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While the Real Housewives franchise is beloved by the LGBTQ+ community, not many members of the community have actually been able to become cast members on one of the many Real Housewives shows.
Though there still haven't been any gay male "Housewives," there have been several bisexual women, and in recent years, several more queer women have joined the ranks. In fact, another LGBTQ+ Housewife was announced to be a new cast member for an upcoming season of The Real Housewives of New York!
Here are the out LGBTQ+ women who have been cast members on a Real Housewives show.
Braunwyn Windham
In 2020, Braunwyn Windham, a member of The Real Housewives of Orange County during seasons 14 and 15, came out as a lesbian. While on the show, she was married to Sean Burke, with whom she has seven children.
"I like women, I'm gay. You know, I'm a member of the LGBTQIA+ community," Windham said in an interview with GLAAD. "I'm a lesbian and it has taken me 42 years to say that but I am so proud of where I am right now. I'm so happy where I am. To be able to be comfortable in my own skin after so long is just so nice."
Julia Lemigova
A former Miss USSR and 2nd runner-up in the Miss Universe 1991 pageant, Lemigova is married to tennis star Martina Navratilova and joined the cast of season 4 of The Real Housewives of Miami in 2021.
Jenna Lyons
During BravoCon, the network announced that queer former J.Crew president Jenna Lyons will be a cast member of the upcoming revamped new season of The Real Housewives of New York. Lyons joins an all-new cast for the 14th season of the show.
Noella Bergener
Bergener, who is bisexual, joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Orange County in 2021 for the 16th season of the show. She left after one season.
Kandi Buruss
Burruss confessed to being sexually attracted to both men and women when she was starring on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Burruss joined Atlanta in its second season, and has had several of her own spinoffs, including Kandi & the Gang.
Taylor Armstrong
Armstrong opened up about her sexuality to her RHOC costars in an episode in 2023, saying, "Most people are surprised to find out that I'm bisexual probably just because of stereotypes. I mean, it's not something I broadcast, but I'm open to all people who have great souls that you can love."
Brandi Glanville
This Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star alleged that she slept with fellow Housewife Denise Richards in 2020 (Richards denied this). In 2014, she also said, "I have a couple times been with women where it was just us… I love beautiful people, and if you're a man, you're a man. If you're a woman, you're a woman. I'm not a lesbian and I'm not straight."
Elizabeth Vargas
The Real Housewives of Orange County star came out as bisexual during the Season 15 reunion. After Braunwyn Windham-Burke said she felt like she didn't have anyone to talk to about being queer on the cast, Vargas said, "Have you ever asked me? I'm bi, but whatever."
Racquel Chevremont
GLAAD exclusively announced that Chevremont, who is a Black queer model and art curator, will be joining the upcoming season of Real Housewives of New York!
Honorable Mention: Amiyah Scott
Back in 2015, Scott should've become the first trans woman to be a cast member of a Real Housewives franchise, on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, but unfortunately, she left the show and producers cut her scenes and claimed her trans identity was "not enough to make her interesting." However, Scott said that she left because she felt she was being exploited as a trans woman and didn't want to do some of the things producers wanted her to. We'll forever mourn the loss of what would've been an iconic Housewife.
