List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people: A

This is a partial list of famous people who are confirmed to be gay, lesbian or bisexual. Famous people who are rumored to be gay, lesbian or bisexual, are not listed. The definition of sexual orientation varies and has changed over time; for example the word "gay" was not used to describe a person's sexual orientation until the mid 20th century. However, there has been a number of different words or slangs that have been used to describe sexual orientations since the mid-19th century. Several studies have found that much of the research about sexual orientation has failed to define the term at all, which made it difficult to find results of different studies. 

The high numbers of people from the West on this list may be due to societies attitudes toward homosexuality. The Pew Research Center's 2003 Global Attitudes Survey found that "[p]eople in Africa and the Middle East strongly object to societal acceptance of homosexuality. But there is far greater tolerance for homosexuality in major Latin American countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. Opinion in Europe is split between West and East. Majorities in every Western European nation surveyed say homosexuality should be accepted by society, while most Russians, Poles and Ukrainians disagree. Americans are divided; a narrow majority (51 percent) believe homosexuality should be accepted, while 42 percent disagree."

A


 Name Lifetime Nationality Notable as NotesAll entries contain a reliably sourced reference. Entries may also contain a letter indicating Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual. Leroy F. Aarons  American Journalist G Commondreams.org (30 November 2004), NLGJA Mourns Roy Aarons, Founder and Pioneering Journalist . Retrieved 25 June 2007. Louise Abbéma  French Painter, designer L Williams, Carla (March 2006), Louise Abbema , glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Berenice Abbott  American Photographer L Corinne, Tee A. (13 January 2006), Berenice Abbot . glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Paula Aboud  American Politician, activist L The Advocate (14 February 2006), Local victories . Retrieved 25 June 2007. Boy Abunda  Filipino Journalist G The Manila Bulletin Online. (21 January 2007), A Private Conversation’ with Boy Abunda . Retrieved 24 January 2007. Zackie Achmat  South African LGBT and AIDS activist G Power, Samantha (May 2003), The AIDS rebel , The New Yorker. Retrieved 24 January 2007. Roberta Achtenberg  American Politician L Rapp, Linda (25 February 2004), Roberta Achtenberg . glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Marc Acito  American Author G  Jean Acker  American Actor, wife of actor Rudolph Valentino L Holliday, Peter J. (October 2006), Rudolph Valentino , glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Kathy Acker  American Writer, feminist B Simon, Lola, Goodnight Kathy, X-Riot. Retrieved 17 November 2006. J. R. Ackerley  English Writer, arts editor of The Listener G Parker, Peter, Ackerley: The Life of J. R. Ackerley, (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1989). Peter Ackroyd  English Author G Anthony, Andrew, (September 4, 2005), The Big Life, The Guardian. Retrieved January 2006. Harold Acton  English Art writer, aesthete G Aldrich, Robert, and Wotherspoon, Garry (2001). Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History: From Antiquity to World War II, Routledge (UK). . (discusses Harold Acton) Margie Adam  American Women's Music performer L Gianoulis, Tina (13 January 2006), Margie Adam , glbtq.com. Retrieved 25 June 2007. Mark Adamo  American Classical music composer G Johnson, Lawrence (1 March 2005), Sex, War and Satire: Mark Adamo on His Lusty – and Thoughtful – New Operatic Version of Lysistrata , South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved 25 June 2007. J. C. Adams  American Gay porn journalist B Blog profile of J. C. Adams. Blogger.com. Retrieved on 25 June 2007.   British Doctor, suspected serial killer G Cullen, Pamela V., "A Stranger in Blood: The Case Files on Dr John Bodkin Adams", London, Elliott & Thompson, 2006,  Sam Adams  American First openly gay Portland, Oregon City Council member, first openly gay mayor of a major city (Portland) G Frank, Ryan. "Council peers support Adams' fight", The Oregonian. Retrieved 21 February 2007. Stephanie Adams  American Model, author L Bussel, Rachel Kramer, "Best of New York 2004: Characters" , The Village Voice. Retrieved 25 June 2007. Tracey Adams  American Porn performer L Tracey Adams: A Profile . Pornstar Classics. Retrieved 9 November 2006.   American Social reformer, Nobel prize winner L Prono, Luca (25 February 2004), Jane Addams , glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Gaye Adegbalola  American Blues musician B Official site biography of Gaye Adegbalola . Adegbalola.com. Retrieved 29 June 2007. Thomas Adès  English Composer G Service, Tom (26 February 2007), Writing music? It's like flying a plane, The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2007. Allison Adler  American Television writer, producer L  Patience Agbabi  English Poet, performer B  Dominic Agostino  Canadian Politician G Brown, Eleanor, Why did he die a straight man? , Fab magazine. Retrieved 29 June 2007. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa  American Playwright, writer for Marvel Comics G Marvel Spotlight: David Finch/Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (March 2006).   Chinese (Han Dynasty) Head of state G Book of Han, vols. 11, 80, 99, part 1 Clay Aiken  American Singer, songwriter, American Idol runner-up G  Alvin Ailey  American Dancer, choreographer G Turnbaugh, Douglas Blair (30 July 2004),
Alvin Aily , glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Jean-Jacques Aillagon  French Politician G  Dawn Airey  English Television executive L The Independent, (2 July 2006), Gay Power: The pink list . Retrieved 25 June 2007. Chantal Akerman  Belgian Filmmaker L Morris, Gary (August 2002), Rare Docs on French Filmmakers , Bright Lights Film Journal. Retrieved 18 November 2006. Pav Akhtar b. ? British Politician G Cohen, Benjamin, (3 April 2006), Gay Muslim claims Islamophobia denied him post as student leader , Pinknews.co.uk. Retrieved 6 February 2007.   Pakistani American LGBT Muslim rights activist G LGBTran's Religious Archives Network (18 July 2006), Faisal Alam Profile . Retrieved 21 December 2006 Edward Albee  American Playwright G Gussow, Mel (1999). Gussow Edward Albee: A Singular Journey : A Biography. . John Alcorn  b. ? Canadian Jazz musician G Posner, Michael (3 January 2004), An artist of pulling strings , The Globe and Mail (Toronto, Canada). Retrieved 13 November 2006. Sarah Aldridge  American Author L Gabriele Griffin, Who's Who in Lesbian and Gay and Writing, Routledge, London, 2002. Sibilla Aleramo  Italian Writer L Aldrich, Robert and Garry Wotherspoon. Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History, from Antiquity to World War II. Routledge, London, 2001,    Greek King and conqueror B  VI.5.23. Michael Alig d. 2020 American Party promoter, murderer G Van Meter, Jonathan, Party Boy in a Cage, 27 November 2006 issue of New York Magazine. Retrieved 15 March 2007. Napier Sturt, 3rd Baron Alington  English Peer B  Sandra Alland  Canadian Writer, artist, activist L Alland, Sandra (5 July 2007). many closets, so little time , Xtra!. Retrieved on 5 July 2007. Maud Allan  Canadian Dancer L Rapp, Linda (May 2007), Maud Allan , glbtq.com. Retrieved May 2007. Marc Allégret  French movie director B Fish, Scott (6 December 2005), Andre Gide , glbtq.com. Retrieved 20 November 2006. Chad Allen  American Actor, gay activist G Vilanch, Bruce (9 October 2001), "Chad Allen: His own story", The Advocate. Retrieved 12 August 2007. Paula Gunn Allen  American Writer L  Peter Allen  Australian Entertainer G Gianoulis, Tina (30 July 2004), Peter Allen , glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Ted Allen  American Food and wine connoisseur G Biography on Ted Allen's official website . TedAllen.net. Retrieved January 2006. Christian Wilhelm Allers  German Painter G Fiorani, Tito, Le dimore del mito, La Conchiglia, Capri 1996, pp. 23–24 Henry Alley  American Author, academic G Alley, Henry, The Facts of Life , Virginia Quarterly Review. Retrieved 29 June 2007. Baron Waheed Alli  English Businessman, first openly gay peer in Parliament G BBC.co.uk (29 November 2000), Profile: Lord Waheed Alli. Retrieved_November_1, 2006. Dorothy Allison d. 2024 American Writer L Keehnen, Owen, Literary Heroine: Talking With Dorothy Allison , Queerculturalcenter.org. Retrieved 29 June 2007. Eric Allman  American Computer programmer G Freiss, Steve (3 March 1998), What a connection – gay couple's contributions to information technology – Special Cyber Report , The Advocate. Retrieved 29 June 2007. László Almásy  Hungarian Explorer, spy G Bierman, John (2004). The Secret Life of Laszlo Almasy: The Real English Patient. London: Penguin Books.  Pedro Almodóvar  Spanish Filmmaker G Zervigon, Andres Mario (8 June 2005), Pedro Almodóvar , glbtq.com. Retrieved January 2006. Marc Almond  English Rock musician G Creekmu, Corey K (1995). Out in Culture, 405, Duke University Press. , discusses Marc Almond. Anne-Marie Alonzo  Canadian Writer L Tremain, Shelley, Pushing the limits: Disabled dykes produce culture, (Women's Press (CA), July 1996), . Joseph Alsop  American Journalist G Merry, Robert W. Taking on the World: Joseph and Stewart Alsop – Guardians of the American Century. New York: Viking, 1996. 360–365.  Bela Ewald Althans  German Neo-Nazi activist G Stephen E. Atkins, Holocaust Denial as an International Movement, ABC-CLIO, 2009, p. 111 Dennis Altman  Australian Academic, LGBT rights activist G Altman, Dennis (1971). Homosexual oppression and liberation. Outerbridge & Dienstfrey, 242 pages.  Luisa Isabel Álvarez de Toledo, 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia  Spanish 21st Duchess of Medina Sidonia L Keeley, Graham. "Red Duchess wed lesbian lover to snub children ", "The Daily Telegraph", 2008 March 16. Retrieved on 2008 March 16. John Amaechi  English Basketball player, broadcaster G Robbins, Liz (8 February 2007), Amaechi, Former Player in N.B.A., Says He’s Gay, The New York Times. Retrieved 22 March 2007. Scott Amedure  American "Jenny Jones Murder" victim G  Alejandro Amenábar  Spanish Filmmaker G Duralde, Alonso. The Advocate, 1 March 2005: Gay guide to the Oscars: there are queer hooks to this year's Academy Awards, if you're willing to dig a little for them. (discusses Alejandro Amenábar) Tom Ammiano  American San Francisco City Supervisor, comedian G Erin McCormick. "Ammiano's career as an 'inside outsider,'" San Francisco Examiner, 7 December 1999. Stephen K. Amos b. ? British Comedian G Gay comedian Stephen K Amos interviews Elephant Man. News: Partyxtraz.com. Retrieved 17 September 2008. Simon Amstell  English Comedian, television presenter G Lynskey, Dorian (2 August 2006), I always want the funny line, The Guardian. Retrieved 18 November 2006. Sheldon Andelson  American Politician G New York Times (1 January 1988), Sheldon Andelson, Political Fund-Raiser, 56. Retrieved 18 November 2006. Brett Anderson  English Rock musician (Suede) B ANDERSON: 'I'M BISEXUAL' , (3 June 2006), ContactMusic.com. Retrieved 1 November 2006. Gordon Stewart Anderson  Canadian Writer G Lloyd, B.M., Not A Total Waste : The True Story of a Mother, Her Son and AIDS, (Mosaic Press, December 1999), . Jane Anderson  American Actor, playwright, director L Lo, Malinda (December 2005), Defying Hollywood: lesbian writer Jane Anderson may be a big-shot Hollywood director now, but theater is still in her blood. , Curve magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2007. Lindsay Anderson  Scottish movie director G McDowell, Malcolm (3 September 2004), The man who gave me a slap in the face, The Guardian. Retrieved 15 June 2007. Ruth Anderson  American Composer L Lesbian American composers. New York, New York. CRI, CD 780, 1998. Guide to Gay and Lesbian Resources: XIV.141 Music, No. 3107. Retrieved 18 November 2006. Sophie Anderton  English Model B RainbowNetwork.com, (2 December 2004), December: Guess What of Howard Stern show. Retrieved 17 November 2006. Mário de Andrade  Brazilian Writer G Green, James N. "Challenging National Heroes and Myths: Male Homosexuality and Brazilian History."  Estudios Interdisciplinarios de América Latina y el Caribe 12, 1 (2001). Retrieved 9 November 2006. Harry Andrews  English Actor G "Basil Hoskins ", The Telegraph, 2005 November 2. Retrieved on 2007 December 18. Robert Andrews  English Actor G Kennedy, Matthew (2002), "Novello, Ivor " on glbtq.com. Retrieved on 2007 November 13. Jerzy Andrzejewski  Polish Author G Aldrich, Robert, and Wotherspoon, Garry (2001). Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History: From World War II to the Present Day, page 17. . (discusses Jerzy Andrzejewski). Kenneth Anger  American Filmmaker, author G Svede, Mark Allen (19 October 2005), Kenneth Anger , glbtq.com. Retrieved 11 August 2007. Nadine Angerer  German Football (soccer) player B  Dallas Angguish  Australian Writer G  Anitta b. 1993 Brazilian Singer, songwriter B  Alyson Annan  Australian Field hockey gold medalist L Hannan, Liz, (1 July 2007) "Divided in sport, united in love: two women and a baby boy". The Sunday Age. Retrieved 12 August 2007. Ant  American Actor, comedian B Official Myspace of Ant. MySpace.com. Retrieved 9 November 2006. Katharine Anthony  American Biographer L Gayparentmag.com, 8th annual gay-friendly private schools listing . ("Little Red School House/Elisabeth Irwin High School"). Retrieved 9 November 2006. Trey Anthony  Canadian Comedian, playwright G Official site of Trey Anthony. TreyAnthony.com. Retrieved 28 July 2007. Steve Antin  American Actor, screenwriter G King, Tom (2001). The Operator: David Geffen Builds, Buys, and Sells the New Hollywood. New York: Broadway Books, p.356, 362–3, 369, 380–2,. . Antinous  Greek Beloved of Roman Emperor Hadrian G Aldrich, Robert, and Wotherspoon, Garry (2001). Who's Who in Contemporary Gay and Lesbian History: From World War II to the Present Day, page 26. . (discusses Antinous). Nickie Antonio  American Politician L  Laura Antoniou  American Author L The-goddess.org (28 September 2004), WSS Featured Blogger: Laura Antoniou of But How's the Coffee? . Retrieved 9 November 2006. Gloria E. Anzaldúa  American Writer G Stone, Martha E. "Gloria Anzaldúa" pp. 1, 9 in Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide; Jan/Feb2005, Vol. 12, Issue 1. Kwame Anthony Appiah  Ghanaian Philosopher, writer G Bennett, Drake (6 February 2005), The trouble with identity, The Boston Globe. Retrieved 28 July 2007. Alistair Appleton  English Television presenter G Appleton, Alistair, COMING OUT IS GOOD FOR YOU. , alistairappleton.com. Retrieved 6 November 2006. Bettina Aptheker  American Activist, academic L Aptheker, Bettina (2006). Intimate Politics: How I Grew Up Red, Fought for Free Speech, and Became a Feminist Rebel. Seal Press.  Aleksey Apukhtin  Russian Poet G Karlinsky, Simon (2 March 2004), Russian literature , glbtq.com, Retrieved January 2006. Louis Aragon  French Poet, novelist B Ivry, Benjamin (1996). Francis Poulenc, 20th-Century Composers series. Phaidon Press Limited. . Gregg Araki  American Filmmaker G Yutani, Kimberly. "Gregg Araki and the Queer New Wave." In Leong, Russell. Asian American Sexualities: dimensions of the gay & lesbian experience. New York, New York: Routledge, 1996. John Aravosis  American LGBT rights activist G Oxfield, Jesse, Idov, Michael (4 March 2007), ‘Out’ Ranks the Top 50 Gays; Anderson Is No. 2 , New York Magazine. Retrieved 28 June 2007. Bert Archer  Canadian Writer G Archer, Bert (6 June 2002). Cooling the medium . Eye Weekly. Retrieved on 19 July 2007. Reinaldo Arenas  Cuban Writer G Soto, Francisco (9 June 2005), Reinaldo Arenason , glbtq.com. Retrieved 9 November 2006. Pietro Aretino  Italian Writer, satirist G Norton, Rictor (ed.) My Dear Boy:Gay Love Letters through the Centuries. Leyland Publications, San Francisco. 1998 Joey Arias  American Performance artist, drag performer G  Giorgio Armani 1934–2025 Italian Fashion designer B  Jillian Armenante  American Actor, writer L Morris, Stephen (21 August 2002), Growing Together , LA Weekly. Retrieved 28 July 2007.   American Rock musician (Green Day) B Weider, Judy (24 January 1995), Coming Clean, The Advocate. Retrieved 6 November 2006. Chip Arndt  American Reality TV show contestant, LGBT rights activist G Glaad.org, (2 June 2003), CBS' The Amazing Race Features Gay Couple . Retrieved 25 June 2007. Alice Arnold  British Newsreader L Gay.com, (4 November 2003), BBC's horse racing presenter comes out . Retrieved 6 November 2006. Robert Arnold  New Zealander Pop musician G Akerstein, Matt (24 September 2006), Brand new kiwi Boyband: Spot the gay one, Gaynz.com. Retrieved 24 January 2007. Jake Arnott  English Author G Rainbownetwork.com, (29 June 2005), The Pink List 2005. Retrieved 25 June 2007. Jean-Paul Aron  French Writer G  Willem Arondeus  Dutch Painter G Entrop, Marco: Onbekwaam in het compromis. Willem Arondéus, kunstenaar en verzetsstrĳder. Amsterdam, 1993. John S. Arrowood  American Judge G "Judge becomes North Carolina’s first gay official elected to office", The Clarion Ledger, 2007 September 7, (retrieved on 2007 September 10) Pat Arrowsmith  English Writer, peace activist L "Pat Arrowsmith ", The Knitting Circle. Retrieved on 4 February 2008. Robert Arthur   American Actor G  Newton Arvin  American Writer, academic G The Scarlet Professor: Newton Arvin: A Literary Life Shattered by Scandal, Barry Werth, (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday 2001) . Dorothy Arzner  American movie director L Jenkins, Jacqueline (2 May 2005), Dorothy Arzner , glbtq.com. Retrieved 9 November 2006. John Ashbery  American Poet G Johnson, Terrence (26 October 2002), John Ashbery , glbtq.com. Retrieved 6 November 2006. Roy Ashburn  American Politician G  Howard Ashman  American Lyricist G Rapp, Linda (30 July 2004), Howard Ashman , glbtq.com. Retrieved 18 November 2006. Frederick Ashton  English Choreographer G Turnbaugh, Douglas Blair (23 March 2006), Frederick Ashton , glbtq.com. Retrieved 6 November 2006. Othniel Askew  American Politician, murderer G Boykin, Keith (25 July 2003), The Plot Thickens , Keithboykin.com. Retrieved 9 November 2006. Anthony Asquith  English movie director G Bourne, Stephen, "Behind the masks: Anthony Asquith and Robin Desmond Hurst" in Griffiths, Robin (ed.), British Queer Cinema, p. 37. Routledge, Oxford, 2006.  Rob Astbury  Australian Journalist, television presenter G Rob Astbury, "King and I: My Life With Graham Kennedy" DNA Publishers, 2006.  Nils Asther  Swedish Stage and silent movie actor G Slide, Anthony. Silent Players: A Biographical and Autobiographical Study of 100 Silent Film Actors and Actresses. Lexington. Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2002. p. 205.  Sverker Åström  Swedish Diplomat G Wocker, Rex, (30 November 2006), Ambassador Quits As Host Of Swedish Gay TV Show, San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved 24 January 2007. Karen Atala  Chilean Lawyer, fighting for custody of her children L Byrne, Emily (13 May 2005), CHILE’S SUPREME COURT ACCUSED OF INFRINGING HUMAN RIGHTS , The Santiago Times. Retrieved 28 July 2007. Kutluğ Ataman  Turkish Filmmaker G Ratnam, Niru (29 December 2002) Kutlug Ataman, The Observer. Retrieved 6 November 2006. John Atherton  English Anglican bishop executed for buggery G Bray, Alan, Homosexuality in Renaissance England, (Gay Men's Press, London 1982). Ron Athey  American Artist G Reilly, Maura, The Drive to Describe: An Interview with Catherine Opie, Art Journal, Vol. 60, No. 2 (Summer, 2001), pp. 82–95. Toni Atkins  American Politician L Wockner, Rex (27 July), San Diego gets a lesbian mayor , Washington Blade. Retrieved 28 July 2007. Ti-Grace Atkinson  American Feminist author L Kate Bedford and Ara Wilson Lesbian Feminist Chronology: 1971–1976 . Retrieved on 4 June 2007. Efva Attling  Swedish Jewelry designer L Weigl, Kerstin (14 February 1999), ”Jag är så fruktansvärt lycklig”, The Aftonbladet. Retrieved 28 July 2007. Amelia Atwater-Rhodes  American Writer L Martin, Eloise 'Gaydars' put to test with Activists for Sexual Minorities panel. The University Star, Texas State University. Retrieved on 27 August 2007. Alex Au  Singaporean LGBT rights activist, writer G Official Biography . Retrieved 24 January 2007. Kevyn Aucoin  American Make-up artist G O'Neill, Gail (11 May 2002) Beauty inside Kevyn Aucoin , CNN. Retrieved 6 November 2006.   English Poet G Mendelson, Edward, ed., W. H. Auden: Collected Poems, (Modern Library, 2007)), . John August  American Screenwriter G August, John (5 September 2005), Dear Governor Schwarzenegger: Marry Me, JohnAugust.com. Retrieved 6 November 2006. Michael Ausiello  American Television journalist G Gillette, Felix (15 November 2007), The Doctor Is In , The New York Observer. Retrieved 23 December 2007. Edward Avedisian  American Painter G Smith, Roberta (23 August 2007), "Edward Avedisian, Artist Who Painted Bold and Bright, Dies at 71", New York Times, (retrieved on 20 September 2007) Kevin Aviance  American Entertainer G Contactmusic.com (23 June 2006), AVIANCE TO BE UNWIRED FOR GAY PRIDE . Retrieved 9 November 2006. Axel and Eigil Axgil 1922–1995 Danish First gay couple in the world joined in a civil union G Wockner, Rex (21 June 2007), World's First Gay Marriage, Thestranger.com. Retrieved 26 June 2007. Assi Azar  Israel Television personality G "Assi Azar comes out", ynet, 31 March 2005. 

Related pages
List of gay, lesbian or bisexual people: W–Z

References

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Category:Lists of people