Coming Out Covers Through The Years

With Clay Aiken the latest celebrity to admit, "Yes, I'm Gay!" on the cover of a national magazine, here's a look back at the progression of celebrities' coming out covers through the ages. Note the shift from Greg Louganis' sad, shameful, "My Private Hell" cover in 1995 to the celebratory Aiken cover (and the others) years later.

• • • • • • Clay Aiken, People, October 6, 2008

Comments

[kevinlangendorf]

What a scoop! Also, later this week, Kanye West is expected to announce that he is black.

[KitWit]

Why is this statement so important?
Just stop the discrimination, and accept people for who they are and their character.
Then we could get back to putting Princess Diana on the cover.

[DeniseD]

Didn't we already know this?

[donorman]

Sen. Craig's cover is coming.
It's on the 1rst issue of "Wide Stance Illustrated".

[booker52]

Yet he still looks like a middle age woman, an ugly middle age woman.

[hilaritee]

what exactly do you have against middle aged women?

[booker52]

Gee the open secret.

[BlackJAC]

Yet his career still remains stalled.

[TroubleNYC]

I'm a straight man that loves gay people ... in a straight way. I have a gay uncle and a gay cousin (I think. he's in denial). What I don't understand is this need to announce it to the world that you're gay.

[NTO08]

Because of the shame associated for so long with being gay, coming out and announcing it is an affirmation that you have nothing to be ashamed of, and no apologies are needed for loving someone of your own sex.

[crayola 08]

It's required by law under Article II, Section I of the gay constitution.

[Eric8869]

You announce to the world you're straight all the time. You talk about your girlfriends or wives etc. Why should I remain silent? It's a double standard.

[klandish]

Well if you love gay people ....in a straight way.. how did you know they were gay unless they came out? And how could your cousin be in the closet if you didn't think he was gay but refused to announce it to himself and the world. You are contradicting yourself. It's generally assumed one sex is attracted sexually to the other sex .... unless you announce it! Yes to the world.

[kulenski]

well, if you donate sperm, so a "friend" can have a baby, there's something up with that then....

[Eric8869]

or take your Mother to the Oscars. (right Kevin Spacey?)

[MarkBoston]

They forgot to add The first man to come out on TIME cover in the early 70's , Lenny Matlovitch. Headline was " I AM A HOMOSEXUAL"

[Eric8869]

He was a news story but this was about celebrities.

[kellygrrrl]

nothing to see here folks

move on

[crayola 08]

well i'm glad the Gaykin has come out and all but now kathy griffin is gonna have to find new material. well i guess she can still talk about Oprah and her husband Gail.

[NTO08]

well i guess she can still talk about Oprah and her husband Gail.

Oh no you didn't...LOL.

[obamasOHangel]

Not trying to be mean, but who the hell didn't know that Aiken was ghey?

[kellygrrrl]

actually - I was wondering who even cared

[NTO08]

He is not a very likeable person...very bitchy...maybe coming out will help him stop being so nasty and bitter.

[Eric8869]

Where is Anderson Coopers cover? hmmmmmmm

He's a Vanderbilt - it's not like he has to worry about losing his job. come out come out Anderson.

[crayola 08]

hehe. ;)

[CapableOne]

There was a story ages ago in People in which AC came out. It showed him with his partner, the whole deal. Guess he just didn't rate a cover at the time.

[NTO08]

Never saw it...I am going to Google it...

[MarkBoston]

Anderson Cooper keeps being outed in the gay press like the Advocate and Out all the time but it goes by unnoticed by main stream press... Perhaps we are finally past the need for such things in our culture.... So bloody what .... who's gay or Bi or straight. It's 2008

[NTO08]

So bloody what?

There is no honor in denying who you are.

[Dynamohum]

If we were past it all we would have full human rights just like heteros.

You can honestly say this with everything that is being done to thwart any effort for us to have equal human rights? No you didn't. Did you?

This is so dimwitted. Please, we don't have marriage rights, cannot serve in the military without hiding, and are discriminated against at every turn. Don't tell me that it is not important for people with visibility to come out and stand up for our community and our rights.

[MedinaM]

That's pretty messed up for you to say. People always speculate about a person in the media/spotlight and their sexuality. And unless they actually say it, then don't say dumb things like that. It's really disrespectful. You know, sometimes I think there are just those within the gay community that want somebody to be gay, but it doesn't make them gay. And please don't give me any crap like others have said in which he "shows the signs" because that would be a stereotypical remark to make.

[NTO08]

Not disrespectful at all...I have seen Anderson in NY, and believe me he is GAY, OK? No need to explain any further...

I can recall when Calvin Klein tried to play straight by marrying Kelly...yet I saw him prancing on Fire Island with Steve Rubell...

Let's just say that Anderson hasn't exactly been HIDING out...just doesn't talk about it...

[Eric8869]

We don't have to speculate - Anderson Cooper is OUT in nyc with his friends and family. He just hides it from the media.

[Puzzles]

Yes, but "old money" always want to keep that sort of thing under wraps.

Then there is the news that our Florida Governor is getting married. I tell you that closet in Tallahassee is a big walk-in with a lot of room.

[booker52]

Wanna bet his so called engagement will be called off now that he wasn't called on to be VP for McCain??

[HRH]

Did you know that Crist's "fiancee" owns a costume company? She not only IS a beard, she SELLS them!

[TiffanyHusseinBanned]

So shocking.