PHOTOS: How Hollywood's Gay Stars Come Out
Aug. 12 2010, Published 8:28 a.m. ET
The 'are-they-or-aren’t-they' question can be a struggle for any Hollywood actor attempting to keep their public life secret.
The stigma of being a gay entertainer has kept many in Tinseltown from coming out of the closet, unsure if the public would support their decisions or whether they’d be as popular if their true sexual preferences were known.
As Breaking Celebrity News discovered, celebrities’ decision to reveal their sexuality seems to follow a pattern: stars announce the news in the medium they feel comfortable with – either on television, on stage or in a magazine
Day time talk show host Ellen DeGeneres came out in 1997.
“When I decided to have my character on the show come out, I knew I was going to have to come out, too," DeGeneres told Time magazine.
The episode where her character Ellen on her television show came out aired April 30, 1997.
"But I didn't want to talk about it until the show was done,” Ellen said.
"I never wanted to be the lesbian actress. I never wanted to be the spokesperson for the gay community. Ever. I did it for my own truth."
Her announcement sparked outrage from right-wing religious leader Jerry Fawell, who openly mocked her by calling her Ellen “Degenerate”.
She responded to the magazine: “Really? He called me that? I’ve been getting that since the fourth grade.”
Ellen married Portia de Rossi in an elaborate ceremony in August 2008 and Portia changed her name to DeGeneres in 2010.
Portia told the Advocate magazine when she finally came out in Hollywood people didn’t believe her.
She said, "I had a hell of a time convincing people I was gay -- which was so annoying!
“First of all, you live with the fear people might find out. Then you actually have the courage to tell people and they go, 'I don't think you are gay.'"
Neil Patrick Harris also told People magazine that he was gay in 2006.
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The How I Met Your Mother star said, "So, rather than ignore those who choose to publish their opinions without actually talking to me, 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.”
*NSYNC boy band member Lance Bass came out to People magazine in 2006 in a cover story.
“I’m Gay” the cover read -- and the singer said he was glad to reveal his sexual orientation.
"The thing