While we all know iconic gay couples like Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, or Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka, we may have forgotten the LGBTQ couples of yore. That’s right — before Elton John and David Furnish, or Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor — there were the queer couples that didn’t make it. Journey with us to revisit some famous gay couples that broke up that you have forgotten were even together.
Sarah Paulson and Cherry Jones
Currently, actress Sarah Paulson is dating fellow actress Holland Taylor. However, before becoming half of that power couple, Sarah Paulson dated actress Cherry Jones. As you may have noticed, it seems Sarah Paulson has a bit of a thing for older ladies.
This gay couple dated from 2004 to 2009, and had an amicable split. Cherry Jones went on to marry filmmaker Sophie Huber in 2015. Also that year, Sarah Paulson started dating her current partner, Holland Taylor.
Cara Delevingne and Michelle Rodriguez
Some people appear on this list several times, including English supermodel and actress Cara Delevingne. The stunning celeb has dated a host of attractive fellow stars. One of those was American actress Michelle Rodriguez, who is bi.
These two dated back in 2014, and attracted lots of media attention with their public dates. However, this relationship ended because the then 21-year-old Delevingne wanted to party, while 35-year-old Rodriguez wanted to settle down.
Kristen Stewart and Stella Maxwell
Another celeb that appears more than once on this list is actress Kristen Stewart. Likewise, her former girlfriend, model Stella Maxwell, also makes a few appearances. This pair dated from 2016 to 2018, and then again briefly in 2019. Kristen Stewart is bi, while Maxwell identifies as queer.
While speaking about her preferences, Kristen Stewart has commented that being part of the LGBTQ community has affected her career. She shared that she was warned not to be in public with a girlfriend.
Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson
As with most things Lindsay Lohan does, there was a tabloid frenzy when the star started dating English DJ Samantha Ronson. Child star turned party girl Lohan started dating Ronson in 2008, and the pair co-hosted events together.
This relationship didn’t last long, and Lohan has since claimed that she doesn’t identify as bi. On the other hand, Ronson, who was often described in media as a lesbian, is bi. Looking back, the DJ said that the intense paparazzi following affected the pair’s relationship.
Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry
This pair haven’t been separated for long, but many people don’t know that Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry were in a long term relationship. The actress and singer started seeing the 4 Non Blondes frontwoman, Linda Perry, in 2011, following the end of a long term relationship.
Several years later, this couple had tied the knot and were welcoming their son, Rhodes Emilio Gilbert. Sadly, four years after that, Sara Gilbert and Linda Perry filed for a legal separation.
Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche
Now known as the other half of one of the most high profile gay couples in the world, Ellen DeGeneres did date before marrying Portia de Rossi. Hard to believe! When Ellen came out as a lesbian in 1997, she faced intense media scrutiny. That same year, she started dating actress Anne Heche.
Anne and Ellen were together for three years, before Anne reportedly left Ellen to marry one of the cameramen from DeGeneres’ comedy tour. Like Lindsay Lohan, Anne Heche didn’t date any other women.
Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels
Grammy and Oscar Award winner Melissa Etheridge publicly came out as a lesbian in 1993. Shortly after that, she got married and had kids with filmmaker Julie Cypher. Then, some years after that relationship ended, the singer started dating actress Tammy Lynn Michaels.
Melissa and Tammy were together from 2002 to 2010. The couple has twin boys — Johnnie Rose, and Miller Steven. Though they did have a commitment ceremony in 2003, this gay couple broke up before tying the knot.
Ruby Rose and Phoebe Dahl
Actress Ruby Rose came out as gay when she was 12 years old, and now identifies as genderfluid. Back in 2014, the actress revealed that she was engaged to fashion designer Phoebe Dahl. Sadly, within a year, the couple had called the whole thing off.
English designer Phoebe Dahl is the grandchild of author Roald Dahl and American actress Patricia Neal. Since her split from Ruby Rose, she has been in a relationship with DJ and model Tatiana de Leon.
B.D. Wong and Richie Jackson
Tony Award winning actor B.D. Wong is now married to Richert John Frederickson Schnorr, but before that, he dated talent agent Richie Jackson. This gay couple were in a long term relationship, dating from 1988 until 2004. Since splitting, the pair still co-parent their son, Jackson Foo Wong.
Both B.D. Wong and Richie Jackson have since remarried. Richie Jackson married Broadway producer Jordan Roth, and together they have a son. Wong and Jackson’s son, Jackson, came out as gay at 15.
Zachary Quinto and Miles McMillan
The dashing Zachary Quinto publicly came out back in 2011. He started dating model Miles McMillan in 2013, and after a few years, the couple moved in to their own Manhattan apartment — how chic! Of course, the celebs also had a home in Upstate New York.
This relationship came to the end of the road in 2019. Miles McMillan moved on with interior designer Trace Lehnhoff, but Quinto is yet to be spotted with someone new. Somehow, we have no doubt that he’ll find someone.
Teddy Geiger and Emily Hampshire
American singer Teddy Geiger came out as trans in 2017. The star was engaged to Canadian actress Emily Hampshire, but sadly, this LGBTQ pairing just didn’t last. Despite having what looked like a very happy relationship on Instagram, these two called it quits within months of putting a ring on it.
Emily Hampshire is open to dating people of any gender or orientation, though she hasn’t dated any other high profile figures. Likewise, Teddy Geiger hasn’t yet been spotted out and about with anyone else.
Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani
Descendent of the Vanderbilt family, journalist Anderson Cooper came out as gay in 2012. In doing so, he became the most well-known gay journalist on American television. It’s unclear exactly when Anderson Cooper and French nightclub owner Benjamin Maisani started dating, but they called things off in 2018.
Maisani spoke about keeping the relationship private in 2014, saying he never wanted to be a celebrity. However, since Cooper welcomed a son in 2020, Maisani has stepped in to co-parent.
Gus Kenworthy and Matt Wilkas
Our next ill-fated (but very handsome) gay couple is British actor and YouTuber Guy Kenworthy, and American actor Matt Wilkas. Kenworthy — a professional skier — came out in 2015 in an ESPN interview. These two dated for three years, between 2015 and 2019.
Interestingly, when Wilkas kissed his then boyfriend at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, and it was broadcast live, it became a significant moment for LGBTQ athletes. Since their split, neither of these handsome chaps has been linked with anyone else.
Tessa Thompson and Janelle Monáe
Some may have heard the recent speculation about actress Tessa Thompson’s relationships with director Taika Waititi, singer Rita Ora, and model Zac Stenmark, after some interesting pictures emerged online. But before that, all the speculation was on the star’s relationship with singer Janelle Monáe (and Lupita Nyong’o and Brie Larson).
Technically, these two never admitted their relationship, but they didn’t exactly hide it either. Speaking about Monáe, Thompson famously remarked, “We love each other deeply. We’re so close, we vibrate on the same frequency.”
Adam Lambert and Javi Costa Polo
Singer Adam Lambert has been heavily involved in LGBTQ activism throughout his career. While he was formerly in a long term relationship with Finnish TV personality Sauli Koskinen, after that, he briefly dated model Javi Costa Polo.
The cute couple shared lots of selfies on Instagram, but didn’t last longer than a year because Costa Polo had to return to his native Spain. He wrote on Instagram, “I will always have him and he will always have me. Sadly, I’m not a citizen of the United States.”
Ross Mathews and Salvador Camarena
TV personality and reality TV regular Ross Mathews is currently engaged to Dr. Wellington Garcia. However, the openly gay star did have a 10-year relationship prior to that, with stylist Salvador Camarena.
This gay couple dated from 2008 to 2018. The split was pretty was pretty amicable, with Mathews saying, “As we go forward, each of us feels as if he has a cheerleader in our corner — a family member for life. We are happy. Thank you all for your well wishes and love.”
Sam Smith and Brandon Flynn
Multi-award winning English singer songwriter Sam Smith came out as gay in 2014. The “Stay With Me” singer later came out as genderqueer, and then as non-binary in 2017. When he was speaking with Ellen DeGeneres that same year, the star revealed that he was dating openly gay actor Brandon Flynn.
This celebrity gay couple lasted only nine months, breaking up in 2018. After the breakup, like so many of us do, Sam Smith deleted all of his pictures with his ex.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Zachary Quinto
We’ve already taken a look at actor Zachary Quinto’s dating history, but did you know that he also apparently dated actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson? That’s right — though Ferguson is now happily married to lawyer Justin Mikita, it’s rumored that he briefly dated Quinto.
For his part, Jesse Tyler Ferguson has denied the rumors. He has said, “Zachary Quinto and I never dated, but the report makes us happy because we love each other — as friends.” Whatever you say guys!
Megan Rapinoe and Sera Cahoone
US soccer star Megan Rapinoe came out as a lesbian when she was in college. Later, she publicly came out again, revealing her long term relationship with another soccer player. However, after that, the pro athlete was in a relationship with singer-songwriter Sera Cahoone.
This couple was pretty serious and announced that they were engaged in 2015. However, by 2017, the couple confirmed that their wedding plans were on hold. That same year, Rapinoe announced that she was in a relationship with fellow athlete Sue Bird.
Ashley Benson and Cara Delevingne
It’s time to check in with model Cara Delevingne again! So far, we’ve seen the star with actress Michele Rodriguez, but who else has she dated? Well, from 2018 to 2020, the striking star was in a relationship with American actress Ashley Benson.
Speaking about their relationship, Delevingne gushed, “It’s so nice to have someone in my life that supports me so much and loves me.” Since their split, Ashely Benson was in a relationship with American rapper G-Eazy.
Heather Matarazzo and Carolyn Murphy
American actress Heather Matazarro first announced her engagement to musician Carolyn Murphy in 2008. However, several years later it was reported that the couple had called it quits. Sadly, this couple wanted to get married in California, but it wasn’t then legal.
To get around California’s laws, the couple moved to New York, but they unfortunately split before making it up the aisle. Since then, Heather Matarazzo has married comedian and writer Heather Turman.
Antoni Porowski and Joey Krietemeyer
Member of the Fab Five, Antoni Porowski might not have been on your relationship radar for some time. For a while, Porowski and his co-star, Jonathan Van Ness, made out that they were in a relationship, posting romantic pics on their joint Instagram account. However, it turned out that @jvntoni was just for fun. What a shame!
While he’s currently dating businessman Kevin Harrington, Antoni Porowski previously dated businessman Joey Krietemeyer. This relationship lasted seven years, ending in 2018.
T.R. Knight and Mark Cornelsen
The wonderful George O’Malley, otherwise known as actor T. R. Knight, faced some issues when he publicly came out. The actor felt that his decision affected his acting career, and caused friction with some of his colleagues.
Though he’s now married to ballet dancer Patrick B. Leahy, T.R. Knight was in a committed relationship before that. The star was in a relationship with Mark Cornelsen for two years, but they broke up when Knight wanted to adopt a child.
Portia de Rossi and Francesca Gregorini
Though she’s now most associated with her famous wife Ellen DeGeneres, Portia de Rossi did have a love life before tying the knot. The Australian-American actress dated Italian director Francesca Gregorini between 2001 and 2004, though her family and coworkers didn’t know she was a lesbian at the time.
Francesca Gregorini is the daughter of actress Barbara Bach and the step-daughter of Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. This relationship actually fell apart when de Rossi first met Ellen DeGeneres backstage at an awards show.
Ellen DeGeneres and Alexandra Hedison
Around the same time, comedian and actress Ellen DeGeneres was dating photographer Alexandra Hedison. The couple was together between 2000 and 2004, and ended when DeGeneres met her future wife.
As we know, DeGeneres and de Rossi have been happily married for some time now. Meanwhile, Alexandra Hedison started dating actress Jodie Foster in 2013, and the pair tied the knot after just one year. It looks like everyone involved in this lesbian love square came out alright in the end.
