17 of the biggest and most influential coming out stories of 2019

Coming out is not a pre-requisite to feel like a valid individual, but 2019 has seen waves of celebrities and high-profile figures stand tall and state their sexuality and gender identity for what it is.

More and more people are now living their truths, and this year has seen the LGBT+ community get increasingly more star-studded.

And on National Coming Out Day today, we’ve rounded-up some of the most impactful and moving coming out stories this year so far:

1. Sam Smith.

Singer Sam Smith came out as genderqueer and non-binary in March this year changed their pronouns to they/them in September.

Smith’s coming out story thrusted the identity into the national spotlight and was showered with support and praise from the community and allies.

At the Attitude Awards this week, the star described the last year as a “wild year of self-realisation”.

2. Lil Nas X.

Lil Nas X hinted at his sexuality in a series of tweets on the last day of Pride month, later telling BBC News: “I am gay.”

The rapper’s revelation made ripples in the industry, with some of his contemporaries criticising him for coming out.

But the ‘Old Town Road’ singer has rocketed even further up the charts since coming out, describing the experience as ripping “the Band-Aid off”.

3. Lilly Singh.

For years, thousands of people logged-onto YouTube to watch Lilly Singh.

Then the Superwoman YouTuber told her nearly six million Twitter followers a rather succinct message: “Female, coloured, bisexual.”

“Throughout my life these have proven to be obstacles from time to time. But now I’m fully embracing them as my superpowers,” she wrote.

4. Jonathan Van Ness.

Queer Eye‘s grooming guru, with his luscious locks and array of kimonos and dresses, came out as non-binary and stated his pronouns as he/him.

“I didn’t think I was allowed to be nonconforming or genderqueer or non-binary,” he said to Out magazine.

He later opened up about living with HIV, surging as a high-profile and tough-minded advocate for both communities.

5. Alli Ojo.

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Days after posting the #LGTBI flag, Nigerian model/actress, #AlliOjo, comes out of the closet

A post shared by Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) on Jan 4, 2019 at 10:28pm PST

Homosexuality is illegal in Nigeria. As a result, queer Nigerians in the spotlight are few and far between.

But suspicion swirled when Nigerian actors Alli Ojo posted a picture of herself in front of an LGBT+ Pride flag on her Instagram.

She later spoke candidly about being a lesbian in a now-deleted video, one that promoted hate and discrimination from some followers – highlighting the growing urgency for defiance in the country where being proud is a potent political stance.

6. Valentina.

“I feel like a goddess,” proudly proclaimed RuPaul’s Drag Race star Valentina.

“I don’t completely feel like a man, I don’t completely feel like a woman.”

The 27-year-old drag queen, whose real name is James Andrew Leyva, recently appeared in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars and Drag Tots.

7. Matt Pacifici.

The sporting world is not exactly known for LGBT+ players. Dedicated grassroots and local teams may have queer players, but in the big leagues, there aren’t exactly many open players.

So, when former Major League Soccer player Matthew Pacifici posted an adorable snap of he and his boyfriend Dirk Blanchat snuggling up, he quickly scored points with the community.

Pacifici told Outsports that he came out, hoping that others would follow his example. “The more people who come out the easier it will be for other people to follow,” he said.

8. Albert Nabonibo.

Gospel singer Albert Nabonibo knew what to expect.

Gay sex might be legal in Rwanda, but attitudes towards LGBT+ people are hostile and the topic of sexuality is taboo.

Coming out as gay in August, Nabonibo said he was continue to “sing for God” despite the negative reactions he would inevitably face.

9. Anthony Bowens.

New year, new Anthony Bowens. On January 1 of this year, the wrestler, who came out as bisexual in 2017, said he is actually gay.

“Over the last 6 months or so I’ve started to identify less and less with that label to the point where it doesn’t feel like it’s ‘me’ anymore,” he said at the time.

“As people move on in their lives, the way they view the world and themselves tends to change and I’m no different. Which is why if you are to label me, I prefer to identify as gay.”

10. Bella Thorne.

Opening about her sexuality during an appearance on Good Morning America, the former Disney Channel singer-actor – who previously described herself as bisexual – said that she discovered she’s “actually a pansexual” after someone explained to her “really thoroughly what that is”.

11. Dustin Laurence.

It’s basically gay Christmas. Eurovision this year saw Duncan Laurence, the Nertherland’s entry, win the crown.

A number of other contestants this year were also LGBT+, but bookies favourite Laurence, who came out as bisexual in a press conference before the contest, ultimately soared.

“I am more than just an artist, I am a person, I am a living being, I’m bisexual, I’m a musician, I stand for things,” he said to reporters.

12. McKrae Game.

“It’s all in the past,” wrote McKrae Game, a man whose history is founding one of the largest conversion therapy ministries in the US.

But his future is now one of being openly and proudly gay, as he wrote in a moving Facebook post.

Also called reparative therapy, medical organisations across the world have widely debunked and rejected the treatment as traumatising and psychologically scarring, especially to minors.

13. Joshua Rush.

Joshua Rush has come out twice in his life. Once on-screen, another off-screen.

In 2017, the Disney Channel actor became the first to say the word “I’m gay” on there show Andi Mack.

While in 2019, he came out as an “out and proud bisexual man”.

14. Mavournee Hazel.

Demisexuality falls between the spectrum of sexuality and asexuality. Straight, gay, lesbian and bi people can be demisexual.

It’s a label for people who only experience sexual attraction to people the form an emotional connection with, which is what Neighbours actor Mavournee Hazel explained in an interview this year.

“I used to think there was something wrong with me or that I was broken because I wasn’t into the dating game, but as I got older I realised there is a whole spectrum,” she said.

15. Ryan Russell. 

American football plater Ryan Russell flexed his writing muscles in a heart-warming essay for ESPN in August, where he came out as bisexual.

“Out of love, admiration and respect, I want the next team to sign me valuing me for what I do and knowing who I truly am,” Russell said.

“My truth is that I’m a talented football player, a damn good writer, a loving son, an overbearing brother, a caring friend, a loyal lover, and a bisexual man.”

16. Tess Holliday.

Plus-size model and body-positive activist Tess Holliday misheard a question one day at a bar in Mexico when a man asked her: “Are you bi?”

“I said, ‘Thank you so much for asking. I’ve been thinking a lot about my relationship to my own queerness, and I think the word pansexual speaks to me more than bi does.’”

“He said, ‘Thank you for telling me about that, but actually, I said, Are you buying?’”

17. Willow Smith. 

The 18-year-old daughter of actors Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith came out as on an episode of Red Table Talk, a regular Facebook Watch series in which three generations of the Smith family have open conversations about “taboo” subjects.

Willow Smith gave a crash course on polyamory to her mother, Jada, and grandmother, Adrienne, before opening up about her sexuality, explaining that her ideal relationship would be with a man and a woman.

“Personally, male and female, that’s all I need,” she said