THE OUT LIST Version 1.2 -- September 1993 A list of living, famous or distinguished people who have publicly acknowledged that they are lesbian, gay or bisexual "THEY CAME OUT--YOU CAN, TOO!" Compiled by Mark Hertzog, University of Virginia (mwh8h@virginia.edu) The first version of the list which follows (Version 1.0) originally was compiled by me for "Proud to Be Out Week" at the University of Virginia in October 1992, and was posted to GayNet (address now: gaynet@queernet.org), an electronic bulletin board designed for gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, for additions and corrections. A corrected version (Version 1.1) was posted to GayNet in January 1993, and from there recopied to other certain other electronic outlets. In the intervening period, further additions and corrections have been made; hence, this new Version 1.2, which supersedes both previous versions. The purpose of the list is to show people who are worried about coming out as gay, lesbian or bisexual that hundreds of prominent persons have done so and retained their popularity, their fortunes, and their good names. It is a sad fact of the time in which we live that people have to be persuaded that this is true. I hope this helps. The qualifications for inclusion in the Out List are: (1) The person must be living; (2) The person must be famous or distinguished; and (3) The person MUST have acknowledged that she or he is gay, lesbian or bisexual in a PUBLIC FORUM--either in the broadcast or print media, or in a public speech or appearance, which is not intended to be private or off the record. No one has been intentionally "outed" here. The principal sources were: ** "Famous or Distinguished Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals: A List of Names" (July 1992 version), compiled by the Gay and Lesbian Task Force of the American Library Association and provided to me by Ellen Greenblatt of SUNY- Buffalo (thanks!). ** Reports in the media, particularly The Advocate magazine. ** Information provided by various subscribers to GayNet (gaynet@queernet.org). Although every reasonable effort has been made to verify all the information contained herein--and although a few names previously included have been removed for lack of adequate verification--the compiler cannot vouch for the *absolute* accuracy of the information contained herein. If any facts in this list are incorrect, please notify me at once and I shall send corrections to all sources to whom the list was posted. This list may be re-posted, copied and distributed at will PROVIDED that the explanation and disclaimer above are included. Any comments, questions, additions or corrections should be sent to me at: mwh8h@virginia.edu Enjoy! THE LIST: Roberta Achtenberg, Assistant Sceretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Clinton; former San Francisco city supervisor Edward Albee, playwright (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?) Paula Gunn Allen, Native American writer and activist Dorothy Allison, novelist (Bastard Out of Carolina) Pedro Almodovar, filmmaker (Tie Me Up!, Tie Me Down!; Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) Sasha Alyson, publisher Angunquac, Native American activist Tom Ammiano, schoolteacher, comedian, San Francisco School Board member (and first-place vote-getter) Emily Anderson, photographer Gloria Anzaldua, Latina writer Virginia Apuzzo, New York state government official; former head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Gregg Araki, Japanese-American filmmaker (The Living End) John Ash, poet and literary critic John Ashbery, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Don Bachardy, artist; life partner of the late novelist Christopher Isherwood Guido Bachmann, writer Joan Baez, singer Ann Bancroft, explorer and teacher (*not* the actress Anne) Paul Bartel, filmmaker John Bartlett, fashion designer Robert Bauman, conservative gay activist; former Republican Congressman from Maryland Amanda Bearse, actress (Marcie on Married...With Children) Alison Bechdel, cartoonist (Dykes to Watch Out For) Pia Beck, singer and pianist Andy Bell, lead singer of Erasure Dodie Bellamy, writer Miriam Ben-Shalom, sued military for reinstatement after expulsion for being lesbian; head of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America Eric Bentley, critic, theatre director and translator Sandra Bernhard, comedian Troix Bettencourt, prominent teenage gay activist George Birisima, actor and playwright Mr. Blackwell, fashion designer; creator of annual "Ten Worst Dressed" list Marie-Claire Blais, French-language Canadian novelist Nayland Blake, artist Robin Blaser, writer Angela Bocage, cartoonist and writer Dirk Bogarde, actor Chastity Bono, daughter of Sonny Bono and Cher John Boswell, historian Sharon Bottoms, Virginia woman stripped of custody of her son solely because of her lesbian relationship Angela Bowie, poet and performance artist; ex-wife of David Bowie David Bowie, rock star and actor Paul Bowles, writer Boy George, pop star (formerly of Culture Club) Rev. Malcolm Boyd, Episcopal priest and writer Joe Brainard, poet and artist Lily Braindrop, writer, editor and "vixen" Marlon Brando, actor Robert Bray, speaker for National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Susie Bright, writer Harry Britt, former President of the San Francisco City Board of Supervisors Nicole Brossard, novelist James Broughton, poet, filmmaker and playwright Olga Broumas, poet Forman Brown ("Richard Meeker"), writer and puppeteer Julie Brown, comedian Rita Mae Brown, novelist John Brunner, writer Ed Buck, Arizona businessman; led drive to recall Gov. Evan Mecham from office Rondel Buckmire, founder of the Queer Resources Directory; African-American JM J. Bullock, actor (Monroe on Too Close for Comfort) Glenn Burke, ex-Major League baseball player William S. Burroughs, novelist Scott Burson, artist Charles Busch, writer, director and actor Aldo Busi, Italian novelist Dick Button, Olympic athlete Paul Cadmus, artist Jerome Caja, artist Pat Califia, advice columnist and magazine editor Michael Callen, singer and activist; member of The Flirtations Simon Callow, actor Jack Campbell, millionaire Florida businessman and activist; founded the Club Baths Margarethe (Greta) Cammermeyer, 26-year veteran officer in Washington state National Guard discharged for being a lesbian Renaud Camus, French novelist Craig Carver, artist Marilyn Chambers, porno actress Abigail Childs, video maker Margaret Cho, comedian Meg Christian, singer Christopher Ciccone, artist and set designer; brother of Madonna Craig Claiborne, food writer Karen Clark, Minnesota state legislator Michelle Cliff, Jamaican writer Kate Clinton, comedian Arch Connelly, artist Janet Cooling, artist Dennis Cooper, writer John Corigliano, classical composer Alfred Corn, poet Tee A. Corrine, artist Midge Costanza, White House aide to ex-President Carter Quentin Crisp, writer and humorist (The Naked Civil Servant) Michelle Crone, comedian Mart Crowley, playwright (The Boys In The Band) Joe Dallesandro, actor in Andy Warhol films Mary Daly, feminist writer Gasparino Damata, Brazilian writer Betsy Damon, artist Jaye Davidson, actor (The Crying Game) Juan Davila, writer Angela Davis, African-American professor and Communist leader Craig Dean and Patrick Gill, male couple suing D.C. government for a marriage license John DeCecco, psychologist and journal editor Donna Deitch, filmmaker (Desert Hearts) Samuel R. Delany, African-American science-fiction writer Lea DeLaria, comedian John D'Emilio, historian Patrick Dennis, novelist The members of Depeche Mode David Diamond, classical composer Rev. Johannes Willem DiMaria-Kuiper, minister Thomas M. Disch, poet and science-fiction writer Alix Dobkin, folksinger Ron Donaghe, writer (Common Sons) Tom Donelan, cartoonist (It's a Gay Life) Cecilia Dougherty, video maker David Drake, playwright and actor (The Night Larry Kramer Kissed Me) Jerry Dreva ("Jerri Bonbon"), writer Tom Duane, New York City Council member Martin Duberman, historian and autobiographer (Cures) Robert Edward Duncan, poet Andrea Dworkin, radical feminist writer and anti-pornography activist Sally Edwards, athlete and businesswoman Kenward Elmslie, writer and librettist Evelien Eshius, member of Dutch parliament Rupert Everett, actor (Another Country; The Comfort of Strangers), rock musician and novelist Lillian Faderman, historian (Odd Girls and Twilight Lovers) Perry Farrell, lead singer of Jane's Addiction Justin Farshanau, British pro soccer star David F. Feinberg, novelist (Eighty-Sixed; Spontaneous Combustion) Dominique Fernandez, French novelist Ferron, folksinger Edward Field, poet Harvey Fierstein, actor, playwright and female impersonator (Torch Song Trilogy) William Finn, Tony-winning Broadway actor (Falsettos) The members of The Flirtations Gary Floyd, leader of Sister Double Happiness Barney Frank, U.S. Congressman (Democrat from Massachusetts) Tyler Franz, openly gay Bush campaign staffer who alleged being demoted and fired after complaints from religious conservatives Ed Gallagher, former college football lineman Jedd Garet, artist Jean-Paul Gaultier, fashion designer Sally Gearhart, professor, writer and activist David Geffen, billionaire record and film magnate Gordon Getty, classical composer Sir John Gielgud, award-winning actor Ronnie Gilbert, folksinger, member of The Weavers Gilbert and George, visual artists Allen Ginsberg, poet Barbara Gittings, longtime lesbian activist Peggy Glanville-Hicks, classical composer Deborah Glick, New York state legislator John Glines, Broadway producer Rev. Peter Gomes, chaplain of Harvard University; African-American Jewelle Gomez, writer Juan Goytisolo, Spanish novelist Annemarie Grewel, Dutch politician and scholar Barbara Grier, writer and publisher Susan Griffin, feminist writer and poet Doris Grumbach, writer and critic Daniel Guerin, French journalist Thom Gunn, poet Allan Gurganus, novelist (Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All) Marilyn Hacker, poet Andrew Halloran, novelist Barbara Hammer, filmmaker Christopher Hampton, playwright Michael Hardwick, challenged Georgia's sodomy law; the U.S. Supreme Court, on a 5-4 vote, upheld the law in 1986 Joy Harjo, Native American poet Sherry Harris, Seattle City Council member; first African-American lesbian elected official in U.S. Lou Harrison, classical composer Nina Hartley, porno actress and feminist Bob Hattoy, Interior Department official, campaign adviser to President Clinton; spoke at 1992 Democratic convention Harry Hay, founder of the modern gay-rights movement; organized the Mattachine Society (1950) and the Radical Faeries (1979) Bruce Hayes, Olympic gold medallist in swimming Christopher Hayes, actor (Melrose Place) Todd Haynes, filmmaker (Poison) Essex Hemphill, African-American poet Nona Hendryx, pop singer Joseph Herzenberg, Vice-Mayor of Chapel Hill, N.C. Rev. Carter Heyward, lesbian Episcopal priest and writer Billy Hileman, schoolteacher and organizer; co-chair, 1993 March on Washington Jon Hinson, gay-rights activist; former Republican Congressman from Mississippi David Hockney, painter William S. Hoffman, playwright (As Is) Jeff Horton, member of Los Angeles School Board Richard Howard, poet, translator and editor Tom Hulce, Oscar-nominated actor (Mozart in Amadeus) Bo Huston, writer David Hutter, painter Kate Hutton, seismologist Janis Ian, singer Robert Indiana, artist Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women (NOW) Bob and Rod Jackson-Paris, pro models/bodybuilders Marc Jacobs, fashion designer Sheila James-Kuehl, actress (Zelda on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) Derek Jarman, filmmaker (Edward II) Elton John, pop star Jasper Johns, artist Holly Johnson, lead singer of Frankie Goes to Hollywood Phillip Johnson, architect Sonia Johnson, feminist, minor-party presidential candidate Bill T. Jones, African-American dancer Cleve Jones, founder of The NAMES Project and the AIDS Memorial Quilt Grace Jones, singer, actress and diva June Jordan, African-American writer and educator Frank Kameny, longtime activist; first openly gay person to run for Congress (1971) Arnie Kantrowitz, writer, teacher and activist Jonathan Ned Katz, historian Michael Kearns, actor and writer Dennis Kelly, poet Maurice Kenny, poet Kevin Killian, writer Billie Jean King, pro tennis champion Tommy Kirk, actor in Disney films (Old Yeller, etc.) Gwen Kirkpatrick, writer David Kopay, retired NFL player (incl. the Washington Redskins) Kris Kovick, cartoonist and writer Larry Kramer, playwright and AIDS activist; founder of ACT UP and Gay Men's Health Crisis Friedrich Krohnke, German writer Hanif Kureishi, novelist and screenwriter (My Beautiful Laundrette; Sammy and Rosie Get Laid) Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright (Angels in America) Kay (Tobin) Laheusen, longtime lesbian activist and writer Lili Lakich, artist Michael Lane and Jim Crotty (The Monks), magazine publishers and adventurers k. d. lang, country singing star Jack Larsen, actor (Jimmy Olson on TV's Superman) Lynn Lavner, comedian David Leavitt, writer (The Lost Language of Cranes) Fran Lebowitz, writer and satirist Ursula LeGuin, novelist Sergei Lemeshev, Russian opera singer Raymond Leppard, conductor and classical composer Simon LeVay, medical researcher; found physiological differences between brains of gay and straight men Denise Levertov, poet Jeffrey Levi, activist; former head, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, now heads AIDS Action Council Mitchell Lichtenstein, actor (Streamers, The Wedding Banquet) Marvin Liebman, conservative activist, close ally of William F. Buckley Jenny Livingston, filmmaker (Paris Is Burning) Lance Loud, columnist; came out to his family on TV during 1973 PBS documentary series "An American Family" Greg Louganis, three-time Olympic gold medallist in diving Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin, co-founders of the Daughters of Bilitis, first known lesbian organization in the U.S. Donald Maclean, British spy Jean Marais, French actor Eric Marcus, writer and television producer Miriam Margoyles, actress Johnny Mathis, singer Armistead Maupin, writer (Tales of the City) Glen Maxey, Texas state legislator Bernard Mayes, journalist, founding chair of National Public Radio, former Episcopal priest, current University of Virginia assistant dean Stephen McCauley, novelist Rev. Renee McCoy, African-American minister and activist David McDermott, artist Tim McFeeley, head of the Human Rights Campaign Fund Peter McGough, artist Sir Ian McKellen, award-winning actor Rod McKuen, poet and songwriter Brian McNaught, writer Rev. John J. McNeill, Jesuit priest, scholar and writer Taylor Mead, poet and actor Robert Medley, painter Mary Meigs, painter Keith Meinhold, Navy officer fighting expulsion for being gay who has won reinstatement by a federal court Gian Carlo Menotti, opera composer Ismail Merchant and James Ivory, British film producers William Meredith, poet James Ingram Merrill, poet Niles Merton, former publisher of The Advocate Duane Michaels, photographer Carole Migden, San Francisco city supervisor Jeff Miller, country singer Kate Millett, writer (Sexual Politics) Donna Minkowitz, Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist David Mixner, millionaire businessman; friend and advisor of President Clinton Paul Monette, novelist Cherrie Moraga, writer Robin Morgan, feminist writer and editor Mark Morris, dancer and choreographer Morrissey, rock star (formerly of The Smiths) Dee Mosbacher, public health administrator and activist; daughter of ex-President Bush's campaign chairman and Secretary of Commerce Thierry Mugler, fashion designer Diane Murphy, child actress (Tabitha on Bewitched) George Nader, actor and science fiction novelist Yves Navarre, French novelist Martina Navratilova, pro tennis champion Three of the "NEA Four" (Karen Finley, John Fleck and Tim Miller), performance artists whose federal grants were cut off because of homoerotic content in their work during the Bush administration Holly Near, folksinger Joan Nestle, writer Leslea Newman, children's writer (Heather Has Two Mommies, Gloria Goes to Gay Pride) Simon Nkoli, South African anti-apartheid and gay-rights activist Elaine Noble, first openly lesbian or gay person elected to a state legislature (Massachusetts, 1974) Pat Norman, African-American organizer; co-chair of 1987 March on Washington and Stonewall 25 Harold Norse, poet Richard Bruce Nugent, writer and artist Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jenni Olsen, filmmaker, writer and curator Donald Olson, writer Torie Osborn, outgoing head of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Antonio Pagan, member of New York City Council; Latino Camille Paglia, writer (Sexual Personae) Dave Pallone, ex-Major League umpire (author, Behind the Mask) Juan Palomo, Latino newspaper columnist Robert Patrick, playwright (Kennedy's Children) Charlotte Patterson, research psychologist and professor; studies children of lesbian and gay parents Ross Paxton, artist Darcy Penteado, Brazilian writer Rev. Troy Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Churches Robert Peters, poet, critic and teacher Roger Peyrefitte, French writer Phranc, folksinger Felice Picano, writer Charles Pierce, female impersonator Marge Piercy, writer Jody Pinto, artist Iggy Pop, rock star Jill Posner, photographer Minnie Bruce Pratt, poet and teacher Rosa von Praunheim, German filmmaker Deb Price, Gannett newspapers columnist Edward Reynolds Price, novelist Rev. Dusty Pruitt, MCC minister; sued military for reinstatement after expulsion for being lesbian Anne-Imelda Radice, acting head of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) under ex-President Bush; denied grants for homoerotic art John Rechy, writer Donna Red Wing, led campaign to defeat Ballot Measure 9 in Oregon; Advocate Woman of the Year 1992 Lou Reed, rock star John Reid, writer (The Best Little Boy in the World) Reno, comedian Adrienne Rich, poet and critic Marlon Riggs, African-American filmmaker (Tongues Untied) Herb Ritts, photographer Larry Rivers, painter and sculptor Svend Robinson, member of the Canadian Parliament Tom Robinson, singer/songwriter Robert Rodi, novelist Edouard Herbert Roditi, writer Eric Rofes, writer (Socrates, Plato and Guys Like Me) Romanovsky and Phillips, folksingers Ned Rorem, classical composer and writer A. L. Rowse, historian William Rubinstein, gay-rights lawyer Jane Rule, writer Joanna Russ, feminist and science-fiction writer Paul Rutherford, singer, Frankie Goes to Hollywood Yves Saint-Laurent, fashion designer Dick Sargent, actor (second Darrin on Bewitched) Jose Sarria, drag entertainer; first openly gay candidate for public office in U.S. history (San Francisco, 1961) May Sarton, writer Benjamin Schatz, gay-rights lawyer John Schlafly, son of anti-gay conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly and lawyer for her organization, the Eagle Forum John Schlesinger, filmmaker Maria Schneider, actress (Last Tango in Paris) Sarah Schulman, writer and activist James Schuyler, poet David Scondras, Boston City Council member Scout, lesbian activist and organizer; co-chair, 1993 March on Washington Antony Sher, South African-British novelist and actor Randy Shilts, journalist Siegfried and Roy, animal trainers and illusionists Michelangelo Signorile, journalist, activist, co-founder of Queer Nation Aguinaldo Silva, Brazilian writer Charles Silverstein, psychologist and writer; co-author, The Joy of Gay Sex Roy Simmons, former New York Giants tackle Ingrid Sischy, editor of Interview magazine Dave Slattery, former general manager, Washington Redskins Christopher Smith, member of the British Parliament Jimmy Somerville, pop singer (formerly of Bronski Beat, The Communards) James Spada, writer Allan Spear, president of the Minnesota State Senate Stephen Spender, poet and critic Martin Sperr, German writer Stephen Spinella, actor (Angels in America) Annie Sprinkle, writer and erotic photographer Starhawk, feminist theologian and spiritual teacher Joe Steffan, top Naval Academy cadet expelled for being gay, now suing for reinstatement Doug Stevens, country singer; leader of The Out Band Samuel Steward ("Phil Andros"), writer Tom Stoddard, gay-rights lawyer; former head of Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, now heads Campaign for Military Service Jeff Stryker, star of gay, straight and bi porno films Gerry Studds, U.S. Congressman (Democrat from Massachusetts) Andrew Sullivan, editor of The New Republic magazine Terry Sweeney, comedian (Saturday Night Live's Nancy Reagan) Rich Tafel, former head of Log Cabin Federation, gay Republican group which refused to endorse George Bush for re-election Mutsuo Takahashi, Japanese poet Carla Tardi, artist Karen Thompson, obtained custody of her disabled lover Sharon Kowalski after six-year court battle Scott Thompson, comedian (The Kids in the Hall) Tracy Thorne, U.S. Navy lieutenant discharged after coming out on Nightline Lily Tomlin, comedian/actress Michel Tournier, French writer Pete Townsend, lead guitarist of The Who, composer Arthur Tress, photographer Monika Treut, German filmmaker C. A. Tripp, psychologist (author, The Homosexual Matrix) Tommy Tune, Tony-winning Broadway singer/actor Robin Tyler, comedian, rally/festival producer and activist Urvashi Vaid, former head, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Gus Van Sant, filmmaker (My Own Private Idaho) Gore Vidal, novelist The members of Village People Jane Wagner, playwright; life partner of Lily Tomlin Derek Charles Washington, co-chair, 1993 March on Washington; African-American John Waters, filmmaker (Pink Flamingos, Polyester, Hairspray) Sgt. Perry Watkins (ret.), won Supreme Court case for reinstatement to Army after expulsion for being gay; African-American William Waybourn, head of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund George Weinberg, psychologist; coined the term "homophobia" in his book "Society and the Healthy Homosexual" Suzanne Westenhoeffer, comedian Edmund White, novelist (A Boy's Own Story) John Wieners, poet Gale Wilhelm, novelist Michael Wilhoite, children's writer (Daddy's Roommate) Jonathan Williams, poet and teacher Cris Williamson, folksinger Val Wilmer, photographer and writer Barbara Wilson, writer and publisher Millie Wilson, artist Phill Wilson, AIDS director for City of Los Angeles; founder, Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum Fran Winant, artist Jeanette Winterson, novelist Monique Wittig, writer B. D. Wong, Tony-winning Broadway actor (M. Butterfly) Holly Woodlawn, actor in Andy Warhol films Bohdan Zachary, filmmaker Jose Zuniga, U.S. Army sergeant discharged for saying he was gay after President Clinton took office ******END******END******END******END******END******END******END******END****** *************************************Mark Hertzog, University of Virginia DON'T LET THE GOVERNMENT TAKE AWAY OUR CHILDREN! Send contributions to: Sharon Bottoms Defense Fund, c/o Virginia ACLU, 6 N. 6th St., Ste. 400, Richmond, VA 23219.