When I was growing up there were little to no famous lesbians that I knew about. Sure, I’d heard about some woman in America called Ellen, but that was it. But now there are so many more lesbian role models for young girls (and old girls).
From singers to politicians and actresses to sportswomen, here are just some of the most famous and incredible lesbian role models from the UK and America:
Ellen DeGeneres
The most well known lesbian, everyone knows who she is because she was the first main character to come out as gay in her sitcom in 1997. Plus she has a banging range of suits.
Sandi Toksvig
A brilliant writer, presenter and all round funny woman from the UK.
Clare Balding
Sports presenter and commentator, loves horses and is often seen sniffing around the Olympics.
Sue Perkins
Ex Bake Off TV presenter, one half of Mel & Sue and all round funny writer and performer who has an incredible tomboy style.
Abby Wambach & Megan Rapinoe
Two American football/soccer players and writers who are hot, butch, stylish and just amazing in everyway. They also do a lot of social activism.
Jodie Foster
Actress from lots of films including The Silence of The Lambs and Panic Room. Very into yoga and being all zen.
Brandi Carlile
A country (ish) singer and songwriter who is just the most beautiful and incredible woman. I listen to her more than my own wife and if Brandi ever leaves that very ugly wife of hers then… well…. I’m not sure what will happen but she’s my favourite lesbian and let’s just leave it at that.
Rosie O’Donnell
Big in the USA, Rosie is an actress, presenter, comedian and general awesome woman. One of the original lesbian comedians.
Portia De Rossi
An Aussie actress who is married to Ellen and who is super femme, proving you can be as feminine and makeup-loving as you want, and still be a lesbian.
Val McDermid
Scottish author of a ridiculous number of best selling books. The woman is a machine when it comes to writing. I’d also like to go to the pub with her. She seems like a good egg.
Sarah Waters
Another lesbian writer, one that I have been to the pub with. Well, ok it was more that I was in the same lesbian bar that she was in, but still, she’s written some of the all time lesbian classics. E.g. Tipping the velvet.
Samira Wiley & Lea DeLaria
Actresses from Orange is The New Black. One’s black, one’s white, one’s femme, one’s butch but they are both brilliant ladies from a fantastic TV show.
Sarah Paulson
Another lesbian actress, Sarah Paulson has been in lots of stuff, my favourite being The People v. O. J. Simpson drama. She seems like she’d also be great at the pub.
Hayley Kiyoko
American singer and songwriter, is a big fan of colours and makeup, her fans call her “lesbian Jesus”, which although lovely, does sound like quite a lot of pressure…
Jojo Siwa
American Youtuber, Nickelodeon star and general rainbow-on-acid, Jojo Siwa came out in 2021. Some lesbians have short hair and only ever wear dark colours and thankfully Jojo has come along to balance all of that out.
Ruby Rose
An Aussie actress who would look good wearing a dirty bin bag. She was in Batwoman and is sometimes femme, butch, tomboy and gorgeous all at the same time. I hate her…
Lily Tomlin
This comedian and actress is one of my favourites in this list, she’s been in 9-5 and Grace and Frankie and she’s just the most hippie, jolly and amazingly funny woman.
Katherine Moennig
Another actress, she’s from The L Word and she proves that you can be non-feminine and still be a woman/lesbian. I will be inviting her to my pub outing as well.
Lena Waithe
An American filmmaker and actress, I’ve never seen her before but she’s beautiful and I’ve read that she’s a fantastic spokesperson for black and butch lesbians. Wish I looked that good in a suit.
Kate McKinnon
A gorgeous funny lady from SNL and other films like Ghostbusters. She’s just one of those annoyingly talented, good looking women who I would say is the “Ellen” of today. Kind of.
Hannah Gadsby
A comedian from DAN UNDA, who was made even more successful after her Netflix special, Nanette. She’s a lesbian but only identifies as tired. She also isn’t a fan of the LGBT flag but is a fan of a good suit.
Wanda Sykes & Jane Lynch
Two comedians and actresses from the USA, both very funny and have both featured in my favourite TV show of all time… Will & Grace.
Billie Jean King
An ex-professional tennis player, general amazing woman and social activist. She won “The Battle of the Sexes” and broke endless tennis records.
Martina Navratilova
Another incredible tennis player who fights for women and lesbian rights and has won a stupid amount of trophies. She’s one of the lesbian community’s best people.
Cynthia Nixon
Actress from Sex and The City. Super femme and beautiful plus she ran for governor of New York. (These role models are just amazing, yes they’re singers, actresses and models but they are also activist and politicians pushing for change and progress. Oh stop it, I’m going to cry!)
Ruth Davidson, Kezia Dugdale, Joanna Cherry & Angela Eagle
Just a few of the incredible lesbian politicians from all areas of the political spectrum. You may not agree with all of their politics but these women are such amazing role models for young people showing that gay women can be the leader of a political party. Well you can in Scotland, the rest of the UK needs to catch up.
Nicola Adams
This incredible boxer was the first celebrity to dance in a same sex couple on Strictly Come Dancing and not only is she an incredible athlete but she’s the sweetest smilest person on the telly.
Fiona Shaw
Actress who played Aunt Petunia and that hilarious woman from Killing Eve, Fiona Shaw seems like the most amazing woman to talk to and her wife, Sonali Deraniyagala, is a writer who has the most heart-breaking and incredible story.
Miriam Margolyes
A most insane, crazy and ridiculously wonderful actress who doesn’t take any crap from anyone, she is very much an honest person who is funny and very inspiring when it comes to not taking life or people too seriously.
KD Lang
A true iconic lesbian singer from a few years ago. My friend watched an entire interview with her on The Graham Norton Show and she didn’t believe that she wasn’t a man. Remember people, you can be butch, masculine and oh so manly and still be a woman/lesbian.
Melissa Etheridge
An American country singer, songwriter and activist, I’ve only just started to listen and learn about her but what I can tell so far is that she makes cracking music, is a good egg and can also come to the pub with the other lesbos I’ve mentioned.
Gina Yashere
Gina is a funny lady from the UK who has been on the UK comedy circuit for quite a few years. She’s recently branched out in the US where she’s just doing ridiculous well and has 3 Netflix specials.
Liz Carr
This comedian, actress and disability activist is most famous in the UK for staring in Silent Witness where her sarcastic facial expressions and reactions are very funny!
DISCLAIMER: This list of women are who I believe have publicly identified themselves as lesbians. This list was created in December 2020 and was believed to be correct at the time of publishing. If the list is incorrect or missing some totally fabulous lesbian please let me know.
(I do not own the copyright to any images)
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16 comments
There’s also Sophie Ward, the actress.
Oh yeah! ooh there’s also Fiona Shaw
Kristen Stewart is bi…
Jeanette Winterson – Author of Oranges are not the Only Fruit.
kd lang.
Great idea! Thankyou. We need this.
Oh yeah, oh how could I forget them!
Kd lang and Clare Teal, two fab singers with terrific voices and great style
I haven’t heard of Clare Teal, but how could I forget KD Lang!
Zoie Palmer (Lost Girl) and British actress Liz Carr (Silent Witness )
Thank you so much for this! I’m 63 years young and still need role models!
Ahh I fear I will always need role models as well 😀
I know at least a couple of them identify as “men” now. It’s absolutely devastating what’s happening to the lesbian community. I reckon a lot of lesbians are identifying as men, because according to gender ideology they’ll then be safe from sexual attention from straight trans women, who don’t want to take “I’m not into penis” as an answer.
Peggy Seeger – folk singer, activist, peace campaigner
Alix Dobkin – the original “Every Woman Can Be a Lesbian” lesbian singer, and the whole gang of political out lesbian musicians from the 70s and 80s – Meg Christian, Chris Williamson, Ronnie Gilbert, Holly Near
Melissa Etheridge
Gina Yashere – fabulous woman and comedian!
Ooo Gina had disappeared from UK telly recently so didn’t know she was still doing comedy, turns out she’s doing big things in the US! Added her now. Thanks 😀
[…] Ellen DeGeneres is obviously the lesbian queen, and then we have Jodie Foster, Sue Perkins, Claire Balding and Sandi Toksvig who are all next in line to the throne. You can find a list of lots of other famous lesbians here. […]
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