www.fgks.org   »   [go: up one dir, main page]
Life

These 18 pansexual celebrities are expanding queer visibility

These popular entertainers are blazing trails for increased visibility and acceptance of non-binary and fluid sexualities.
By Daniel Villarreal and Ian Helms
wayne-brady-comes-out-as-pansexual
Wayne Brady in 2021 Photo: Shutterstock

Pansexual celebrities challenge traditional “norms” of sexual identity by openly embracing an attraction that goes beyond gender and sex. Each of the celebrities below has used their platforms to share their own personal journeys of how they came to accept different forms of love, changing their self-perception in the process.

While bisexuality acknowledges people who feel attracted to more than just one gender, pansexuality allows for aesthetic, romantic, or sexual connections with people, regardless of their gender identity or sex altogether. These trailblazing celebrities have put pansexuality in the limelight, increasing visibility and societal acceptance for non-binary and fluid sexualities.

Related:

I am pansexual & in a straight-presenting relationship. I refuse to be invisible

My sexuality is an essential part of who I am, yet I often feel like an outsider in queer spaces.

Janelle Monáe

Musician and actress Janelle Monae is just one of many pansexual celebrities.

Grammy-nominated nonbinary and Afrofuturist musician Janelle Monáe, publicly identified as pansexual in a 2018 Rolling Stone interview. She had previously avoided publicly discussing her sexuality — though her music had contained clues — she told the aforementioned publication, “Being a queer black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women – I consider myself to be a free-ass motherf**ker.”

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus, the pop sensation and former Disney Channel star, revealed her pansexual identity in a 2015 interview with Elle UK. Known for her transformation from a teen idol to a pop icon with a rebellious edge, Cyrus actively supports LGBTQ+ rights through her nonprofit, the Happy Hippie Foundation, which advocates for homeless youth, LGBTQ+ youth, and other vulnerable populations.

Brendon Urie

July 31, 2018; Sunrise, FL, USA; Brendon Urie of Panic! at the Disco performs at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Elkman/USA TODAY NETWORK
Brendon Urie in 2018

Brendon Urie, the charismatic lead vocalist of Panic! At The Disco, discussed his pansexuality in a 2018 interview with Paper Magazine. Beyond his musical career, he’s committed to LGBTQ+ advocacy, demonstrated by his substantial donation to GLSEN (the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) to support LGBTQ+ youth.

Wayne Brady

wayne-brady-comes-out-as-pansexual
Wayne Brady in 2021

The comedian came out as pansexual, in an interview with People magazine, saying, “Let’s be really honest: I’ve also been attracted to certain men in my life. But I’ve always pushed that aside because of how I was raised, and because I live in today’s world, and it’s scary as s**t.” He said his coming out was part of his journey to learn how to take better care of himself mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Demi Lovato

demi-lovato-holy-fvck-poster-offensive-christians-censorship-banned-asa-uk-advertisement Saturday,June,6,,2015,-,Citi,Field,,Queens,,New,York,
Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato, a nonbinary singer and actor who rose to fame on Disney Channel, came out as pansexual in a 2021 interview on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast. Lovato explained they tried to suppress their authentic self in their previous relationship with actor Max Ehrich, adding, “I was very nervous in the beginning to come out as non-binary because I didn’t want people to think it was inauthentic.” 

Asia Kate Dillon

Asia Kate Dillon (center) as Taylor Mason in BILLIONS
Asia Kate Dillon (center) as Taylor Mason in BILLIONS

Asia Kate Dillon, who stars in Billions and is known for being one of the first nonbinary actors cast in a major North American television show, discussed their identity in various media appearances since 2017. “From the time I came to understand sex and sexual orientation, and all of that, I’ve identified as pansexual and I’ve always felt like I had the spiritual, emotional, physical capability of being attracted to any gender,” they said in a 2017 interview.

Lady Gaga

Apr 3, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Lady Gaga performs during the 64th Annual Grammy Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY
Lady Gaga at the 2022 Grammy Awards

Though the international pop superstar came out as bisexual in a 2019 interview, during a 2020 interview with Oprah Winfrey, she said, “I was born this way. I’m just a very sexual person which runs deep through my core…There are so many different ways to love people, whether that’s sexually, or non-sexually, through a platonic relationship, or romantically. I love my LGBT+ fans and hope they can feel represented and included.”

Her Born This Way Foundation advocates for young people’s mental well being.

Kesha

Kesha
Kesha

Kesha, a pop star known for her anthem “Tik Tok,” has not publicly identified herself using the term “pansexual.” But in a 2013 Seventeen Magazine interview, she said, “I don’t love just men. I love people. It’s not about a gender. It’s just about the spirit that exudes from that other person you’re with” — leading fans to interpret her comment as an embrace of pansexuality. Her long-running legal battle against music producer Dr. Luke spotlighted issues of abuse and empowerment in the entertainment industry.

ROES

Angel Haze
ROES

ROES, a rapper and singer formerly known as Angel Haze, opened up about their pansexuality in a 2012 interview with The Guardian, saying “I see people for who they are… I don’t base all of my relationships off of sex. I’m still a virgin… I care about connecting with people on a deeper level… I want something that’s deep-rooted.” Known for their candidness about personal trauma and recovery through music, Haze’s work often confronts societal norms and advocates for mental health awareness and LGBTQ+ rights.

Madison Bailey

Madison Bailey arrives for the CMT Awards at the Moody Center on Sunday, April 2, 2023, in Austin, Texas.
Madison Bailey at the 2023 Country Music Television Awards

Madison Bailey, known for her role as Kiara on the popular Netflix series Outer Banks, publicly identified as pansexual during an Instagram Live session in 2020. “Girls. Boys. Trans boys. Trans girls. Nonbinary babies. It’s what’s on the inside boo,” she has said, and opined that most people are sexually fluid, saying, “I don’t believe in straight people. They’re as real as unicorns to me.”

Emily Hampshire

Emily Hampshire, who plays character "Mary" in the film "Self Reliance" walks the red carpet at the SXSW world premiere of the film, held at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, March 11, 2023. Sxsw South By Southwest Day 2 Self Relience Red Carpet Sed 10
Emily Hampshire in 2023

Emily Hampshire, best known for her role as Stevie Budd in the critically acclaimed series Schitt’s Creek, discussed her pansexuality in a 2020 interview with Demi Burnett on the Big Demi Energy podcast. She said a well-known wine scene in the series — in which another character tells her that he prefers what’s in the bottle, not what’s on the label — helped her understand her own pansexuality: “I truly just fell in love with a person and where they were on the gender spectrum did not matter to me. And since then it really doesn’t matter to me. I have to like the person. I’m really attracted to a person’s vibe.”

Nico Tortorella

Jun 19, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Nico Tortorella is pictured on the red carpet during the 2019 NHL Awards at Mandalay Bay. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Nico Tortorella in 2019

Nico Tortorella, an actor and model known for their role on the TV series Younger, openly identifies as both gender fluid and pansexual. They noted that they use the words “bisexuality” and “pansexuality” interchangeably, saying, “If I’m talking to somebody who’s more conservative… then it’s easier to use the word bisexual, but if I’m talking to someone who’s invested in gender, queer theory, and understands the spectrum, then I’m more comfortable using the word ‘pansexual’ or the word ‘fluid.'”

Courtney Act

courtney-act-pansexual-celebritie
Courtney Act

Courtney Act, an Australian standout from RuPaul’s Drag Race, has identified as genderfluid and pansexual in various interviews, including a notable 2018 discussion with Attitude magazine. She has used her social media platform and media appearances to highlight sexual and gender variance, saying, “People’s gender and sexuality can change and evolve throughout their lives. It’s just about being free from the expectations of society, and defining life on your own terms.”

Tessa Thompson

Sep 17, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Tessa Thompson arrives on the red carpet at the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater. Mandatory Credit: Dan MacMedan-USA TODAY
Tessa Thompson at the 2017 Emmy Awards

Tessa Thompson, an actress renowned for her roles in Thor and Westworld, spoke about her sexual fluidity in a 2018 interview with Net-A-Porter magazine. Though she has never explicitly labeled herself as pansexual, she said, “I’m attracted to men and also to women. If I bring a woman home, [or] a man, we don’t even have to have the discussion.”

Cara Delevingne

cara-delevingne-pansexual-celebrities
Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne, a model turned actress, discussed her pansexuality in a 2020 interview with Variety, saying, “However one defines themselves, whether it’s ‘they’ or ‘he’ or ‘she,’ I fall in love with the person — and that’s that. I’m attracted to the person.” She added that she wanted to come out so she’d no longer have to hide from herself, noting, “Pride to me is a sense of something that I never really had as a kid. A sense of pride is like a sense of belonging, a family outside your family, a place where you don’t have to apologize or feel ashamed.”

Bob the Drag Queen

Bob the Drag Queen
Bob the Drag Queen

Bob the Drag Queen, another famous alumnus of RuPaul’s Drag Race, openly identifies as pansexual. He discussed his sexuality in various interviews, including a 2016 podcast with Grizzly Kiki, where he talked about the nuances of his identity. Known for his humor, activism, and charisma, Bob uses his platform to address issues politically affecting LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.

Celebrating diverse attractions

This group of pansexual celebrities not only broadens the narrative around sexual orientation but also enriches the cultural dialogue about identity and acceptance.

Their courage in living openly and authentically provides visibility and support to those who may still be navigating their own identities. They’re a reminder of the transformative power of representation and the important role public figures play in advocating for a society where everyone can love freely and be loved in return.

Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter to stay updated on the latest news, stories, and happenings within the LGBTQ+ community.

Don't forget to share:

Good News is your section for queer joy! Subscribe to our newsletter to get the most positive and fun stories from the site delivered to your inbox every weekend. Send us your suggestions for uplifiting and inspiring stories.

Life
Courtney Act Demi Lovato Good News Janelle Monae Jojo Siwa Kesha Lady Gaga LGBTQ celebrities LGBTQ search Miley Cyrus nonbinary celebrities pansexual pansexuality sexually fluid celebrities Tessa Thompson

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Once Monthly Annually

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Joe Biden’s new protections for LGBTQ+ foster youth will save lives

Previous article

Moms for Liberty sues DOE for their children to have the right to misgender trans classmates

Next article

More on LGBTQ Nation

Quantcast