As 2022 comes to a close, NBC Out is celebrating the actors, athletes, and other public figures who have come out publicly this year.
rebel wilson
In the middle of LGBTQ Pride Month in June, Rebel Wilson announced that he is dating a woman. The 42-year-old actor shared an Instagram post alongside her new love with the caption: «I thought I was looking for a Disney Prince… but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess.»
Janelle Monae
Musician and actress Janelle Monáe confirmed in April that she is non-binary, meaning neither exclusively male nor female, and discussed what it means to her in an interview with «red table talk”, a talk show hosted by Jada Pinkett Smith; her daughter, Willow Smith; and her mother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Monae said use the pronouns she/she and they/them.
john cameron mitchell
John Cameron Mitchell, star of the Peacock series “Joe vs. Carole”, revealed that he is nonbinary in a March interview with Pride.com. Mitchell, who is perhaps best known as the star and creator of the 2001 cult classic «Hedwig and the Angry Inch,» told Los Angeles magazine in June that he keep using the pronouns he/he.
Jerrod Carmichael
Comedian Jerrod Carmichael came out publicly as gay on his HBO special «Rothaniel,» which premiered in April and was recorded in February at New York City’s Blue Note Jazz Club. The special weaves together stories from Carmichael’s family history with his own coming-of-age.
charlee run
Disney family member Charlee Corra came out as transgender publicly in March and condemned anti-LGBTQ state bills. Corra, who uses the pronouns «he» and «them,» and his family also announced this year that they would match up to $500,000 in donations to the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ advocacy group.
ellia green
Ellia Green, one of the stars of Australia’s women’s rugby sevens team, which won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympics, announced in August that she is a transgender man. Green said the realization that sharing his experience could save the lives of others is what forced him to come out publicly.
Chrishell Stause
“Selling Sunset” star Chrishell Stause confirmed her relationship with non-binary Australian musician G Flip in May, during the reunion episode of the fifth season of the popular real estate reality show. Stause later opened up about his relationship in a video shared on Instagram: “I know some of you won’t understand this or disagree with this, but for me, it’s about the person. It’s about your heart.»
jake daniels
English footballer Jake Daniels revealed he is gay in May in a pioneering moment for European men’s soccer. The 17-year-old striker made the announcement at the end of his first season as a professional player at second division club Blackpool.
Daria Kasatkina
Russia’s top-ranked female tennis player Daria Kasatkina said in a video interview in July that she is dating a woman. Shortly after the interview was released, Kasatkina posted a photo on Instagram of her hugging Olympic silver medalist figure skater Natalia Zabiiako with a heart emoji and called Zabiiako «my cute pie.» in a Twitter post.
Bosco
«RuPaul’s Drag Race» contestant Bosco, who appeared on season 14 of the reality competition show, came out as transgender in February. In a message shared on Instagram, Bosco revealed that she would use the pronouns she/she and they/them to crawl around, saying, «I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.»
Aunjanue Ellis
Oscar-nominated «King Richard» star Aunjanue Ellis, 53, has been open about her sexuality with her friends and family for decades, but it wasn’t until earlier this year that she addressed her bisexuality publicly. In March, she donned a red Dolce & Gabbana suit jacket with the word «Queer» written in rhinestones on the jacket’s left arm. The subtle signal wasn’t much noticed, but the actor later opened up about his sexuality in an interview with Variety which was published in June, describing herself as bisexual and queer.
maybel blair
Maybelle Blair, a 95-year-old former baseball player who helped inspire the 1992 movie «A League of Their Own,» is living proof that it’s never too late to embrace your authentic self. blair came out publicly this year after serving as a consultant for Amazon Prime’s very queer TV reboot of the decades-old film.
jena malone
Actress Jena Malone revealed in a August Instagram Post that she had been “learning a new way” to articulate her sexuality and was “using words to guide me, not define me”. She then said: “Find words that feel more appropriate to explore in my narrative. Pansexuality. Sapiosexuality. Polyamory.”
jasmine kennedie
«RuPaul’s Drag Race» contestant Jasmine Kennedie, who appeared on season 14 of the reality competition show, came out as transgender in February. in a emotional episode of «Untucked,» Kennedie tearfully revealed, «I’m trans and I’ve been so afraid to say that.»
lucas baines
“Shadowhunters” actor Luke Baines shared on Instagram in June that he “was lucky enough to have been in love twice: the first time with a woman, the second time with a man. Label it what you want, but all I know is… love is love. Happy pride!”
T.J. House
Former Major League Baseball pitcher TJ House has come out as gay and announced his engagement to his partner, Ryan Neitzel, in a emotional post on facebook December 8th. House, who is only the third former MLB player to come out, said shame kept him in the closet, but «love finally set me free.»
Mariana Varela and Fabiola Valentin
A former Miss Argentina and a former Miss Puerto Rico advertised on instagram in October they get married. In a joint post shared on their accounts, Mariana Varela from Argentina and Fabiola Valentín from Puerto Rico wrote: “After deciding to keep our relationship private, we now open our doors to a special day.” The message included what appeared to be their wedding date, October 28, along with heart and ring emojis.
Liliana Bajtiari
Atlanta city councilwoman Liliana Bakhtiari, the first queer Muslim elected in Georgia and the first non-binary female councilwoman from a major US city, revealed in September that they are not monogamous. Bakhtiari, who uses gender-neutral pronouns, said: «I’m in love with two wonderful people,» sharing that the trio plans to build a family together.
Eureka O’Hara
Eureka O’Hara, ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ alum, came out as transgender in a exclusive interview with People Posted on December 22. The drag performer, who stars on HBO’s reality show «We’re Here,» told the magazine: «It’s been really magical and it’s been probably the easiest coming-of-age and transition journey I’ve ever had.» on.»
Cynthia Erivo
Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo opened up about being bisexual on British Vogue Pride Edition in August. The British-born star told the magazine that LGBTQ people «still feel the need to constantly justify why we deserve to be treated as equals, when really the only difference is that we love differently and express ourselves differently.» ”. the most important thing is to give «people the space to show themselves fully as they are».
ava philippe
Ava Phillippe, the daughter of actors Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, opened up about her sexuality during an Instagram Story Q&A in January. Asked if she likes «boys or girls,» Phillippe, 23, wrote: «I’m attracted to…people! (Gender is whatever),» according to People.