Ben Whishaw Comes Out .... Raven-Symoné, Too

Ben Whishaw has always been one of those actors who value their privacy, and rarely, if ever, has spoken about his personal life. But sometimes the news is so good you want to shout it from a rooftop.

Whishaw is out and proud, and has entered into a civil partnership with his partner, Australian composer Mark Bradshaw.

The two men met on the set of Jane Campion’s 2009 film Bright Star, where Whishaw played John Keats and Bradshaw composed the score. Whishaw was last seen as the quirky, nerdy tech wizard in the last Bond film, Skyfall.

Whishaw’s sexual orientation has been the subject of internet debate in recent years, sparked by an interview he gave to Out magazine last year while playing a homosexual character in an off-Broadway play, The Pride. When asked whether it was important for young gay people to have positive role models, Whishaw replied: ‘I feel in my heart that it’s important, but I don’t quite know yet the way to go about that. Maybe that’s the transitional thing I feel I’m in the middle of at the moment.’

Now, however, he wants to share the news: he’s a gay man.

And as such, he will be receiving a copy of the Gay Agenda as well as the obligatory Coming Out Toaster Oven.

Welcome out, Ben; I found you delicious in Skyfall and wondered about you ….

Welcome out.

Raven-Symoné has been dodging questions about her sexuality for a few years now because, well, it’s no one’s business. Last year, the National Enquirer printed a story saying she was gay, and Raven responded:

“I’m living my PERSONAL life the way I’m happiest. I’m not one, in my 25 year career to disclose who I’m dating. And I shall not start now. My sexual orientation is mine, and the person I’m dating to know. I’m not one for a public display of my life. However that is my right as a HUMAN BEing whether straight or gay. To tell or not to tell. As long as I’m not harming anyone. I am a light being made from love. And my career is the only thing I would like to put on display, not my personal life. Kisses!”

But now, I guess since the DOMA Death and the Prop H8 Smackdown, Raven is ready to tell the world, by Tweeting:

She says she’s not getting married anytime soon, but “it is great to know I can now, should I wish to.”

Welcome out, Raven.

And, as soon as we get the presses back up and running here at HOMO HQ, we’ll be sending a copy of the Gay Agenda—which is simple: equality—along with the Coming Out Toaster Oven.

It doesn’t matter when, or how, or where, you come out, it just matters that you do.

Welcome out.