1. Miley Cyrus

Since graduating from the role of Hannah Montana in 2011, actress and singer Miley Cyrus hasn't shied away from expressing her sexuality through performance art—sometimes to downright scandalous effect. That said, it wasn't until 2015 that Cyrus announced she was gender-fluid, meaning she doesn't exclusively identify with one particular gender. In the time since, she's become a passionate and vocal advocate for various LGBTQ+ issues. Her organization, Happy Hippie Foundation, concentrates on youth homelessness, the LGBTQ+ community, and other vulnerable populations.

2. Elliot Page

Elliot Page, famous for roles in "Juno," "Hard Candy," "Tallulah,"  and "Inception," in 2014 declared his LGBTQ+ identity during a powerful speech at a human rights conference. Page came out as transgender in December 2020; his public pronouncement and subsequent interview with Time was celebrated for giving hope to those struggling with their identities or those facing internal or external barriers to coming out publicly. Page also graced the cover of Time magazine in 2021, becoming the first openly trans man to do so.

3. Tim Cook

Apple CEO Tim Cook came out in 2014 in a poignant Bloomberg editorial. “I'm proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me,” Cook said. While he doesn't consider himself an activist, Cook did once tell Stephen Colbert that he felt a “tremendous responsibility” to speak up about his LGBTQ+ status, particularly on behalf of all the young people who are bullied or even disowned because of their sexuality.

4. Drew Barrymore

In 2003, Drew Barrymore star told Contact Music, "I have always considered myself bisexual." She added, "I love a woman's body. I think a woman and a woman together are beautiful, just as a man and a woman together are beautiful." Additionally, Barrymore has not only been open about her bisexuality but also issues around mental health and addiction.

5. Billie Joe Armstrong

Billie Joe Armstrong went mainstream in 1994 as the frontman to rock band Green Day. But while the celebrity is no stranger to headlines, it's not widely known that he's been openly bisexual since 1995. That was when he told The Advocate: "I think I've always been bisexual… I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of, 'Oh, I can't.' They say it's taboo. It's ingrained in our heads that it's bad, when it's not bad at all. It's a very beautiful thing." Armstrong also touched upon his sexuality in the song "Coming Clean" from Green Day's 1994 album "Dookie."

6. Clive Davis

A powerful music mogul, Clive Davis is best known as the man who helped launch or revive the careers of Whitney Houston, Barry Manilow, and Billy Joel, among numerous other superstars. In 2013, the twice-married executive released an autobiography, "The Soundtrack of My Life," in which he detailed two long-term relationships with other men. In interviews, Davis has revealed being romantically involved with a male doctor for 13 years, and another man whom he doesn't name.

7. Kristen Stewart

While a certain percentage of Kristen Stewart's fan base probably prefers to think of her as the perennial soulmate of "Twilight" co-star Robert Pattinson, the edgy actress has definitely moved on to new partners from both sides of the gender spectrum. Of course, that hasn't stopped the fans from clamoring for a reunion with Pattinson—or at least trying to box Stewart in as far as her sexual identity is concerned. In 2017, Stewart stated that she is bisexual, telling The Guardian, "You're not confused if you're bisexual. It's not confusing at all. For me, it's quite the opposite.”

8. Kate McKinnon

It wasn't until she began watching sci-fi TV series "The X-Files" that the first openly gay woman star of "SNL" Kate McKinnon said she realized she was attracted to women. Specifically, McKinnon found herself swooning over actress Gillian Anderson in the 1990s. Even decades later, McKinnon continues to describe Anderson as the “queen of my heart.” McKinnon has also cited openly lesbian comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres as an inspiration and saluted the decorated star at the 2020 Golden Globes for encouraging her to pursue a career in TV.

9. Gillian Anderson

"X-Files" star Gillian Anderson in 2015 told The Telegraph that she'd previously engaged in same-sex relationships, and was open to doing so again. "To me a relationship is about loving another human being; their gender is irrelevant," said Anderson. In addition to "The X-Files," Anderson starred in other popular TV shows like "The Fall," "Sex Education," and "The Crown."