Parent article: List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people;
Siblings:
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This is a partial list of confirmed famous people who were or are gay, lesbian or bisexual. Famous people who are simply rumored to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, are not listed.
The historical concept, definition and terminology of sexual orientation varies and has changed greatly over time; for example the word "gay" wasn't used to describe sexual orientation until the mid 20th century. A number of different classification schemes have been used to describe sexual orientation since the mid-19th century, and scholars have often defined the term "sexual orientation" in divergent ways. Indeed, several studies have found that much of the research about sexual orientation has failed to define the term at all, making it difficult to reconcile the results of different studies.[1][2][3] However, most definitions include a psychological component (such as the direction of an individual's erotic desire) and/or a behavioural component (which focuses on the sex of the individual's sexual partner/s). Some prefer to simply follow an individual's self-definition or identity. See homosexuality and bisexuality for criteria that have traditionally denoted lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people.
The high prevalence of people from the West on this list may be due to societal attitudes towards homosexuality. The Pew Research Center's 2003 Global Attitudes Survey found that "[p]eople in Africa and the Middle East strongly object to societal acceptance of homosexuality. But there is far greater tolerance for homosexuality in major Latin American countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. Opinion in Europe is split between West and East. Majorities in every Western European nation surveyed say homosexuality should be accepted by society, while most Russians, Poles and Ukrainians disagree. Americans are divided – a thin majority (51 percent) believes homosexuality should be accepted, while 42 percent disagree."[4]
Name | Lifetime[5] | Nationality | Notable as | Notes[6] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Christopher Cabaldon | b.1965 | American | Politician | G [7] |
Jean-Daniel Cadinot | b. 1944 | French | Pornographic movie director | G [8] |
Paul Cadmus | 1904–1999 | American | Artist | G [9] |
John Cage | 1912–1992 | American | 20th century classical composer | G [10] |
Claude Cahun | 1894–1954 | French | Photographer, writer | G [11] |
J. P. Calderon | b. 1975 | American | Volleyball player, TV personality | G [12] |
Caligula | 12–41 CE | Roman | Emperor | B [13] |
Anthony Callea | b.1982 | Australian | Pop musician | G [14] |
Michael Callen | 1955–1993 | American | AIDS activist | G [15] |
Simon Callow | b. 1949 | English | Actor | G [16] |
Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès | 1753–1824 | French | Lawyer | G [17] |
Anne Cameron | b. 1938 | Canadian | Novelist, poet | L [18] |
Edwin Cameron | b. 1953 | South African | Judge | G [19] |
Rhona Cameron | b. 1965 | Scottish | Comedian | L [20] |
Margarethe Cammermeyer | b. 1942 | American | LGBT rights activist, soldier | L [21] |
Colin Campbell | 1942–2001 | Canadian | Video artist | G [22] |
Dani Campbell | b. 1982 | American | runner up on reality TV show A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila | L [22] |
Tim Campbell | b. 1975 | Australian | Actor | G [23] |
David Campos | b. 1970 | Guatemalan-American | Politician | G [24] |
Justin R. Cannon | b. 1984 | American | Founder of TruthSetsFree.net, an affirming outreach ministry to gay and lesbian Christians | G [25] |
Mario Cantone | b. 1959 | American | Comedian, actor | G [26] |
Daniele Capezzone | b. 1972 | Italian | Politician | B [27] |
Truman Capote | 1924–1984 | American | Author, playwright | G [28] |
Scott Capurro | b. 1962 | American | Comedian | G [29] |
Gia Carangi | 1960–1986 | American | Model | B [30] |
Andreas Carlgren | b. 1958 | Swedish | Politician | G [31] |
Brandi Carlile | b. 1981 | American | Rock musician | L [32] |
Benedetta Carlini | 1591–1661 | Italian | Nun, mystic | L [33] |
Marcel Carné | 1906–1996 | French | Filmmaker | G [34] |
Vanessa Carlton | b. 1980 | American | Singer, songwriter | B [35] |
Rachel Carns | b. 1969 | American | Musician, artist, performer | L [36] |
Ana Carolina | b. 1974 | Brazilian | Musician | B [37] |
Edward Carpenter | 1844–1929 | English | Writer, LGB rights theoretician and activist | G [38] |
Tim Carpenter | b. ? | American | Politician | G [39] |
Kelli Carpenter O'Donnell | b. 1967 | American | Business executive, life-partner of entertainer Rosie O'Donnell | L [40] |
Alan Carr | b. 1976 | English | Comedian | G [41] |
Dora Carrington | 1893–1932 | English | Artist | B [42] |
Jim Carroll | 1949–2009 | American | Poet, writer, rock musician | B [43] |
Chris Carter | b. 1952 | New Zealand | Politician | G [44] |
Logan Carter | 1954–1997 | American | Actor, female impersonator | G [45] |
Ted Casablanca | b. ? | American | Journalist | G [46] |
Giacomo Casanova | 1725–1798 | Venetian | Traveller, writer | B [47] |
Warren Casey | b. 1935 | American | Composer and lyricist | G [48] |
Michael Cashman | b. 1950 | English | Actor, politician | G [49] |
Neal Cassady | b. 1926 | American | Major figure of Beat Generation | B [50] |
Maggie Cassella | b. ? | American | Comedian | L [51] |
Jack Cassidy | 1927–1976 | American | Actor | B [52] |
Kelly Cassidy | b. ? | American | Politician | L[53] |
Clint Catalyst | b. 1971 | American | Writer, performer | G [54] |
David Catania | b. 1968 | American | Politician | G [55] |
Willa Cather | 1873–1947 | American | Writer | L [56] |
Constantine P. Cavafy | 1863–1933 | Greek | Poet | B [57] |
Megan Cavanagh | b. 1960 | American | Actor | L [58] |
Cazuza | 1958–1990 | Brazilian | Singer | G [59] |
Cazwell | 1972 | American | Rapper | G [60] |
Luis Cernuda | 1902–1963 | Spanish | Poet | G [61] |
Ilene Chaiken | b. ? | American | Writer and television producer | L [62] |
John Challis | b. 1928 | Australian | LGBT rights activist | G [63] |
Joan Chalmers | b. 1928 | Canadian | Philanthropist | G [64] |
Richard Chamberlain | b. 1934 | American | Actor | G [65] |
Kevin Chamberlin | b. 1963 | American | Actor | G [66] |
Sam Champion | b. 1961 | American | TV weather presenter | G [67] |
Graham Chapman | 1941–1989 | English | Comedian (Monty Python) | G [68] |
Spencer Chandra Herbert | b. 1981 | Canadian | Politician | G [69] |
Otis Charles | b. 1926 | American | Episcopal bishop | G [70] |
Ian Charleson | 1949–1990 | Scottish | Actor | G [71] |
Bruce Chatwin | 1940–1989 | English | Novelist, travel writer | B [72] |
Charles Chauvel | b. 1969 | New Zealand | Politician | G [73] |
Christian Chávez | b. 1983 | Mexican | Latin pop musician, actor | G [74] |
Alexander Chee | b. ? | American | Writer | G [75] |
John Cheever | 1912–1982 | American | Writer | B [76] |
Mary Cheney | b. 1969 | American | Daughter of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney | L [77] |
Marc Cherry | b. 1962 | American | TV writer, producer | G [78] |
Neneh Cherry | b. 1964 | Swedish | Pop musician | B [79] |
Alfred Chester | 1928–1971 | American | Writer | G [80] |
Craig Chester | b. 1965 | American | Actor, screenwriter | G [81] |
Leslie Cheung | 1956–2003 | Hong Kong | Actor, pop musician | B [82] |
Ken Cheuvront | b. 1961 | American | Politician | G [83] |
Paddy Chew | 1960–1999 | Singaporean | First Singaporean AIDS victim to come out to the general public | G [84] |
Georgy Chicherin | 1872–1936 | Russian | Politician | G [85] |
Staceyann Chin | b. ? | Jamaican | Poet | G [86] |
Margaret Cho | b. 1968 | American | Comedian | B [87] |
Dan Choi | b. 1981 | American | LGBT activist, former military officer | G [88] |
Lisa Cholodenko | b. 1964 | American | Film director and screenwriter | L [89] |
Zero Chou | b. 1969 | Taiwanese | Film director | G [90] |
Ken Choy | b. ? | American | Writer, performance artist | G [91] |
Wayson Choy | b. 1939 | Canadian | Writer | G [92] |
Meg Christian | b. 1946 | American | Musician | L [93] |
Jennifer Chrisler | b. | American | Gay rights activist | L [94] |
Nathan Christoffersen | 1977–2005 | American | LGBT rights activist, journalist | G [95] |
Terry Christopher | b. ? | American | Singer/songwriter | G [96] |
Peter Christopherson | 1955–2010 | English | Rock and experimental musician | G [97] |
Chrystos | b. 1946 | American | Poet | G [98] |
Ralph Chubb | 1892–1960 | English | Writer | G [99] |
Annabelle Chvostek | b. 1973 | Canadian | Singer/songwriter | L [100] |
David Cicilline | b. 1961 | American | Politician, first openly gay mayor of an American state capital | G [101] |
Adriano Cintra | b. 1972 | Brazilian | Musician | G [102] |
Hélène Cixous | b. 1937 | French | Writer, philosopher | B [103] |
James Clark | b. 1963 | English | Diplomat | G [104] |
Karen Clark | b. 1945 | American | Politician | L [105] |
Michael Clark | b. 1962 | British | Dancer, choreographer | G [106] |
Cam Clarke | b. 1957 | American | Voice actor | G [107] |
Cheryl Clarke | b. 1947 | American | Writer | G [108] |
Michele Clarke | b. 1961 | Trinidadian | Writer, filmmaker | L [109] |
Julian Clary | b. 1959 | English | Comedian | G [110] |
Beth Clayton | b. ? | American | Opera singer | L [111] |
Charles Clegg | 1916–1979 | American | Author, photographer, railroad historian | G [112] |
Douglas Clegg | b. 1958 | American | Author | G [113] |
Miss Cleo | b. 1962 | American | Psychic | L [114] |
Van Cliburn | b. 1935 | American | Pianist | G [115] |
Montgomery Clift | 1920–1966 | American | Actor | B [116] |
Kate Clinton | b. ? | American | Comedian | L [117] |
Luke Clippinger | b. 1972 | American | Politician | G [118] |
Gary Cloutier | b. ? | American | Politician | G [119] |
Tom Coates | b. 1972 | English | Blogger | G [120] |
James Coco | 1930–1987 | American | Actor | G [121] |
Jean Cocteau | 1889–1963 | French | Writer, artist, filmmaker | B [122] |
Scott Coffey | b. 1967 | American | Writer, actor, director | G [123] |
Tabatha Coffey | b. 1969 | Australian | TV personality, Hair stylist | L [124] |
Andy Cohen | b. 1968 | American | Television executive | G [125] |
Benjamin Cohen | b. 1982 | English | Entrepreur, journalist | G [126] |
Roy Cohn | 1927–1986 | American | Lawyer, conservative activist | G [127] |
Steven Cojocaru | b. 1965 | Canadian | Fashion critic | G [128] |
Kyla Cole | b. 1978 | Slovak | Model | B [129] |
Brian Coleman | b. 1961 | English | Politician | G [130] |
Lisa Coleman | b. 1960 | American | Musician and film/tv composer | L [131] |
Colette | 1873–1954 | French | Author | L [132] |
Chris Colfer | b. 1990 | American | Actor, singer | G [133] |
Cyril Collard | 1957–1993 | French | Author | G [134] |
James Collins | Canadian | actor, singer & songwriter | G [135] | |
Simon Collins | b. 1976 | Canadian | Musician | B [136] |
Maureen Colquhoun | b. 1928 | English | Politician | L [137] |
Robert Colquhoun | 1914–1962 | Scottish | Set designer | G [138] |
Zebedy Colt | 1929–2004 | American | Actor, director | G [139] |
Paola Concia | b. 1963 | Italian | Politician | L [140] |
Bill Condon | b. 1955 | American | Screenwriter, director | G [141] |
Charlie Condou | b. 1974 | English | Actor | G [142] |
Timothy Conigrave | 1959–1994 | Australian | Actor, playwright | G [143] |
Cathy Connolly | b. 1956 | American | Politician | L [144] |
Jasper Conran | b. 1959 | English | Fashion designer | G [145] |
Massimo Consoli | 1945–2007 | Italian | Activist, writer, historian | G [146] |
Nancy Cook | 1884–1962 | American | Suffragette, teacher | L [147] |
Natalie Cook | b. 1975 | Australian | Olympic volleyball player | L [148] |
Dennis Cooper | b. 1953 | American | Artist | G [149] |
Colleen Coover | b. 1969 | American | Comic artist | B [150] |
Bleu Copas | b. 1976 | American | Army translator discharged for being gay | G [151] |
Aaron Copland | 1900–1990 | American | Classical composer | G [152] |
Tee Corinne | 1943–2006 | American | Writer | L [153] |
Cat Cora | b. 1968 | American | Chef | L [154] |
John Corigliano | b. 1938 | American | Classical composer | G [155] |
William Corlett | 1938–2005 | English | Novelist, playwright | G [156] |
Dean Corll | 1939–1973 | American | Serial killer | G [157] |
Michael G. Cornelius | b. ? | American | Writer | G [158] |
Jessica Cornish | b. March 27, 1988 | English | Singer-songwriter | B[159] |
Patricia Cornwell | b. 1956 | American | Author | B [160] |
Peter and Murray Corren | b. ? | Canadian | LGBT rights activists | G [161] |
Antony Cotton | b. 1975 | English | Actor | G [162] |
Douglas Coupland | b. 1961 | Canadian | Author | G [163] |
Brendan Courtney | b. ? | Irish | Television presenter | G [164] |
Noel Coward | 1899–1973 | English | Actor, playwright | G [165] |
Henry Cowell | 1897–1965 | American | 20th century classical composer, musician | B [166] |
Colin Cowie | b. 1962 | South African | Wedding planner | G [167] |
Daniel Allen Cox | b. 1976 | Canadian | Writer | G [168] |
Cheryl Crane | b. 1943 | American | Lana Turner's daughter, killer of Turner's abusive boyfriend | L [169] |
Hart Crane | 1899–1932 | American | Poet | G [170] |
Nicky Crane | 1958–1993 | English | Neo-Nazi activist | G [171] |
Anthony Crank | b. ? | English | Television presenter | G [172] |
Toller Cranston | b. 1949 | Canadian | Figure skater, artist | G [173] |
Joan Crawford | 1905–1977 | American | Actor | B [174] |
Darby Crash | 1958–1980 | American | Punk rock musician (The Germs) | G [175] |
Quentin Crisp | 1908–1999 | English | Writer | G [176] |
Chris Crocker | b. 1987 | American | Internet celebrity | G [177] |
Richard Cromwell | 1910–1960 | American | Actor | G [178] |
Rodney Croome | b. ? | Australian | LGBT rights activist | G [179] |
Aleister Crowley | 1875–1947 | English | Occultist, hedonist | B [180] |
Howard Cruse | b. 1944 | American | Cartoonist | G [181] |
Bobby Crush | b. 1954 | English | Pianist, TV presenter | G [182] |
Benjamin Cruz | b. 1953 | American | Judge, Politician | G [183] |
Wilson Cruz | b. 1973 | American | Actor | G [184] |
Steve Cruz | b. 1972 | American | Pornographic actor | G [185] |
Hugues Cuénod | b. 1902 | Swiss | Tenor | G [186] |
George Cukor | 1899–1983 | American | Director | G [187] |
Countee Cullen | 1903–1946 | American | Romantic Poet | B [188] |
Mitch Cullin | b. 1968 | American | Writer | G [189] |
Bonnie Cullison | b. 1954 | American | Politician | L [118] |
Alan Cumming | b. 1965 | Scottish | Actor | B [190] |
Conrad Cummings | b. 1948 | American | Contemporary classical composer | G [191] |
Andrew Cunanan | 1969–1997 | American | Serial killer | G [192] |
Merce Cunningham | 1919–2009 | American | Dancer, choreographer | ? [10] |
Michael Cunningham | b. 1952 | American | Writer | G [193] |
Adrianne Curry | b. 1982 | American | Model | B [194] |
John Curry | 1949–1994 | English | Figure skater | G [195] |
Bonnie Curtis | b. 1966 | American | Film producer | L [196] |
Catie Curtis | b. 1965 | American | Folk rock musician | L [197] |
Daniel Curzon | b. 1938 | American | Writer | G [198] |
Ami Cusack | b. 1973 | American | Model | L [199] |
Charlotte Saunders Cushman | 1816–1876 | American | Actor | L [200] |
Julie Cypher | b. 1964 | American | LGBT rights activist, director | B [201] |
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