Wave that rainbow flag: Celebrities who came out in 2024
Out and proud!
Members of the LGBTQ+ community have been slaying in 2024. Alex Consani became the first out trans woman to win Model of the Year and was one of the first trans women to walk the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. It's been a hallmark year for LGBTQ+ rights as Thailand signed same-sex marriage into law.
With big, historic achievements come smaller wins that come in the form of being brave enough to come out. As the year ends, let's look back at some celebrities who proudly came out of the closet and waved their rainbow flag high.
Ralf Schumacher
Former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher hit two birds with one stone as he came out in July and hard-launched his relationship with his same-sex partner of two years, Étienne Bosquet-Cassagne.
"The most beautiful thing in life is when you have the right partner by your side with whom you can share everything," he wrote in his post.
The 49-year-old, who has six grands prix wins under his belt, received support from fans and his loved ones, including son David who said, "I am very happy that you have finally found someone with home you really feel very comfortable and secure. I am 100% behind you, Dad, and wish you all the best and congratulations."
Maren Morris
What better time to come out than during Pride Month? In June, country singer Maren Morris announced that she's bisexual on the Work in Progress podcast.
"I felt like I wanted to celebrate it... And just for myself, I just wanted to have everything out there...My life is so open now. I'm not hiding any portion of myself," the My Church singer said.
The 34-year-old artist came out months after she filed for divorce from her husband, musician Ryan Hurd.
Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan, the singer behind Pink Pony Club—which has become a queer anthem, is no stranger to the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier in the year, the 26-year-old singer confirmed she's a lesbian to her fans in the middle of a show in Ohio.
"Finally it's like, 'Oh, I know why. It's because I'm gay and nothing's actually wrong with me.' I just wasn't supposed to be sleeping with men, and now I'm a little repulsed at the thought of even kissing a guy because no one's going to be as good as girls," she told Rolling Stone in a cover story interview.
For a long time, the Red Wine Supernova singer feared her own sexual identity—something that she had to unlearn from her Christian upbringing.
"I was scared of flamboyantly gay people because I was taught that. [I realized] people hate flamboyantly gay people because it exudes femininity, and people hate women... It took a lot of unlearning, and there's still things I'm still confused about, and [it's] why I feel so uncomfortable being gay sometimes. I don't get why this is such an issue for me. It shouldn't be, but something's just going on and I need to just accept that.
Chappell added that being out doesn't necessarily mean being loud about it.
"You can kind of silently celebrate if you would like. It’s like, look, I love being gay. I just don’t want to talk about it every second of every day," she said.
Chloë Grace Moretz
When actress Chloë Grace Moretz came out, she made a political statement, urging fans to support US Vice President Kamala Harris, who eventually lost to Republican Donald Trump.
"I believe the government has no right for my body as a woman, and that the decisions over my body should come ONLY from myself and my doctor," she said in an Instagram post. "I believe in the need for legal protections that protects the LGBTQ+ community as a gay woman."
ICYDK, Chloë starred in The Miseducation of Cameron Post, a 2018 film where she played a teenager sent to gay conversion therapy.
The Kick-Ass star has also been reported to be dating model Kate Harrison.
Kelly Marie Tran
Star Wars: The Last Jedi star Kelly Marie Tran, in an interview with Vanity Fair, came out as queer as she talked about being part of upcoming LGBTQ+ rom-com The Wedding Banquet.
“I haven’t said this publicly yet, but I’m a queer person,” she said. “The thing that really excited me about it was I got to play a person that I felt like I knew. I don’t feel like I’m acting in this movie… I’ve never been in a queer space before. I’ve never truly felt this accepted before," she said.
Medwin Marfil
Medwin Marfil, the lead vocalist of Filipino pop band True Faith, publicly came out as he announced that he tied the knot with his now-husband Mark Angeles in a ceremony in California in May.
In a podcast interview with Nelson Canlas, the singer opened up about how it wasn't easy to come out.
"Because in the band scene, there's really a culture of machismo," he said, adding that times are now changing. "What's important is if you're a good person, if you're a good artist. If they want to express their opinion, go ahead. But it's not our reality. It's not who we are."
“I was scared of people finding out that I’m gay, being judged. It was a different climate dati," Medwin told ABS-CBN News in another interview. This was like many years, before a straight guy came out on TV. So ibang-iba talaga. It took me a long time to be comfortable with myself on stage.”
He added that people in show business, band scene, his family and friends, have known about his sexuality. "It's been an open secret in the business."
Sophia Bush
Similar to Maren, Sophia Bush came out as queer months after filing for divorce from her husband Grant Hughes.
The One Tree Hill star said she "sort of hates" the notion of having to come out in 2024, but because of anti-LGBTQIA+ bills being filed in the United States, she decided to do so.
"I’ve experienced so much safety, respect, and love in the queer community, as an ally all of my life, that, as I came into myself, I already felt it was my home. I think I’ve always known that my sexuality exists on a spectrum. Right now I think the word that best defines it is queer. I can’t say it without smiling, actually. And that feels pretty great," the actress wrote.
Reneé Rapp
At one time, Mean Girls star Reneé Rapp pitched herself as the "bisexual Justin Bieber." But since the start of the year, she has referred to herself as a lesbian.
"I don't think I like boys," she said in a January episode of Andy Cohen's SiriusXM radio show.
In February, she told the Hollywood Reporter that she is a lesbian, something that she affirmed in March.
"If I say I'm a lesbian[,] I am a lesbian and if someone says they're bi[,] they are bi[.] I've had enough of you witches," Reneé wrote on X.
Julia Fox
"Sorry boys, won't happen again." This was what actress and model Julia Fox wrote as she came out on TikTok.
Julia reshared a clip of a TikTok creator who said, "I love when I see a lesbian with their boyfriend. It's like, 'Aww, you hate that man."
She then stitched it with her saying "Hey, that was me, I was that lesbian. Sorry boys, won't happen again."
In 2022, the model said she has a "gay bone" in her body and that she would start dating women.
Khalid
While others get to come out at their own pace, some people are pushed out of the closet. This was the case for singer Khalid who came out as gay after he was outed online. Despite this, the artist isn't ashamed of his sexuality.
"[rainbow flag emoji]!!! [T]here y'all go. [N]ext topic please lol,” he wrote. When an X user asked for clarification if he was gay, he replied, ”I am! And that’s okay.”
“I got outted and the world still continues to turn. Let’s get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality, it ain’t nobodies business! But I am okay with me, love [y’all],” he wrote in a separate post.