Jussie Smollett, who plays the gay R&B singer Jamal Lyon on Fox's breakout hit "Empire," had some real life drama recently when it came to his sexuality: His co-star Malik Yoba backtracked on comments he made in an interview about outing Smollett as gay. But the 31-year-old actor put all the rumors to rest this week after stopping by Ellen DeGeneres' talk show.

(CNN) -- Actor Kristian Nairn -- aka Hodor on "Game of Thrones" -- was never in the closet.

(CNN) -- "Good Morning America" anchor Robin Roberts used a Facebook post to acknowledge what friends and co-workers have long known: She's gay.

(CNN) -- As an openly gay figure in one of the most masculine of sports Nigel Owens is a rarity -- but he might never have achieved his iconic status in rugby union if he had gone ahead with plans for a chemical castration.

"Modern Family" star Reid Ewing made headlines last week when he wrote a piece for the Huffington Post detailing his body dysmorphia and addiction to plastic surgery. On Saturday, the 19-year-old actor took to Twitter and confirmed he's gay during a conversation on body dysmorphia.

In a series of posts on Instagram, Charlie Carver, best known for his roles on MTV's "Teen Wolf" and HBO's "The Leftovers," came out as gay, saying he's never "really ever been in" the closet.

Just after the election last November came a package in the mail from the American Psychological Association.

It's been a year since World Wrestling Entertainment star Darren Young came out to TMZ as gay in an impromptu interview at LAX airport and the athlete told the Huffington Post last weekend, he's the "happiest" he's ever been.

Apple CEO Tim Cook's declaration that he's "proud to be gay" wasn't exactly news in Silicon Valley, where his sexual orientation was no secret. But advocates say that given Apple's immense reach and visibility, his coming-out could help change attitudes in workplaces across America.

(CNN) -- Hollywood actress Ellen Page, known for her role in the movie "Juno," announced she is gay, in a very public way.

Coming up with a unique way of coming out to the world, actress Niecy Nash announced her marriage to Jessica Betts, with a wedding photo on Twitter.

(CNN) Stuck at home during the pandemic with not much to do, Kenneth Felts began to write a memoir, chronicling the past 90 years of his life.

Al Molinaro, the loveable character actor with the hangdog face who was known to millions of TV viewers for playing Murray the cop on "The Odd Couple" and malt shop owner Al Delvecchio on "Happy Days," died Friday at Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, his son Michael Molinaro said.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Apple CEO Tim Cook came out Thursday, acknowledging publicly for the first time that he is gay.

Brian Boitano never intended to publicly reveal he is gay until he was chosen for the U.S. Olympic delegation by President Barack Obama last month.

The former professional boxer who admitted to lying about being tricked and drugged into doing gay porn, and also came out as bisexual, told Philadelphia's Fox 29 that he's actually gay.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Brittney Griner had a busy WNBA offseason. She played in China, vacationed in Miami and watched from courtside while favorite player LeBron James beat her hometown Houston Rockets.

Division I men's basketball has its first openly gay coach.

Here are a few films to help with your celebration of National Coming Out Day. Come out, come out, wherever you are!

One of the musical events of 2014 is the emergence of singer Sam Smith. Smith, a 22-year old from London, has been called “a male Adele” who “looks like the child of K.d. Lang and Boy George.”

(CNN) -- There are plenty of country songs about how to be a man. One way is to face the music, and two country crooners did that on Thursday.

(CNN) -- Country star Ty Herndon has something to share: He's an "out, proud and happy gay man."

(CNN) -- David Denson, a first baseman for the Milwaukee Brewers' rookie affiliate in Helena, Montana, made baseball history this weekend by revealing that he is gay.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The leader of a prominent Washington synagogue is telling thousands of congregants that he is gay and that he and his wife of 20 years are divorcing.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The principal at one of the District of Columbia’s largest public high schools told students for the first time Wednesday that he is gay at a Pride Day event.

Actress Ellen Page is opening up about her decision to come out in a speech at the Human Rights Campaign’s Time to Thrive conference, nearly three months ago.

The former professional boxer who claimed he was tricked and drugged into filming a gay porn scene released a statement this week, coming out as bisexual and confessing to lying about how he made the threesome scene.

BERLIN (AP) — A former World Cup player from Germany became the biggest name in soccer to come out as gay, saying he wants to break down the stigma of homosexuality in sports.

A prominent white supremacist and neo-Nazi activist is leaving the fascist National Front and coming out as gay.

These days, actors like Glee's Chris Colfer, Zachary Quinto (Star Trek) and Neil Patrick Harris live out, proud lives. Like many other young stars, they've seen no career backlash. Some have said that coming out actually enhanced their careers.