Gay Pride Month
Gay  Pride Month. On June 2, 2000, President Bill Clinton proclaimed June to  be Gay and Lesbian Pride Month, citing the Stonewall uprising in June  1969 that gave birth to the gay and lesbian rights movement. Calling on  the nation to "work together to promote equal rights for all, regardless  of sexual orientation or gender identity," President Barack Obama  issued a similar proclamation June 1, 2009.
In past years, a long list of celebrities, athletes, politicians and  television personalities have opened up about their sexual orientation.  Here's how some notable and talented people told the world. 
 Evan Rachel Wood"True Blood" star Evan Rachel Wood joined a host of celebs who have come  out of the closet when she announced in April that she is bisexual.  Read about it here. 
Don LemonAn anchor for this 24-hour news network, Don Lemon announced last month that he is gay. Find out more and watch him discuss it. 
Rick WeltsPresident and CEO of this NBA team and co-founder of the WNBA, Rick  Welts did something rare in the world of sports last month: He came out  as a gay man. Find out more and watch news coverage. 
Scott NortonScott Norton, a professional player in professional bowling, is thought  to have become the first active athlete in professional sports to reveal  his homosexuality. Read more about it here. 
Geri JewellFormer TV star, Geri Jewell, revealed that she is a lesbian in her new  book, "I'm Walking as Straight as I Can", which also delves into her  money problems and struggles with a disorder.
Jonathan KnightHe was every young girl's dream guy in the late '80s as a member of one  of the hottest boy bands. Early this year, the former pop star came out  as a gay man. Read more about it, and watch him perform. 
Sara GilbertFormer sitcom star Sara Gilbert officially came out as a lesbian last year. Read more about it. 
Ricky MartinEnding years of speculation, the Puerto Rican pop singer announced he was a gay man on his blog in March.
Mary CheneyThe daughter of a staunch Republican former vice president, Cheney  almost quit her job as campaign adviser in the 2004 presidential  campaign over her sexuality. 
Chely WrightThe country singer announced she was a lesbian last year, apparently to  the surprise of many who know her, including her famous former  boyfriend. Watch her music videos and see photos.
Sheryl SwoopesIn 2005, this pro women's basketball player and MVP came out as a  lesbian in a popular sports magazine, where she called life in the  closet "miserable"
Neil Patrick HarrisThough he will likely always be known as the little genius on "Doogie  Howser, M.D.", he propelled his career even further with the sitcom "How  I Met Your Mother", which started in 2006, just one year after he came  out as a gay man
Meredith BaxterThis famous '80s "Family Ties" mom and real-life mother of five revealed in late 2009 that she is attracted to women
T.R. KnightThe Minneapolis native and former "Grey's Anatomy" hot doc confirmed he was gay in 2006. Why did he leave "Grey's"?
Esera TuaoloIn a rare event, the former NFL player came out in 2002 on HBO's "Real  Sports With Bryant Gumbel" and has since served as a board member of the  Gay and Lesbian Athletics Foundation. 
George TakeiBest known as Mr. Sulu on the original "Star Trek" series, the actor,  who spent his childhood in a Japanese-American internment camp, came out  in 2005. 
Sean HayesHe played the gay character Jack McFarland on "Will & Grace", and  after confirming last year he is in fact a homosexual, he said he'd  "never" been in the closet
Adam LambertThe "American Idol" Season 8 runner-up confirmed his sexuality on the  cover of Rolling Stone last year and is credited with becoming the first  openly gay mainstream artist to launch a career with a major U.S.  label.
Billie Jean KingOnce married to a man, this former women's tennis champ was the first professional women's athlete to come out as a lesbian
Suze OrmanThe financial guru announced in 2007 that she was a lesbian, calling herself a "55-year-old virgin"
Kelly McGillisThe Hollywood actress who starred opposite this famous actor in "Top  Gun" said she had struggled with her sexuality since the age of 12,  finally telling the public at 51 that she was a lesbian
David Hyde PierceAs Niles on "Frasier", he was infatuated with his father's housekeeper,  Daphne, but in real life he confirmed in 2007 his sexuality and longtime  relationship with television writer-producer Brian Hargrove 
Portia de RossiBorn Amanda Lee Rogers, the Australian actress is married to talk show  host and funnywoman Ellen DeGeneres and credits her wife for supporting  her choice to come out. 
Lady GagaLast year the ubiquitous superstar announced that she has had intimate  relationships with both men and women. View a gallery of her outfits.
Clay AikenThe "American Idol" runner-up came out as a gay man when he appeared on  the cover of People magazine in 2008 holding his newborn son, saying, "I  cannot raise a child to lie or to hide things."
Anna PaquinThe "True Blood" star is married to her vampire-playing co-star, Stephen  Moyer, and dropped a bombshell last year when she revealed she is  bisexual 
Rachel MaddowThe host of MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" is the first outed lesbian to host a prime-time news show in the United States.  
Rosie O'DonnellAn often controversial and outspoken comedian, Rosie O'Donnell said she was a lesbian in a television interview in 2002
Ellen DeGeneresThe popular talk show host famously came out on her sitcom in 1997 and on the cover of Time magazine the same year
Barney FrankA congressional Democrat who represents the 4th District of the Bay  State, Frank made his sexuality public in 1987, after six years as an  elected representative 
John BerryNominated by President Barack Obama to head the Office of Personnel  Management, he is the highest-ranking openly gay official in the  administration.
Source: 
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