Out in the spotlight

Singer Frank Ocean says he feels like a free man: The acclaimed singer has revealed that his first love was a man. Ocean - the rising R&B singer behind the single "Novacane" and the self-released album "nostalgia, ULTRA," which critics heralded as among the best of 2011 - announced on his Tumblr page that his first love was a man. Ocean, part of the group Odd Future, wrote on July 4, 2012: "4 summers ago, I met somebody. I was 19. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Everyday almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide."

Anderson Cooper

After years of declining to discuss his sexuality, Anderson Cooper has publicly acknowledged that he is gay. The CNN reporter/talk show host came out in an email to Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Beast, which was published on the website with Cooper's permission. "The fact is, I'm gay, always have been, always will be, and I couldn't be any more happy, comfortable with myself, and proud," Cooper, 45, wrote. He said he had become concerned that his silence on the matter had led some to believe he was uncomfortable or ashamed of his sexuality. "This is distressing because it is simply not true," he added.

Jim Parsons

Jason Merritt/Getty Images for Alzheimer's Association

Jim Parsons has revealed in an interview that he is gay and that he is in a long-term committed relationship - the first time the "Big Bang Theory" star has opened up about his sexuality. The information was revealed in a May 2012 New York Times profile about the Emmy-winning actor. While referring to his previous role in the play "The Normal Heart," a drama about the HIV/AIDS crisis, the article states that the play resonated with him: "Mr Parsons is gay and in a 10-year relationship, and working with an ensemble again onstage was like nourishment, he said."

Matt Bomer

"White Collar" star Matt Bomer has confirmed he is gay. The actor came out while accepting an award on Feb. 11, 2012, when he thanked his partner, publicist Simon Halls, and their three children. "I'd really especially like to thank my beautiful family: Simon, Kit, Walker, Henry," Bomer said. "Thank you for teaching me what unconditional love is. You will always be my proudest accomplishment."

Zachary Quinto

Actor Zachary Quinto revealed he is gay in an interview with New York magazine. During the interview, he referred to himself as "a gay man" twice, first while discussing his role in the off-Broadway play "Angels in America" and again while discussing the suicide of bullied gay teen Jamey Rodemeyer. Quinto is best known for playing Spock in the film adaptation of "Star Trek" and Sylar on TV's "Heroes."

Johnny Weir

Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir confirms in his memoir, "Welcome to My World," that he is gay. Weir said in an excerpt published in People magazine that his sexual orientation "is the smallest part of what makes me me."

"I'm not ashamed to be me," Weir wrote. "More than anyone else I know, I love my life and accept myself. What's wrong with being unique? I am proud of everything that I am and will become."

His book comes out on Jan. 11.

Chely Wright

Country singer Chely Wright is the latest celebrity to come out. Wright told People magazine in May 2010 that she's gay and that nothing in her life has been more magical than the moment she decided to reveal her sexuality. The 39-year-old says she experienced a community in which homosexuality was shunned and she "hid everything" for her music.

Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin, seen here when he was honored by the Latin Recording Academy in 2006, is the latest singer to admit that he is gay. In a statement posted March 28, 2010, online in Spanish and English and linked to his Twitter account, Martin says: "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am." The announcement ended years of speculation about the "Livin' La Vida Loca" singer's sexuality

Adam Lambert

"American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert has acknowledged in a June 2009 issue of Rolling Stone magazine that he is gay and has said the news should come as a surprise to no one. "I'm proud of my sexuality," the 27-year-old singer from San Diego said. "I embrace it. It's just another part of me." He is just one of a host of celebs to admit they are gay.

Clay Aiken

Another "American Idol" singer, Clay Aiken announced he was gay after the birth of his son in August of 2008. "I cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things. I wasn't raised that way, and I'm not going to raise a child to do that," he told People magazine.

Sir Elton John

Openly gay singer Elton John has donated all of the profits from his singles to AIDS charities since teenager Ryan White's death from the disease in 1992. Queen Elizabeth II honored him with knighthood in 1997. In 2001, he stirred controversy by performing a duet with rapper Eminem, whose lyrics have been attacked as homophobic, at the Grammy Awards.

Martina Navratilova

Tennis superstar Martina Navratilova boldly revealed her preference for women at the height of her sports career, in the early '80s. In 2003, she became the oldest woman to ever win a Grand Slam title.

Harvey Fierstein

"Torch Song Trilogy," which Harvey Fierstein wrote and acted in, burst onto Broadway in the early '80s and was one of the first mainstream gay dramas. Openly gay himself, Fierstein won his fourth Tony Award in 2003 for his portrayal of hefty matriarch Edna Turnblad (pictured) in the Broadway musical "Hairspray."

k.d. lang

Canadian singer k.d. lang blazed a path for others when she came out as a lesbian in The Advocate magazine in 1992. "I'm proud that I was one of the first ones out, singing loud and proud," she told the magazine in a 2000 interview.

Nathan Lane

A star of stage, screen and television, openly gay actor Nathan Lane (at left) played the straight character Max Bialystock in "The Producers," which made Broadway history by winning a record 12 Tony Awards in 2001.

Rupert Everett

British actor Rupert Everett has found fame playing both gay ("My Best Friend's Wedding") and straight characters ("An Ideal Husband"). According to Hollywood.com, he publicly disclosed his homosexuality in 1989, but the announcement has had little impact on the roles he's landed.

Melissa Etheridge

Grammy-award winning singer Melissa Etheridge made headlines in 2000 when she and then-partner Julie Cypher publicly named the father of their two young children: rock star David Crosby. "I do not believe that my children will be wanting in any way because they didn't have a father in the home every single day," Etheridge told CBS' 60 Minutes II.

Ellen DeGeneres

Shortly after coming out in a Time magazine cover story, DeGeneres made history by becoming television's first openly gay lead actor when her character declared her homosexuality on the popular ABC comedy series "Ellen" in 1997.

George Michael

Pop singer George Michael acknowledged he was gay after pleading no contest to committing a lewd act in a Beverly Hills park restroom in 1998. "I want people to know that I feel stupid and I feel reckless and weak for having allowed my sexuality to be exposed this way, but I don't feel any shame whatsoever," he said in a television interview.

Alan Cumming

The gay Scottish actor drew raves for his portrayal of "Nightcrawler" in the 2003 blockbuster "X2." Cumming says, "I really liked the message in the film that we need to be more tolerant and understanding of other cultures different than ours and not to think because they are different, they are bad."

Richard Hatch

Richard Hatch was an openly gay cast member during the first season of the "Survivor" television series in 2000, and won the $1 million prize.

Michael Stipe

REM frontman Michael Stipe put to rest years of speculation about his sexuality when he described himself as a "queer artist" in a 2001 Time magazine interview. "I was being made to be a coward about it," he said, "rather than someone who felt like it really was a very private thing."

Rosie O'Donnell

A longtime advocate for children, multi-talented entertainer Rosie O'Donnell came out of the closet in 2002, as part of a campaign against Florida's ban on gay adoptions.

Cynthia Nixon

"Sex and The City" star Cynthia Nixon has been living with education activist Christine Marinoni since 2004. "I never felt like there was an unconscious part of me around that woke up or that came out of the closet," she once said in a newspaper interview. "There wasn't a struggle, there wasn't an attempt to suppress. I met this woman, I fell in love with her, and I'm a public figure."

Neil Patrick Harris

In November of 2006, when stories about his homosexuality began appearing in the media, actor Neil Patrick Harris told people magazine: "I am happy to dispel any rumors or misconceptions and am quite proud to say that I am a very content gay man living my life to the fullest and feel most fortunate to be working with wonderful people in the business I love."