Ian Thorpe

Confirmed on: July 13, 2014

During an interview with British broadcaster Michael Parkinson, Australian swimming champ and five-time Olympic gold medallist Ian Thorpe confirmed his sexual orientation. “I am not straight…. I don’t want young people to feel the same way I did. You can grow up, you can be comfortable and you can be gay. I am a little ashamed I didn’t come out earlier. That I didn’t have the strength or courage to do it. I don’t want that struggle to be so hard for others.”

Ellen Page

Confirmed on: February 14, 2014

The Juno star chose the ‘Time To Thrive’ conference (at Bally’s Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas) to promote the welfare of LGBT in a moving speech. “I’m here today because I am gay and because maybe I can make a difference, to help others have an easier and more hopeful time. Regardless, for me, I feel a personal obligation and a social responsibility. I am tired of hiding and I am tired of lying by omission,” said the 27-year-old actress.

Ricky Martin

Confirmed on: March 29, 2010

He posted a candid letter on his website RickyMartinMusic.com: “I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man.... To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids were born with. These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within.”

Ellen Degeneres

Confirmed in: April 1997

It was The Puppy episode of her popular TV series, Ellen. She sat across her psychiatrist, played by Oprah Winfrey, answering a simple question: “Has there ever been anyone you felt you clicked with?” and she replies: “Susan.” Simultaneously, her interview with Time appeared: “I really tried to figure out every way to avoid answering that question for as long as I could. Now, I feel completely comfortable with myself, and I don’t have to be fearful about something damaging my career if it gets out, because now I’m in control of it –– sort of.”

Jodie Foster

Confirmed on: January 13, 2013

After Robert Downey Jr introduced the recipient of the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes, Foster gave a stirring speech: “I already did my coming out about a thousand years ago, back in the Stone Age. In those very quaint days when a fragile young girl would open up to trusted friends, and family, co-workers and then gradually, proudly, to everyone who knew her.” She went on to thank her former partner Cydney Bernard. The Silence of the Lambs star married her girlfriend, photographer Alexandra Hedison, in April 2014.

Neil Patrick Harris

Confirmed on: November 3, 2006

The Doogie Howser, M.D. and How I Met Your Mother star confirmed rumours during an interview with People magazine. “It seems there is speculation and interest in my private life and relationships. So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, I am happy to dispel any rumours or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love.”

Rosie O’Donnell

Confirmed on: February 27, 2002

Her brief appearance on Will & Grace was as a lesbian but it was while presenting her comedy set at Ovarian Cancer Research benefit in Caroline’s Comedy Club that she came out: “I’m a dyke! I don’t know why people make such a big deal about the gay thing.... People are confused, they’re shocked, like this is a big revelation to somebody.”

Tom Daley

Confirmed on: December 2, 2013

The British diving champ posted a video on YouTube to express himself: “Come spring, this year, my life changed. Massively. When I met someone and it made me feel so happy, so safe and everything just feels great. That someone is a guy. And it did take me by surprise a little bit. It was always in the back of my head that it could happen, but it wasn’t until the spring of this year that something clicked. It felt right.”

George Michael

Confirmed on: April 9, 1998

Humiliation gave way to freedom for the I Want Your Sex singer when he was caught in a lewd act with an undercover police officer in a public lavatory. A couple of days later he told CNN: “I’m a very proud man –– I want people to know that I feel stupid and I feel reckless and weak for having allowed my sexuality to be exposed this way, but I don’t feel any shame whatsoever.”

Zachary Quinto

Confirmed on: October 16, 2011

During an interview about his Off-Broadway show, the revival of Angels In America, the Star Trek actor told New York magazine: “As a gay man, it made me feel like I — there’s still so much work to be done. There’s still so many things that need to be looked at and addressed. The undercurrent of that fear and that, you know, insidiousness still is swarming.”

And Let’s not forget…

Elton John

He told Rolling Stone magazine in 1976: “I’m bisexual. There’s nothing wrong with going to bed with somebody of your own sex.” But then he went and married a woman, German recording engineer Renate Blauel, in 1984. Again in 1988 he told the same magazine that he was “comfortable” being a gay man. He is now in a civil partnership with David Furnish with whom he has two children.

Billie-Jean King

The tennis champ was forced to come out in 1981 when a ‘palimony’ lawsuit (division of property among parties who are not legally married) was brought against her by her former secretary Marilyn Barnett, with whom she was romantically involved. Marilyn lost the case and King divorced her husband in 1987. In an interview to The Times, London, she had said: “I wanted to tell the truth but my parents were homophobic and I was in the closet.”