10 celebs who came out 10 years ago

2014 was quite the year for celebrity coming outs!

When we look back 10 years ago, its hard to understand just how different the world of LGBTQ+ celebs was. Obviously there was no Renee Rapp, Chappell Roan, Jeremy Pope, or Joel Kim Booster, but did you also know that before that year, these queer icons weren't out either?

Here's a look back at 10 LGBTQ+ celebs who all came out 10 years ago in 2014.

1. Tim Cook

When the Apple CEO came out as gay in 2014, he became the most influential and powerful CEO at the time to do so.

2. Kristen Kish

After she won her season of Top Chef, Kish (who now hosts the show) came out as a lesbian in an article for the New York Times. She also posted a picture on her Instagram celebrating her one year anniversary with her girlfriend.

3. Andreja Pejic

Pejic was already a star model in 2014, and had even graced the cover of Out as our Stylemaker of the Year. But it wasn't until 2014 that she came out as transgender. "I want to share my story with the world because I think I have a social responsibility," she said at the time. "I hope that by being open about this, it becomes less of an issue."

4. Samira Wiley

In 2014, Wiley came out by announcing that she was dating Orange Is the New Black writer Lauren Morelli (the two are now married). Morelli had come out publicly by sharing that writing for the show changed her life and helped her realize she was gay. She then divorced her husband and started dating Wiley.

5. Daniel Fanzese

Ever since he's been in the spotlight, we've known and loved Franzese for playing the "too gay to function" Damien in Mean Girls, so it might surprise you to learn he came out in 2014, 10 years after Mean Girls originally premiered.

"You certainly hope when you pour your heat into something, that people will respond. But to paraphrase Gretchen Weiners, 'We can't help it that we're so popular,'" he wrote in a letter to his younger self at the time. "So why the hell did it take me so long to come out of the closet?"

6. Sam Smith

After their breakout album In the Lonely Hour, Smith came out by talking about the inspiration for the album, including tracks like "Stay With Me" and "Leave Your Lover."

"In the Lonely Hour is about a guy that I fell in love with last year, and he didn't love me back," they said at the time. "I think I'm over it now, but I was in a very dark place. I kept feeling lonely in the fact that I hadn't felt love before."

7. Connor Franta

This popular YouTuber came out in his vlog in December of 2014, saying, "I'm making this video for anyone who needs it. It's ok. I may not seem like it right now but you are going to be fine. I know it's scary but don't be afraid. You are who you are and you should love that person."

8. Ruby Rose

Actor, model, and celebrity Ruby Rose came out as genderfluid in 2014, telling AU News that she identifies as both male and female.

9. Elliot Page

Page, who has starred in movies like Juno and X-Men: Days of Future Past, as well as TV shows like Umbrella Academy, first came out as gay on Valentine's Day of 2014. He was speaking at the Human Rights Campaign's Time to Thrive Conference when he did so.

In 2020 he came out again, this time as trans, revealing his name as Elliot Page.

10. Michael Sam

When Sam came out, he was preparing for the NFL draft as a very successful college defensive lineman. He was eventually drafted in the 7th round of the draft by the St. Louis Rams but ended up not playing in the NFL. He currently is a coach in the European Football League.