a girlfriend. “I’ve always been a kind of private person until I met my heart’s match who handles some things differently than I do,” she wrote about Jesseca Dupart, the CEO and co-owner of Kaleidoscope Hair Products. “I have never experienced this feeling. It’s so overwhelming that often I find myself in a daze hoping to never get pinched to see if it’s real so I can live in this dream forever.”
Gigi Goode
In a season 12 episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race, contestant Gigi Goode revealed to her fellow contestants (and the fans watching at home) that she identifies as gender fluid, marking the first time a queen has come out as gender fluid on the show. “I’ve always thought there was no point to putting a label on anything in regards to gender,” she said in her confessional. “I don’t think I’ve ever said this out loud, but I think I’m fluid. Sometimes I identify as more male and sometimes I identify as more feminine. I think that I’m both. And I’m neither.”
Rebecca Black
In an April episode of the podcast Dating Straight, pop singer Rebecca Black came out as queer after revealing that she had recently gone through a breakup with a woman. “Every day is different, it’s something that over the past few years I’ve obviously been having a lot of conversations with myself about,” she said. “To me, the word ‘queer’ feels really nice. I have dated a lot of different types of people, and I just don’t really know what the future holds. Some days, I feel a little more on the ‘gay’ side than others.”
Auli’i Cravalho
In her first-ever video on TikTok, the Moana actress decided to let her fans know exactly who she was by using a clever clip from Eminem’s “Those Kinda Nights.” Lip syncing along to the song’s chorus, the singer and actress revealed that she identifies as bi, as Eminem rapped “‘Seriously though, jokes aside, how you doin’? You straight?’/ She said, ‘No, I’m bi.’/ She said, ‘Are you drunk?,’ I said, ‘No, I’m high’/ ‘I’m checkin’ out the chick,’ she said, ‘So am I.'”
@auliicravalho5:53a thirst trap.♬ original sound – aceof_spadess
Pablo Alborán
The Spanish singer-songwriter took to social media during Pride Month to share a very personal message with his fans. “Today, I want my voice to be louder and for it to have more value and weight. I’m here to tell you that I am homosexual and it’s okay,” Alborán expressed in an IGTV video. “Life goes on, everything will remain the same, but I’m going to be a little happier than I already am.”
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