Coming Out in the USA

To celebrate National Coming Out Day I’ve compiled 2 lists of notable people who have come out publicly since last year. The UK and the USA celebrate this day separately – the USA today and the UK tomorrow. As it happens, the list is quite long so it gives me the opportunity to split it into 2. Today’s list comprises those Americans who have come out, and tomorrow’s list will feature those from the rest of the world.

This list gives the date when the person officially came out publicly.

3 Jan.              Ke$ha, singer-songwriter

6 Jan.              Matt Dallas, actor

27 Apr.             Tuc Watkins, actor (widely regarded as being gay before he came out)

30 Apr.             Jason Collins,  the first out male basketball player still competing

8 May               Kevin Grayson, soccer player

3 June             Charice Pempengco, singer and “Glee” star

5 June             Kristin Beck, former US Navy Seal and Purple Heart recipient

12 June           Jenny Owen Youngs, folk musician and singer

27 June           Greg Rikaart, actor (“The Young and the Restless”)

27 June           Sharmee Zoll-Norman, basketball player

2 Aug.              Raven-Symoné, singer, former child actor (“The Cosby Show”)

7 Aug.              Troye Sivan, actor (young Wolverine, “X-Men Origins”)

7 Aug.              Ron Snyder, leader of Young Democrats in America

14 Aug.            Darren Young, wrestler

20 Aug.            Lucas Cruickshank, Nickelodeon actor

16 Aug.            Jennifer Pritzker, billionaire heir

20 Aug.            Wentworth Miller, actor and screenwriter

29 Aug.            Bobby Stygert, Broadway actor-singer

30 Aug.            Meleana Shim, soap actor

20 Sept.           Heath Adam Ackley, theology professor (fired from his post)

27 Sept.           Michelle Rodriguez, actor