Ricky Martin, Kieron Richardson, Joe
McElderry, Sean Hayes, Ken Mehlman and Jim Swilley are among the men
whose coming out gay made headlines in 2010.
The list, compiled
by gay male entertainment website AfterElton.com, also includes
Italian pop star Tiziano Ferro, Paranormal State host Ryan
Buell, New Zealand speed skater Blake Skjellerup, Vampire Weekend
keyboardist Rostam Batmanglij and Real World: DC alum Mike
Manning.
International pop star Ricky Martin's
March announcement was the start of a comeback career for the former
Menudo star. Martin
used the news to help him launch his memoir, titled Me, and an
upcoming studio album.
Also in March, Sean Hayes confirmed
he's gay in a cover story for gay glossy The Advocate. The
Will & Grace alum defiantly said he was never obligated to
reveal his sexual orientation.
Babyfaced Joseph “Joe” McElderry,
who won the sixth season of the UK's singing and talent contest The
X Factor, told
UK tabloid The Sun that he was “proud” to be gay after he
had denied such rumors.
Ken Mehlman came out gay to fundraise
for the group behind the legal challenge to California's gay marriage
ban. But the former RNC chief's August announcement drew cheers
and jeers.
Twenty-four-year-old
UK soap star Kieron Richardson announced he's gay on an early morning
television show.
And
a prominent pastor's October announcement to his congregation that
he's gay put Jim Swilley in the media spotlight for weeks.