LGBT+ Stars Who Were Told To Keep Their Identity A Secret

Eight years after coming out, Martin explained on ‘The Daily Show’ that the decision to come out was so difficult because his loved ones warned him it would end his career

Rickey Martin

Kristen Stewart

She told Harper’s Bazaar UK that, early in her career, she was advised not to talk about her personal life because people may not like it, and even not to go out with her girlfriend in public, in order to get bigger roles, by “an old school mentality.”

Colton Haynes

I was told that I couldn’t be gay because I couldn’t work there. Then my management team and a team of people just literally told me I couldn’t be gay

Cara Delevingne

According to Delevingne, Harvey Weinstein once told her, “You will never make it in this industry as a gay woman — grow a beard.

Ezra Miller

During the interview, Miller said he received “a lot of stern talking-tos” and was told that being honest had “made a mistake.

Evan Rachel Wood

In 2011, the actress disclosed that she was bisexual. “They tell you flat out, ‘don’t do it.’ They don’t want you to lose popularity with men,

Raven-Symoné

In 2013, after her Disney run, she came out as a lesbian. “My likeness, whether you see it in an interview, whether you see it in print,

Elliot Page

In Page’s opinion, “there’s a narrative that people hold dear: You cannot come out because it’s going to hurt your career.” It could be true, but I wasn’t naive when I came out.

Amber Heard

The actress, who at the time was landing roles opposite Nicolas Cage and Johnny Depp, was told she was “throwing away” her career after coming out as bisexual.

Matt Bomer

It was at a crucial point in his career that the actor decided to come out, when the risks became apparent to him. “I had a studio film about to premiere and a television series coming out,” he told Attitude.

Samira Wiley

Handmaid’s Tale’ actress Wiley says she was encouraged early on to hide her lesbian identity, even suggesting that she pretend to date her gay male friend to hide their respective sexualities.

Jonathan Bailey

Jonathan Bailey revealed to Attitude that most of the times he was told to stay in the closet were actually by other gay men in the industry. While he listened to them, he made his own decision.