They were here, queer, and dating!
While the LGBTQ+ community has never stopped facing discrimination, things were even worse in the past. For actors, musicians, filmmakers, and models who were playing the Hollywood game, coming out as queer and having public relationships could literally destroy a person’s entire career.
Thankfully, a few brave celebs took the leap and chose to live as their most authentic selves even when it wasn’t “acceptable” to be a famous queer person in Hollywood. And, along the way, these people had public relationships that didn’t necessarily work — but that made a lot of us feel seen and represented out in the real world.
Scroll through to take a trip down memoryAmandla Stenberg & King Princess
Actress Amandla Stenberg and singer King Princess were reportedly together as a couple between 2017 and 2019.
Angelina Jolie & Jenny Shimizu
Angelina Jolie and her ex girlfriend Jenny Shimizu— (@)
Angelina Jolie had a relationship with Jenny Shimizu through the mid-1990s. Their romance was confirmed during an interview in 1997 where the actress said that she’d “probably have married Jenny” if she hadn’t married her first husband, Jonny Lee Miller.
Madonna & Jenny Shimizu
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Around the same time that Jenny Shimizu was in a fling with Angelina Jolie, the model revealed that she was also a “booty call” for Madonna.
Cara Delevingne & St. Vincent
Cara Delevingne has had a few queer relationships over the years. One of them, which lasted between 2014 and 2016, was with singer St. Vincent.
Cara Delevingne & Ashley Benson
Following her breakup with St. Vincent, Delevingne reportedly went on to date Ashley Benson between 2018 and 2020.
Ellen DeGeneres & Anne Heche
Even though most people know Ellen DeGeneres for being with her wife Portia de Rossi since 2004, the former daytime talk show host dated actress Anne Heche between 1997 and 2000.
Ellen DeGeneres & Alexandra Hedison
After her breakup with Heche, DeGeneres went on to date photographer and director Alexandra Hedison for at least four years.
Evan Rachel Wood & Katherine Moennig
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News articles reported that Evan Rachel Wood had a very brief fling with Katherine Moennig following the actress’ divorce from Jamie Bell in 2014.
Graham Norton & Kristian Seeber (a.k.a. Tina Burner)
While competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13, Tina Burner (known as Kristian Seeber out of drag) revealed that she had a high-profile relationship with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK judge Graham Norton in the 2000s.
Ireland Baldwin & Angel Haze
Stories about Angel Haze’s relationship with Ireland Baldwin (Alec Baldwin’s daughter) are a little all over the place. However, Baldwin did reportedly check into rehab due to “emotional trauma” according to Us Weekly in 2015, seemingly after her breakup with Haze.
Lance Bass & Reichen Lehmkuhl
Along with his coming-out statement in Jul. 2006, NSYNC band member Lance Bass also revealed that he was in a stable relationship with The Amazing Race season 4 winner Reichen Lehmkuhl.
Lindsay Lohan & Samantha Ronson
Around 2008, Mean Girls star Lindsay Lohan made headlines for reportedly dating DJ and songwriter Samantha Ronson (who, yes, is the sister of music producer Mark Ronson). This relationship didn’t last long, however, with reports suggesting that they had already broken up by 2009.
Miley Cyrus & Stella Maxwell
In 2015, Miley Cyrus was spotted kissing Victoria’s Secret model Stella Maxwell, which led to speculation about their relationship. Nonetheless, reports indicate that they only dated for a few months.
Rock Hudson & Lee Garlington
Rock Hudson’s life as a closeted Hollywood actor has been widely reported and even prompted a recent documentary titled Rock Hudson: All That Heaven Allowed. Over time, it’s been revealed that Hudson and partner Lee Garlington were together for 32 years.
Ruby Rose & Jessica Origliasso
Jessica Origliasso, best known for being in The Veronicas band with her twin sister, Lisa, dated actress Ruby Rose from 2016 to 2018.
Sam Smith & Brandon Flynn
Singer Sam Smith and actor Brandon Flynn were first reported as a couple around Oct. 2017. By Jun. 2018, however, the couple had already gone their separate ways.
Sarah Paulson & Cherry Jones
Sarah Paulson dated Cherry Jones for five years — from 2004 to 2009. The American Horror Story actress would subsequently get into a long-standing relationship with Holland Taylor in more recent years.
T.R. Knight & Mark Cornelsen
Grey’s Anatomy star T.R. Knight publicly dated Mark Cornelsen from 2007 to 2009.
Whitney Houston & Robyn Crawford
The relationship between Whitney Houston and Roby Crawford has only been acknowledged in recent years. After meeting in the 1980s, they stayed together — in both romantic and platonic ways — for about 20 years.
Zachary Quinto & Jonathan Groff
In 2012, Zachary Quinto told Out about his relationship with Jonathan Groff. “I’m incredibly happy,” the actor said. “I’m incredibly lucky.” They were rumored to have been dating since 2010, but the relationship seemingly fell through at some point in 2013.
Zachary Quinto & Miles McMillan
After his breakup with Groff, Quinto started dating model Miles McMillan. They reportedly moved in together in 2015, and there were even rumors of an engagement. Alas, Quinto and McMillan announced they were “amicably” splitting in 2019.