Lesbian Celebs Who Dated Men Publicly for Decades

For years, many lesbian celebrities felt pressured to appear straight, often maintaining long-term, public relationships with men to meet industry standards or protect their privacy. While these relationships were often publicized, their true feelings remained hidden. Eventually, many of these women came forward to share their stories, explaining why they kept their personal lives private. Their experiences show how challenging it used to be to balance fame with being true to themselves, and how difficult it was to navigate public image versus personal truth.

Jodie Foster

For many years, Jodie Foster maintained a public dating life with men while carefully guarding her personal relationships. Early in her career, she discussed boyfriends in interviews, which helped create a certain public image, encouraged by the studio. She largely avoided talking about her private life, allowing people to assume things about her. It wasn’t until much later that she openly shared details about her partner and family.

Ellen DeGeneres

Looking back, it’s incredible to think about what Ellen had to do before she could be openly herself. She actually went on dates with men, and the tabloids happily reported on it, painting this picture of a straight woman. It wasn’t that she wasn’t being genuine, but people around her – industry experts, really – thought she needed to maintain that image to succeed on mainstream TV. They honestly believed a ‘normal’ dating life would protect her career. But when she finally came out, it was a huge moment – a real turning point for LGBTQ+ representation in entertainment, and I was so proud of her for being so brave.

Wanda Sykes

For years, Wanda Sykes talked about having boyfriends and appeared with men at public events before openly coming out as gay. As a comedian building her career, being openly lesbian could have been a risk to wider recognition. Presenting a heterosexual image helped her navigate a less accepting time. These choices influenced how people understood her personal life, and she later revealed her true self while becoming a voice for LGBTQ+ rights.

Meredith Baxter

Meredith Baxter was married to men for many years, and this was well-known to the public, especially those who watched her on TV. These relationships led people to believe she was heterosexual, and were often featured in magazines and on TV. At the time, it wasn’t common for the media to talk openly about same-sex attraction. Later in life, she shared her own story to help others feel more comfortable and less isolated.

Lily Tomlin

For many years, Lily Tomlin attended work events with male friends and coworkers, carefully avoiding questions about her personal life. Because of these appearances, the media often assumed she was dating men. She kept her private life guarded, which was a strategic decision because openly identifying as lesbian could have harmed her career. Early interviews frequently mentioned male companions, fitting the expectations of the time. Eventually, she publicly confirmed her long-term relationship with her partner.

Cynthia Nixon

Before she publicly acknowledged her relationship with a woman, Cynthia Nixon had been openly dating men for years. The media often covered these relationships, presenting a conventional image of her personal life as a television star. These partnerships were a regular topic in celebrity news and interviews. Later, she spoke about her experiences to highlight the fact that sexuality is often complicated and deeply individual.

Holland Taylor

For much of Holland Taylor’s career, she was seen as a private actress who primarily discussed her relationships with men, both at events and in interviews. This contributed to a public image of her as someone who followed traditional dating patterns. Back then, the entertainment industry wasn’t very accepting of openly discussing same-sex relationships, and this allowed Holland to maintain her privacy and work without unnecessary attention. Eventually, she began to share more about her relationship and personal life.

Portia de Rossi

For many years, Portia de Rossi presented a public image of dating men, a pattern heavily covered by the entertainment media as her career grew. These relationships served as a way to avoid personal questions about her private life. The entertainment industry encouraged her to maintain this carefully constructed image of heterosexual dating. Later, she spoke about the difficulties she experienced and ultimately lived openly as her true self.

Sarah Paulson

Early in her career, Sarah Paulson was often seen with male partners, and media coverage focused on these relationships. This created a public image of her as being heterosexual, which was common for young actresses trying to become successful. The press regularly reported on her dates with men without suggesting anything different. Later, she felt comfortable being open about her personal life, which allowed her to build a career while being true to herself.

Maria Bello

For years, Maria Bello openly dated men, and the media frequently covered her relationships. This created a public image of her personal life and was typical for celebrities at the time. Maintaining this traditional romantic storyline also helped her career in film and TV. However, there wasn’t much room to explore other aspects of her identity. Later, she wrote a personal essay to explain the complexities of her experiences and connect with others who might feel similarly.

2025-11-15 09:17