Feature: Why was 2013 the year of coming out?

As well as a landmark year for equal marriage around the globe, we also saw a record number of notable coming out stories this year.

While we cannot claim a thoroughly scientific approach to the rankings, the stories are ordered through a combination of how widely read they were, how much debate they provoked and our own editorial judgement as to the effect they will have on LGBT life.

Because of the realities of life, PinkNews reports a lot of unfortunate and stark negativities around LGBT issues around the world, so it is our pleasure to present some of the most significant, inspiring (and heartwarming) coming out stories of 2013, in no particular order.

 

Tom Daley 

In a five-minute YouTube video, the British diving bronze medallist, and star of ITV’s Smash, revealed that he had been in a relationship with a man since Spring 2013. Notably, he specifically chose not to use a label to describe his sexuality, but said it was “love at first sight”, when he met his boyfriend.

Daley has been hailed by many including Lady Gaga and Clare Balding (among many others), and has been accepted by his grandparents for the announcement. He was also immortalised in Russian doll form, alongside Sir Elton John, Graham Norton, George Michael and Stephen Fry, in a charity auction.

 

Ke$ha

The US started off 2013 with a bang, coming out as bisexual in US teen magazine Seventeen, and saying she wanted to stand up against anti-LGBT bullying and discrimination.

She later said that she’d like to kiss President Obama for his support of LGBT rights, and that if she were made US President, she would ensure equal rights for all.

Wentworth Miller

Prison Break star Wentworth Miller gave us a double whammy in August, as he came out in style, at the same time declining an invitation to the St Petersburg film festival in protest against Russia’s anti-gay laws passed in June.

He wrote: “It would make me happy to say yes, however, as a gay man, I must decline.” Well played, Wentworth.

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