In the olden days of Hollywood, LGBTQ celebrities were forced to conceal their sexual orientation from the world. However, following Ellen Degeneres’s emergence from the closet more than two decades ago, many more stars have followed her path. These are some of the highest profile gay celebrities.

Some of these celebs were in the spotlight for years before they publicly acknowledged their sexuality, while others have been “out of the closet” since their careers began. Were you shocked by any of these? Don’t forget to SHARE the list with your pop-culture-obsessed friends!