List of self-identified LGBTQ New Yorkers

List of notable self-identified LGBTQ New Yorkers

Academia and research

• Andrew Dolkart – co-founder, NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project; professor, historic preservation, Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP)^[8]
• Kevin Nadal – professor of psychology and researcher at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and The Graduate Center of the City University of New York^[9]

Entrepreneurship and technology

• Bradford Shellhammer – entrepreneur and designer, founding editor of Queerty^[10]
• Joel Spolsky – software engineer^[11]

Fashion

Design

• Thom Browne – fashion designer^[12]
• Drew Elliott – creative director and consultant^[13]
• Prabal Gurung – fashion designer^[14]
• Marc Jacobs – fashion designer^[15]
• Calvin Klein – fashion designer^[16]
• Michael Kors – fashion designer^[17]
• Derek Lam – fashion designer^[18]
• Humberto Leon – fashion designer^[19]
• Phillip Lim – fashion designer^[20]
• Isaac Mizrahi – fashion designer^[21]
• Zac Posen – fashion designer^[22]
• Christian Siriano – fashion designer^[23]
• Alexander Wang – fashion designer^[24]
• Jason Wu – fashion designer^[25]

Modeling

• J. Alexander – model and fashion designer^[26]
• Leyna Bloom – fashion model and transgender activist^[27]
• Cara Delevingne – supermodel and actress^[28]
• Peche Di – transgender model, who started the first transgender modeling agency in the U.S., in New York City^[29]
• Dilone – model^[30]
• Rain Dove – model and activist^[31]
• Shay Neary – transgender model, the first transgender plus-size model featured in a major fashion campaign^[32]
• Yasmine Petty – transgender model^[33]
• Aaron Philip – transgender model^[34]
• Teddy Quinlivan – transgender model^[35]
• Miriam Rivera – late transgender model and the first openly trans reality television star^[36]
• Geena Rocero – supermodel and transgender activist^[37]
• Abby Stein – transgender model and rabbi^[38]

Film and television

• Desiree Akhavan – film director, producer, and screenwriter^[39]
• Casper Andreas – director, writer, and actor^[40]
• Brian Balthazar – co-executive producer, The View^[41]
• Sandra Bernhard – actress, singer, and author^[42]
• Matt Bomer – actor and director^[43]
• Candis Cayne – transgender actress^[44]
• Bill Condon – director, screenwriter, and producer^[45]
• Laverne Cox – transgender actress^[46]
• Lee Daniels – director, screenwriter, and producer^[47]
• Billy Eichner – actor, comedian, and writer^[48]
• Fredrik Eklund – real estate broker, co-star of Million Dollar Listing New York^[49]
• Rodney Evans – director and screenwriter^[50]
• Frankie Grande – television personality, co-host of Style Code Live^[51]
• Tim Gunn - fashion consultant , television personality and actor^[52]
• Dominique Jackson – transgender actress and model^[53]
• Michael Patrick King – director, writer, and producer^[54]
• Carson Kressley – television personality, former host of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy^[55]
• John Krokidas – director, writer, and producer^[56]
• Jennie Livingston – documentary filmmaker^[57]
• Michael Lucas – director, columnist, and activist^[58]
• Rob Marshall – director, choreographer and producer^[59]
• Kate McKinnon – comedian, Saturday Night Live^[60]
• John Cameron Mitchell – director, writer, and actor^[61]
• Janet Mock – TV host, writer, and transgender rights activist^[62]
• Indya Moore – transgender actress and model^[63]
• Lauren Morelli – screenwriter^[64]
• Cynthia Nixon – actress^[65]
• Stacie Passon – director, screenwriter, and producer^[66]
• Patrik-Ian Polk – director, screenwriter, and producer^[67]
• Zachary Quinto – actor and producer^[68]
• Dee Rees – director, screenwriter, and producer^[69]
• Yoruba Richen – documentary filmmaker^[70]
• Mj Rodriguez – transgender actress^[71]
• Harmony Santana – transgender actress^[72]
• Greta Schiller – documentary filmmaker^[73]
• John Waters – director, actor, and writer^[74][75]
• Rutina Wesley – actress^[76]
• Samira Wiley – actress and model^[77]
• Bowen Yang – writer and actor, Saturday Night Live^[78]

Law

• Paul Feinman – the first openly gay judge confirmed to the New York State Court of Appeals, in June 2017^[79]

Literature

• Ellis Avery – late author^[80]
• James Beard – late culinary author and chef^[81]
• Bruce Benderson – author^[82]
• Jennifer Finney Boylan – trans author and journalist^[83]
• Augusten Burroughs – author, memoirist^[84]
• Regie Cabico – poet and spoken-word artist^[85]
• Michael Cunningham – author^[86]
• Nicole Dennis-Benn – author^[87]
• Mark Doty – poet and memoirist^[88]
• Martin Duberman – biographer and historian^[89]
• Grace Dunham – author^[90]
• David Ebershoff – author and editor^[91]
• Allen Ginsberg – late poet, philosopher, and writer^[92]
• Paul Lisicky – author and memoirist^[88]
• Jaime Manrique – poet, essayist, and translator^[93]
• Eric Marcus – author^[94]
• Darnell L. Moore - author^[95]
• Lesléa Newman – author and editor^[96]
• Rakesh Satyal – author^[97]
• Ariel Schrag – cartoonist and television writer^[98]
• Sarah Schulman – author^[99]
• Susan Sontag – late writer, filmmaker, philosopher, teacher, and political activist^[100][101]
• Charles Silverstein – author, therapist, and gay activist^[102]
• Colm Tóibín – author, journalist, critic^[103]
• Ocean Vuong – poet, essayist^[104]
• Edmund White – author, critic, and memoirist^[105]

Media

• Yashar Ali – journalist, New York magazine^[106]
• Jack Anderson – dance critic and author^[107]
• Rose Arce – journalist and producer^[108]
• Josh Barro – journalist and senior editor, Business Insider^[109][110]
• Charles Blow – visual op-ed columnist, The New York Times^[111]
• Keith Boykin – syndicated columnist^[112]
• Ben Brantley – journalist and chief theater critic,The New York Times^[113]
• Frank Bruni – journalist and op-ed columnist, The New York Times^[114]
• Sam Champion – meteorologist and television weather anchor^[115]
• Andy Cohen – television personality^[116]
• Anderson Cooper – journalist and television anchor, CNN^[117]
• Angela Dimayuga – food critic for The New York Times,^[118] chef
• George Dorris – editor and writer^[107]
• David W. Dunlap – journalist, The New York Times^[119]
• Ronan Farrow – journalist and lawyer^[120]
• Stephanie Gosk – journalist, NBC News^[121]
• Perez Hilton – blogger^[122]
• Sally Kohn – journalist, political commentator^[123]
• Steve Kornacki – writer and political correspondent with NBC News^[124]
• Don Lemon – journalist and television anchor, CNN^[125]
• Rachel Maddow – journalist and television anchor, MSNBC^[126]
• Adam Moss – writer and editor, New York magazine^[127]
• Michael Musto – journalist^[128]
• Jim Nelson – editor, GQ magazine^[129]
• Rosie O'Donnell – television personality^[130]
• Robin Roberts – journalist and television anchor, Good Morning America^[131]
• Thomas Roberts – TV journalist and news anchor^[132]
• Nate Silver – writer, statistician, and founder/editor of FiveThirtyEight^[133]
• Shepard Smith – journalist and television anchor, Fox News^[134]
• Andy Towle – blogger, political commentator, and founder of Towleroad^[135]
• Jann Wenner – co-founder and publisher, Rolling Stone^[136]
• Jenna Wolfe – journalist and TV news host^[137]

Music

• Michael Alig – musician, club promoter^[138]
• Mykki Blanco – transgender rapper, performance artist, poet, and activist^[139]
• Mal Blum – singer and songwriter^[140]
• Dai Burger – rapper^[141]
• Cazwell – rapper^[142]
• Lady Gaga – singer and songwriter^[143]
• Angel Haze – rapper and songwriter^[144]
• DJ Keoki – electronic musician^[145]
• Cakes da Killa – rapper^[146]
• House of Ladosha – rap duo (Antonio Blair and Adam Radakovich) and artistic collective^[147]
• Le1f – rapper and producer^[148]
• Jonte' Moaning – singer, songwriter, dancer, and choreographer^[149]
• Adult Mom – singer and songwriter^[150]
• Princess Nokia – rapper and musician^[151]
• Jake Shears – singer and songwriter^[152]
• Will Sheridan – singer and musician^[153]
• St. Vincent – singer-songwriter, musician^[154]
• Brad Walsh – singer and music producer^[155]

Nightlife

Ballroom

• Erickatoure Aviance – ballroom performer (House of Aviance)^[156]
• Kevin Aviance – drag queen and performance artist (House of Aviance)^[157]
• Mother Juan Aviance – ballroom performer (founder of the House of Aviance)^[158]
• Crystal LaBeija – late drag queen (founder of the House of LaBeija)^[159]
• Pepper LaBeija – late drag queen and fashion designer (House of LaBeija)^[160]
• Leiomy Maldonado – transgender ballroom performer (House of Amazon)^[161]
• Willi Ninja – late ballroom performer known as "the godfather of voguing" (founder of the House of Ninja)^[162][163]
• Hector Xtravaganza – late dancer, choreographer, and voguer (House of Xtravaganza)^[164]
• Venus Xtravaganza – late transgender performer and voguer (House of Xtravaganza)^[165]

Drag

• Acid Betty – drag queen (contestant on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[166]
• Aja – drag queen and rapper^[167]
• Aquaria – drag queen and performance artist (winner of the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[168]
• Joey Arias – drag queen and performance artist^[169]
• Bob the Drag Queen – drag queen and performance artist (winner of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[170]
• Lady Bunny – drag queen and founder Wigstock event^[171]
• Shuga Cain – drag queen (contestant on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[172]
• Jiggly Caliente – transgender singer, actress, activist, and drag queen (contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[173]
• Miz Cracker – drag queen (contestant on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[174]
• Honey Davenport – activist, singer, and drag queen (contestant on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[175]
• Sahara Davenport – late singer and drag queen (contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[176]
• Bianca Del Rio – drag queen (winner of the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[177]
• Dallas DuBois (Daniel Logan) – former drag queen^[178]
• John Epperson – drag queen, writer, musician, and performance artist known as Lypsinka^[179]
• Miss Fame – drag queen (contestant on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[180][181]
• Brita Filter – drag queen, actor, star of Shade: Queens of NYC^[182]
• Yuhua Hamasaki – drag queen (contestant on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[183]
• Murray Hill – drag king and performance artist^[184]
• Hedda Lettuce – drag queen and singer^[185]
• Manila Luzon – drag queen (contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)^[186][187]
• Alexis Michelle – singer and drag queen (contestant on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[188]
• Milk – drag performer and fashion model^[189]
• Pearl – drag queen (contestant on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[181][190]
• Peppermint – drag queen and star of Head Over Heels^[191]
• Shequida – drag artist, writer, and opera singer^[177]
• Paige Turner – drag performer^[192]
• Sasha Velour – drag performer (winner of the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)^[193]
• Sherry Vine – drag queen and musician^[194]
• Monét X Change – drag queen (winner of the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)^[195]

Other

• Juliana Huxtable – transgender performer, artist, and writer^[196]
• Amanda Lepore – transgender performance artist^[197]
• Klaus Nomi – late countertenor and nightlife performance artist^[198][199]

Performance arts

Dance

• Bill T. Jones – dancer and choreographer^[200]
• Shen Wei – choreographer, artist, and director^[201]

Theatre

• Michael Arden – director, actor, and singer^[202]
• Jon Robin Baitz – playwright, screenwriter, and producer^[203]
• Anne Bogart – director^[204]
• David Burtka – Broadway and television actor, chef^[205]
• Jenn Colella – actress^[206]
• Roberta Colindrez – actress and writer^[207]
• Quentin Crisp – late stage actor, raconteur, and writer^[208]
• Robin de Jesús – actor^[209]
• Richard Greenberg – playwright and screenwriter^[210][211]
• Jonathan Groff – Broadway and television actor, co-star, "Glee"^[212]
• Jeremy O. Harris – actor and playwright^[213]
• Neil Patrick Harris – Broadway and television actor, producer, singer, comedian, magician, and television host^[205]
• Brian Hutchison – actor^[214][215]
• Cheyenne Jackson – actor and singer^[216]
• Larry Kramer – playwright, author, producer, and LGBT rights advocate^[217]
• Tony Kushner – playwright and screenwriter^[218]
• Matteo Lane – comedian^[219]
• Nathan Lane – actor and comedian^[220]
• Joe Mantello – director and actor^[203]
• Keith McDermott – actor, director and memoirist^[221]
• Danny McWilliams – actor and comedian^[222]
• Andy Mientus – actor, Broadway musicals^[223]
• Javier Muñoz – actor, singer, and HIV/AIDS activist^[224]
• Rory O'Malley – actor and singer^[225]
• Lee Pace – actor^[226]
• Jim Parsons – Broadway and television actor, co-star, The Big Bang Theory^[227]
• Billy Porter – actor and singer^[228]
• Andrew Rannells – actor and singer^[229]
• Jordan Roth – majority owner, Jujamcyn Theaters on Broadway^[230]
• Wesley Taylor – actor and writer^[231]
• Taylor Trensch – actor^[232]
• Jeff Whitty – playwright and actor^[233]

Politics

• Jimmy Van Bramer – Majority Leader of the New York City Council^[234]
• Thomas Duane – the first openly gay member of the New York State Senate, in which he served from 1999 to 2012^[235]
• Daniel Dromm – member of the New York City Council^[236]
• Sarah Kate Ellis – CEO, GLAAD
• Deborah J. Glick – member of the New York State Assembly, the 66th Assembly District in Manhattan^[237]
• Brad Hoylman – Democratic Senator for the New York State Senate in Manhattan's 27th district^[238]
• Corey Johnson – member of the New York City Council^[239]
• Carlos Menchaca – member of the New York City Council^[240]
• Rosie Mendez – former member of the New York City Council^[241]
• Daniel J. O'Donnell – member of the New York State Assembly, the 69th district in Manhattan^[242]
• Christine Quinn – former Speaker of the New York City Council^[243]
• Matthew Titone – member of the New York State Assembly from the 61st District, on Staten Island^[244]
• Ritchie Torres – member of the New York City Council^[245]
• James Vacca – member of the New York City Council^[246]
• Randi Weingarten – president, American Federation of Teachers^[247]

Social activism

• Brian Ellner – LGBT rights activist and executive vice president for public affairs at Edelman^[248]

Sports

• Brian Anderson – skateboarder^[249]

Visual arts

• Cass Bird – photographer and artist^[250]
• Andrew Bolton – head curator, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute^[12]
• Anthony Goicolea – artist chosen in June 2017 to design the official New York State LGBT monument^[251]
• Keith Haring – late artist^[252]
• Annie Leibovitz – photographer^[253]
• Robert Mapplethorpe – late photographer^[254]
• Todd Oldham – designer^[255]
• Carter Smith – fashion photographer^[256]
• Andy Warhol – late artist^[257]