Coming out isn’t easy and it can be even more complicated for those living under the limelight. Around the world, people are finding ways to live in their skin unapologetically and raise their voices to share their sexuality.
National Coming Out Day, a day that began in 1988 to support those in the LGBTQ+ "coming out of the closet" is celebrated annually on Oct. 11. Some of Hollywood's brightest stars have been outspoken about their sexualities, especially celebrities of color. Each star has put on a brave face, lending their voices to inspire, educate, and entertain within the Black community. Being Black comes with its own rule book when living in America but, it’s an added pressure to be both Black and queer.
By keeping it real, these eight individuals have inspired their community to embrace their identities and create safe spaces of acceptance, love, and inclusion. Check out the stories of these 7 young celebrities who recently "came out."
1. Kehlani
The "Nights Like This" singer-songwriter has long identified as a member of the LGBTQ+. In 2018, she tweeted that she was queer, tweeting, "I’m queer. not bi, not straight. I’m attracted to women, men, REALLY attracted to queer men, nonbinary people, intersex people, trans people. Lil' poly pansexual papi, hello good morning. does that answer your questions?"
However, in 2021, the Oakland-born singer came out to fans as a lesbian, sharing on TikTok, "You wanna know what’s new about me? I finally know I’m a lesbian."
@kehlani ????????????
2. Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X is known for his tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and over-the-top openness which has caused his fandom to grow rapidly over time, but although we know now that he's openly gay, he didn't start his rap career that way.
Amidst the success of his debut smash hit, "Old Town Road" Lil Nas X took to Twitter on June 30, 2019, the last day of Pride Month, to come out to his fans. "Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more," he wrote. "But before this month ends I want y’all to listen closely to c7osure." He then posted a video that said everything that needed to be said.
The MONTERO rapper has been an open book in terms of sharing how depressing it's been to navigate through life as a gay man and deal with day-to-day societal pressures. He shared that he "never planned on coming out as gay" and was set on the thought of "taking the truth of his sexuality to his grave." He added, "But I don't wanna live my entire life — especially how I got to where I'm at — not doing what I wanna do."
some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to c7osure. ????????✨ pic.twitter.com/O9krBLllqQ
— MONTERO ???? (@LilNasX) June 30, 2019
3. Willow Smith
Willow Smith is a champion for self-love, expression, and acceptance. The young rockstar always keeps it real with her followers, leaving it all on the table — the red table.
In a "Red Table Talk" episode, Smith alongside her mother, Jada, and grandmother, Adrienne Banfield-Norris, came out about her sexuality and polyamory views.
"I focus a lot on the emotional connection and I feel like if I were to find two people of different genders that I really connected with and we had a romantic and sexual connection, I don't feel like I would feel the need to try to go find more," she revealed.
4. Justice Smith
In 2020, The Get Down actor, Justice Smith, came out as queer to bring more visibility to Black trans and queer lives. During the Black Lives Matter protest in New Orleans, Smith shared, "As a Black queer man myself, I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when trans/queer was added. I want to reiterate this sentiment. If your revolution does not include Black Queer voices, it is anti-Black. If your revolution is OK with letting Black trans people like #TonyMcDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate Black cishet men, it is anti-Black.”
Following the cancellation of The Get Down on Netflix, Smith went on to take on several roles, most recently landing a spot on the cast of HBO Max's Generation, where he plays a queer teen named Chester Morris.
5. Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenberg came out as bisexual in 2016 when she was 17, and in 2018 came to the realization that she was actually gay. Stenberg told Wonderland Magazine, "I was so overcome with this profound sense of relief when I realized that I’m gay – not bi, not pan, but gay – with a romantic love for women."
Stenberg, who is non-binary, and uses both 'she/her/hers' and 'they/their/theirs' pronouns, says that her, "sexuality is not a byproduct of my past experiences with men, who I have loved, but rather a part of myself I was born with and love deeply."
6. Sasha Lane
While marketing The Miseducation of Cameron Post at Sundance in 2018, Sasha Lane opened up about her sexuality while discussing the film.
In the film, Lane portrays a character named Jane, one of many queer teens who were sent away to a religious conversion therapy camp by their parents.
During a live panel, the young actress explained how much of herself she saw in the character.
"The story really hit home for me, coming from a household where my brother’s gay and I’m gay," said Lane. "I liked Jane, who has a free spirit and had her own way of thinking. She grew up in a community where everyone was free and lived life in a certain way. Then her mother brought her into a community that was very conservative and unaccepting of her. But both those communities were boxes. I could relate to that because, regardless of how free I am in spirit, I grew up in Texas and that is kind of like a box."
7. Adonis Bosso
Model and kick-ass baby dad, Adonis Bosso, came out as sexually fluid in 2020 and thanked Slick Woods for supporting him through the process.
According to Bosso, Woods, who had primarily dated women prior to dating him, opened his eyes to living in his truth.
He told The Cut, “Being with someone that was so open with herself got me more comfortable to just be where I am, without necessarily having to feel like I need to answer to anyone.”
He continued, “I don’t necessarily believe in labels. I feel like I could fall in love with anyone, regardless of their sex, or their orientation, or anything. I feel like love is energy.”
