Parent article: List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people;
Siblings:
A · Ba–Bh · Bi–Bz · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O P · Q · R · Sa–Sc · Sd–Si · Sj–Sz · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z |
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 and definition 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] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ann-Marie MacDonald | b. 1958 | Canadian | Playwright, novelist, journalist | L[7] |
Luke Macfarlane | b. 1980 | Canadian | Actor | G[8] |
Ryan MacGrath | Canadian | Musician, painter | G[9] | |
Eduardo Machado | b. 1953 | Cuban | Playwright | G[10] |
Colin MacInnes | 1914–1976 | English | Writer | G[11] |
Ashley MacIsaac | b. 1975 | Canadian | Fiddler | G[12] |
Daniel MacIvor | b. 1962 | Canadian | Actor, playwright, director | G[13] |
Kenneth MacKenna | 1899–1962 | American | Actor, director | B[14] |
Jack Mackenroth | b. 1969 | American | Fashion designer | G[15] |
Cameron Mackintosh | b. 1946 | British | Theatrical producer | G[16] |
Rachel Maddow | b. 1973 | American | Radio host | L[17] |
Ronald Magill | 1920–2007 | English | Actor | G[18] |
Leslie Mah | b. ?[5] | American | Punk rock musician | L[19] |
Sean Maher | b. 1975 | American | Actor | G[20] |
Mary Lou Makepeace | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | L[21] |
Christopher Makos | b. 1948 | American | Photographer, artist | G[22] |
Suzanne Malherbe | 1892–1972 | French | Illustrator, designer | L[23] |
Liz Malia | b. 1949 | American | Politician | L[24] |
Gene Malin | 1908–1933 | American | Actor, drag performer | G[25] |
Agnès Maltais | b. 1956 | Canadian | Politician | L[26] |
Don Mancini | b. 1963 | American | Film director, screenwriter, producer | G[27] |
Peter Mandelson | b. 1953 | English | Politician | G[28] |
Mabel Maney | b. 1958 | American | Writer | L[29] |
Irshad Manji | b. 1968 | Canadian | Feminist Muslim author | L[30] |
Erika Mann | 1905–1969 | German | Writer, actor, war correspondent | L[31] |
Klaus Mann | 1906–1949 | German | Writer | G[32] |
Ernie Manouse | b. 1969 | American | TV Anchor, Producer | G[33] |
Jay Manuel | b. 1972 | Canadian | Make-up artist, fashion photographer | G[34] |
Alec Mapa | b. 1965 | American | Actor | G[35] |
Robert Mapplethorpe | 1946-1989 | American | Photographer, artist | G[36] |
Roger Margason | b. ?[5] | American | Mystery writer | G[37] |
Miriam Margolyes | b. 1941 | English | Actor | L[28] |
Pedro Marín | b. 1961 | Spanish | Pop musician | G[38] |
Elisebeht Markström | b. 1955 | Swedish | Politician | L[39] |
Del Marquis | b. 1977 | American | Musician | G[40] |
Gordon Marsden | b. 1953 | English | Politician | G[41] |
Rob Marshall | b. 1960 | American | Film and theater director | G[42] |
Willy Marshall | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | G[43] |
James Martin | b. 1965 | American | Politician | G[44] |
Ricky Martin | b. 1971 | Puerto Rican | Singer and actor | G[45] |
Nigel Martin-Smith | b. ?[5] | British | Entertainment manager | G[46] |
Ursula Martinez | b. ?[5] | British | Performance artist | L[47] |
Jeff Marx | b. 1970 | American | Lyricist, composer | G[48] |
Angela Mason | b. 1944 | English | LGBT rights activist | L[28] |
Ivan Massow | b. 1967 | British | Entrepreneur, politician | G[49] |
Billy Masters | b. 1969 | American | Gossip columnist | G[50] |
Heather Matarazzo | b. 1982 | American | Actor | L[51] |
Dan Mathews | b. 1964 | American | Animal rights activist | G[52] |
Kerwin Mathews | 1926–2007 | American | Actor | G[53] |
Ross Mathews | b. 1979 | American | Television personality | G[54] |
Johnny Mathis | b. 1935 | American | Pop musician | G[55] |
Gary Matson | 1949–1999 | American | Murder victim | G[56] |
Andrew Mattison | 1948–2005 | American | Writer, psychologist, researcher | G[57] |
Alison Mau | b. 1965 | New Zealand | Television journalist and presenter | L[58] |
Corine Mauch | b. 1960 | German | Politician | L[59] |
Armistead Maupin | b. 1944 | American | Writer | G[60] |
Amélie Mauresmo | b. 1979 | French | Tennis player | L[61] |
Glen Maxey | b. 1952 | American | Politician | G[62] |
Steve May | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | G[63] |
John Maybury | b. 1958 | English | Film director | G[16] |
Andrew M. Maynard | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | G[64] |
Chandra Mayor | b. ?[5] | Canadian | Writer | L[65] |
Al McAffrey | b. 1948 | American | Politician | G[66] |
Angus McBean | 1904–1990 | British | Photographer | G[67] |
Nell McCafferty | b. 1944 | Irish | Journalist, playwright | L[68] |
Richard McCann | b. 1949 | American | Writer | G[69] |
Stephen McCauley | b. 1955 | American | Writer | G[70] |
J.D. McClatchy | b. 1945 | American | Writer | G[70] |
Thomas McCosker | b. 1950 | Australian | Textile worker, jailed in Fiji for sodomy | G[71] |
Matt McCoy | b. 1966 | American | Politician | G[72] |
Scott McCoy | b. 1970 | American | Politician | G[73] |
Tarell Alvin McCraney | b. 1980 | American | Playwright, actor | G[74] |
Logan McCree | b. 1977 | German | Pornographic Actor | B[75] |
Julie McCrossin | b. 1954 | Australian | Journalist, comedian | L[76] |
Kevin McDaid | b. 1984 | British | Pop musician | G[77] |
Val McDermid | b. 1955 | Scottish | Writer | L[78] |
Joe McDermott | b. 1967 | American | Politician | G[79] |
Keith McDermott | b. 1953 | American | Writer | G[80] |
Andrew J. McDonald | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | G[64] |
Jon-Marc McDonald | b. 1976 | American | Writer, political activist | G[81] |
Joe McElderry | b.1991 | English | Singer, First Ever Gay X Factor UK Winner | G [82] |
Peter McGehee | 1955–1991 | Canadian | Writer | G[83] |
Kelly McGillis | b. 1957 | USA | Actor | L [84] |
Jenn McGinn | b. ? | Canadian | politician | L [85] |
Jamie McGonnigal | b. 1975 | American | Actor, producer | G[70] |
Jim McGreevey | b. 1957 | American | Governor of New Jersey | G[86] |
Patrick McGuinn | b. 1966 | American | Director | G[87] |
Maggie McIntosh | b. 1947 | American | Politician, first openly gay person in the Maryland General Assembly | L[88] |
Claude McKay | 1889–1948 | Jamaican | Writer | B[89] |
Molly McKay | b. ?[5] | American | Attorney, LGBT rights activist | L[90] |
Ian McKellen | b. 1939 | British | Actor, LGBT rights activist | G[91] |
Larry McKeon | 1944–2008 | American | Politician | G[92] |
Erin McKeown | b. 1977 | American | Pop musician | L[93] |
Kate McKinnon | b. 1983 | American | Comedian | L[94] |
Marshall Kirk McKusick | b. 1954 | American | Computer scientist | G[95] |
Colin McLean | b. 1978 | Australian | Drag queen, fashion designer | G[96] |
Norman McLaren | 1914–1987 | Canadian | Animator, film director | G[97] |
Samantha McLeod | b. ?[5] | Canadian | Actor | L[98] |
Claire McNab | b. ?[5] | Australian | Writer | L[99] |
Terrence McNally | b. 1939 | American | Playwright | G[100] |
Colin McPhee | 1900–1964 | Canadian | 20th century classical composer, ethnomusicologist | G[101] |
Alexander McQueen | 1969–2010 | British | Fashion designer | G[102] |
Carmen McRae | 1920–1994 | American | Jazz musician | L[103] |
David McReynolds | b. 1929 | American | Politician, activist | G[104] |
Peter McWilliams | 1940–2000 | American | Writer, activist | G[105] |
David McVicar | b. 1967 | Scottish | Opera director | G[98] |
Marijane Meaker | b. 1927 | American | Writer | L[106] |
Linda Medalen | b. 1965 | Norwegian | Football player | L[107] |
Gian Gastone Medici | 1671–1737 | Tuscan | Last Medici Grand Duke | G[108] |
Benny Medina | b. 1958 | American | Talent agent, producer | G[52] |
Robert Medley | 1905–1994 | English | Artist | G[109] |
Mark Medlock | 1978 | German | Singer | G [110] |
Joe Meek | 1929–1967 | British | Record producer | G[111] |
Ken Mehlman | b. 1966 | American | Businessman, Campaign Mgr for George W. Bush | G [112] |
Julie Mehretu | b. 1970 | American | Artist | L[113] |
Mary Meigs | 1917–2002 | American | Painter, writer | L[114] |
Ian Meldrum | b. 1946 | Australian | Popular music critic, journalist, musical entrepreneur | G[115] |
Deb Mell | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | L[116] |
Wendy Melvoin | b. 1964 | American | Musician and TV/film composer | L[117] |
Réal Ménard | b. 1962 | Canadian | Member of Parliament | G[118] |
Charlotte Mendelson | b. 1972 | English | Writer | L[98] |
Rosie Mendez | b. ?[5] | Puerto Rican | Politician | L[119] |
Gian Carlo Menotti | 1911–2007 | American | 20th century classical composer | G[120] |
Billy Merasty | b. 1960 | First Nations-Canadian | Actor, writer | G[121] |
Jorge Merced | b. ?[5] | Puerto Rican | Theatre actor and director | G[122] |
Rick Mercer | b. 1969 | Canadian | Television personality, political satirist | G[123] |
Ismail Merchant | 1936–2005 | Indian-born British | Film producer | G[124] |
Freddie Mercury | 1946–1991 | British | Rock musician | B[125] |
William Morris Meredith, Jr. | 1919–2007 | American | Poet | G[126] |
Billy Merrell | b. 1982 | American | Writer | G[127] |
Rich Merritt | b. 1967 | American | Writer, attorney | G[128] |
Charlotte Mew | 1869–1928 | English | Poet | L[129] |
Robert Meza | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | G[130] |
George Michael | b. 1963 | British | Pop musician | G[131] |
Tammy Lynn Michaels | b. 1974 | American | Actor | L[132] |
Michelangelo | 1475–1564 | Italian | Sculptor, painter | G[133] |
Carole Migden | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | L[134] |
Mika | b. 1983 | British | Singer-songwriter | B[135] |
Harvey Milk | 1930–1978 | American | Policitian, LGBT rights activist | G[136] |
Lorri Millan | b. ?[5] | Canadian | Performance artists, writers | L[137] |
Eric Millegan | b. 1974 | American | Actor | G[138] |
Jacob & Joshua Miller | b. ?[5] | American | Musicians | G[139] |
Jennifer Miller | b. 1961 | American | Circus entertainer, educator | L[140] |
Stephanie Miller | b. 1961 | American | Comedian, radio host | L[141] |
Tim Miller | b. 1958 | American | Performance artist | G[142] |
Andy Milligan | 1929–1991 | American | Writer, film director | G[143] |
Scott Mills | b. 1974 | English | DJ | G[144] |
Barnaby Miln | b. 1947 | British | Activist, Church of England General Synod and Justice of the Peace | G[145] |
Simon Milton | b. ?[5] | English | Politician | G[146] |
Sal Mineo | 1939–1976 | American | Actor | B[147] |
Gabriela Mistral | b.1889 | Chilean | Poet, educator, diplomat, Nobel Prize winner | L[148] |
Matthew Mitcham | b. 1988 | Australian | Diver | G[149] |
John Cameron Mitchell | b. 1963 | American | Director, actor | G[150] |
Dimitris Mitropoulos | 1896–1960 | Greek | Classical conductor, musician and composer | G[101] |
Frédéric Mitterrand | b. 1946 | French | Politician | B [151] |
David Mixner | b. 1946 | American | Activist, author | G[152] |
Heather Mizeur | b. 1972 | American | Politician | L[153] |
Isaac Mizrahi | b. 1961 | American | Fashion designer | G[154] |
Anika Moa | b. 1980 | New Zealand | Pop musician | L[155] |
Jim Moeller | b. 1955 | American | Politician | G[156] |
Mary Anne Mohanraj | b. 1971 | Sri Lankan | Writer | B[157] |
Emmanuel Moire | b. 1979 | French | Singer, composer | G[158] |
Albert Mol | 1917–2004 | Dutch | Actor, LGBT activist | G[159] |
Brian Molko | b. 1972 | British- American | Rock musician (Placebo) | B[160] |
Paul Monette | 1945–2005 | American | Writer | G[161] |
Luke Montgomery | b. 1974 | American | Political activist | G[162] |
Alecia Moore | b. 1979 | American | Singer, A.K.A. P!nk | B [163] |
Amanda Moore | b. 1960 | American | Supermodel | L[164] |
Frank C. Moore | 1953–2002 | American | Painter, designer of the AIDS ribbon | G[165] |
Paul Moore | 1919–2003 | American | Episcopal Bishop | G[166] |
Perry Moore | b. ?[5] | American | Screenwriter, director | G[167] |
Shani Mootoo | b. 1958 | Irish-born Trinidadian-Canadian | Author, multimedia artist, painter, video producer | L[168] |
Edwin Morgan | b. 1920 | Scottish | Poet | G[169] |
Chris Morris | b. 1979 | British | Activist and journalist | G[170] |
Paul Morris | b. ?[5] | American | Porn director and producer | G[171] |
Terry Morrison | b. ?[5] | American | Politician | G[172] |
Daniel David Moses | b. 1952 | Canadian | Writer | G[173] |
Bob Mould | b. 1960 | American | Rock musician (Hüsker Dü, Sugar) | G[174] |
Megan Mullally | b. 1958 | American | Actor | B[175] |
Ona Munson | 1903–1955 | American | Actor | L[176] |
Neculai Constantin Munteanu | b. 1941 | Romanian | anti-communist dissident | G[177] |
Mirjam Müntefering | b. 1969 | German | Writer | L [178] |
Alex Munter | b. 1968 | Canadian | Politician, journalist | G[179] |
Zeki Müren | 1931–1996 | Turkish | Actor | G[180] |
Diane Murphy | b. 1964 | American | Actor | L[181] |
Peter Murphy | b. 1949 | American | Politician | G[182] |
Ryan Murphy | b. 1966 | American | Writer & Director | G[183] |
F. W. Murnau | 1888–1931 | German | Director | G[184] |
Ed Murray | b. 1955 | American | Politician | G[185] |
Glen Murray | b. 1957 | Canadian | Politician | G[186] |
Herbert Muschamp | 1947–2007 | American | Architecture critic | G[187] |
Max Mutchnick | b. 1965 | American | Television producer | G[188] |
Mwanga II of Buganda | 1868–1903 | African | King | G[189] |
Billie Myers | b. 1971 | English | Pop musician | B[190] |
A · Ba–Bh · Bi–Bz · C · D · E · F · G · H · I · J · K · L · M · N · O P · Q · R · Sa–Sc · Sd–Si · Sj–Sz · T · U · V · W · X · Y · Z |
|