All articles tagged with #coming out
Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo revealed on Instagram that he is a proudly gay man, saying he’s been unpacking his sexuality for years and committing to express his true self in his art after years of drinking to cope. The message came after Beartooth’s new single “Free” and ahead of the band’s sixth album, Pure Ecstasy, due August 28, with a tour to follow.
Caleb Shomo, Beartooth’s frontman, publicly comes out as a proudly gay man, explaining he spent a decade burying his feelings with alcohol and that embracing his sexuality is guiding his work on the band’s forthcoming album Pure Ecstasy, due in August, with support from his wife Fleur Shomo.
Beartooth frontman Caleb Shomo announced on Instagram that he is gay, saying he has spent years unpacking his sexuality and battling alcohol use; his wife Fleur Shomo confirmed they are no longer together but will continue to support him. Shomo, who founded Beartooth in 2012, is navigating this personal revelation while the band works on new music, with the August release of the album Pure Ecstasy following February’s single Free. He has a history of depression and other struggles dating back to his youth and earlier musical projects.
This piece catalogs a wide array of musicians who have publicly identified as LGBTQ or spoken about their sexuality, spanning rock, metal, pop, and indie scenes. It highlights both early trailblazers (e.g., Elton John, Freddie Mercury) and contemporary figures (e.g., Brendon Urie, Laura Jane Grace, Josh Kiszka, Billie Eilish), underscoring how openness about sexuality has advanced LGBTQ visibility and advocacy in the music industry, with identities including gay, bisexual, and pansexual.
Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, died at 47 from brain cancer. His 2013 coming out and subsequent advocacy reframed masculinity in sports, earning praise from teammates and coaches and advancing LGBTQ visibility in basketball, including his 98 tribute to Matthew Shepard and his broader call for authentic self-determination.
Hayden Panettiere’s estranged mother Lesley Vogel doubted the timing of Panettiere’s public coming-out as bisexual during the star’s memoir promotion for This Is Me: A Reckoning, saying there’s no proof it was hidden but calling the timing “interesting.” Panettiere had already discussed her sexuality in Us Weekly ahead of the memoir’s May 19 release, explaining she waited until 36 to share her truth, has explored relationships with women, and that paparazzi made openness difficult; the two are currently estranged, though Panettiere left room for reconciliation.
Hayden Panettiere publicly identifies as bisexual in a US Weekly interview ahead of her memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning, saying she waited due to fear of public opinion and her team's reactions, but at 36 she's now comfortable acknowledging it; the memoir publishes May 19.
Hayden Panettiere publicly said she is bisexual in a Us Weekly interview, explaining she’s choosing to be brutally honest for her upcoming memoir about her addiction, domestic abuse, and loss. She notes she’s had relationships with women but hadn’t fully embraced them before, and she wanted to come out now rather than jump on a trend.
The HBO series Heated Rivalry has become a surprising cultural touchstone for older gay hockey fans, reframing coming-out memories around the sport and building renewed community; real-life couples share their stories—getting married on the ice and rediscovering love through hockey—while fans and a longtime blogger reflect on inclusivity in hockey and the show's potential to revive a once-vibrant gay fandom, despite some critics calling the early episodes a slog.
The HBO Max series Heated Rivalry highlights that, despite some progress, men’s professional sports still stigmatize openly gay players: few active gay athletes exist in major leagues, many come out after retirement, and locker rooms cling to a narrow masculine ideal. The piece contrasts with women's sports where out players are common, cites landmark figures who came out, and notes surveys suggesting growing acceptance, even as incidents and resistance persist. The show has spurred more LGBTQ hockey participation and conversations, but hasn’t yet produced a broad cultural shift in top leagues.
Amber Glenn captured a U.S. national title for a third straight year and earned a spot on the Milan-Cortina Olympic team, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ U.S. woman to skate singles at the Games; she says coming out in 2019 freed her from the mold she felt, aided by mental coaching and a training move to Colorado, though she notes that being out didn't automatically improve her skating and that injuries and setbacks still shaped her journey.
In a Hollywood Reporter interview, Jermelle Simon explains that his breakout role as Bernard Upshaw—who evolves from closeted to openly gay—mirrored and propelled his own journey to come out in 2024. After a 2018 divorce, he married Obio Jones in 2025, and with The Upshaws ending, he aims to shift toward stage work and film to showcase range beyond the sitcom, while reflecting on family support during the final days of production.
Kendall Jenner addressed and dismissed rumors that she is a lesbian during a podcast, expressing that while she finds the gossip harmless, the mean-spirited online comments bother her. She emphasized her openness to experiences but clarified she is not currently LGBTQ+, and reflected on her love life and personal growth.
Noah Schnapp reflects on the emotional end of 'Stranger Things,' his character Will's hopeful conclusion, and his own journey with fame and sexual identity, emphasizing the show's positive impact and his growth as an actor.
Noah Schnapp's character Will Byers in 'Stranger Things' comes out as gay in Season 5, with Schnapp himself publicly coming out as gay in 2023. The emotional scene marks a significant moment of self-acceptance for the character and showcases Schnapp's growth as an actor, reflecting his real-life experiences. The scene was carefully crafted, with Schnapp expressing how the process of filming and editing contributed to its impact.