While the average person never questions their sexuality during their life, some mega famous celebrities have discovered the fluidity of their own sexuality. From sharing an innocuous kiss with a member of the same sex to having a full-blown affair, these queer women have felt their sexuality shift while in the public eye. This discovery was so severe, they even had once been married to men! Here are 13 lesbian and queer female celebrities who had a husband before coming out.
13. Billie Jean King
Argued by many as the best female professional tennis player of all time, Billie Jean King ruled the tennis world in the late 60s. In between dominating her sport with Grand Slam victories and championships, she married Larry King, one of the founders of World Team Tennis. Billie Jean credited Larry as her introduction into both feminism and making tennis a profession. “[Billie Jean] was totally in love with Larry” when they got married. By the end of the 60s, however, Billie Jean realized she was attracted to women, and pursued an intimate relationship with her secretary, Mary Barnett. Although she wanted the relationship to remain a secret, Billie Jean had to acknowledge her sexuality when it came out during a 1981 palimony lawsuit filed by Barnett. Consequently, Billie Jean King became the first prominent professional athlete to come out.