This is a partial list of notable people who were or are gay men, lesbian or bisexual.

The historical concept and definition of sexual orientation varies and has changed greatly over time; for example the general term "gay" wasn't used to describe sexual orientation until the mid 20th century. A number of different classification schemes have been used to describe sexual orientation since the mid-19th century, and scholars have often defined the term "sexual orientation" in divergent ways. Indeed, several studies have found that much of the research about sexual orientation has failed to define the term at all, making it difficult to reconcile the results of different studies. However, most definitions include a psychological component (such as the direction of an individual's erotic desire) and/or a behavioural component (which focuses on the sex of the individual's sexual partner/s). Some prefer to simply follow an individual's self-definition or identity.

The high prevalence of people from the West on this list may be due to societal attitudes towards homosexuality. The Pew Research Center's 2013 Global Attitudes Survey found that there is “greater acceptance in more secular and affluent countries,” with "publics in 39 countries [having] broad acceptance of homosexuality in North America, the European Union, and much of Latin America, but equally widespread rejection in predominantly Muslim nations and in Africa, as well as in parts of Asia and in Russia. Opinion about the acceptability of homosexuality is divided in Israel, Poland and Bolivia.” Americans are divided – a majority (60 percent) believes homosexuality should be accepted, while 33 percent disagree.

I

Name LifetimeEntries with no sourced year of birth available are marked with a "?". Nationality Notable as NotesEntries may also contain a letter indicating Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual. Paul Iacono b. 1988 American Actor G Janis Ian b. 1951 American Singer-songwriter L Eréndira Ibarra b. 1985 Mexican Actor B Xandra Ibarra b. ? American Performance artist LChukwuebuka Ibehb. 2000NigerianWriterG Miquel Iceta b. 1960 Spanish Politician G Youssef Idilbi 1976–2008 Dutch Actor G Marleen van Iersel b. 1988 Dutch Volleyball player LEloy de la Iglesia1944–2006SpanishScreenwriter, film directorG Arnell Ignacio b. 1964 Filipino TV personality, actor, singer B Witi Ihimaera b. 1944 New Zealand Author G Allison Ikley-Freeman b. ? American Politician L Ioannis Ikonomou b. 1964 Greek Translator for the EU G Nnanna Ikpo b. ? Nigerian Novelist GElton Ilirjanib. 1980Albanian–AmericanFashionist, businessmanG Pablo Illanes b. 1973 Chilean Writer, journalist, film director G iLoveMakonnen b. 1989 American Rapper, singer G Silvana Imam b. 1986 Lithuanian-Swedish Rapper L Blair Imani b. 1993 American African-American and Muslim activist, writer L Connie Imboden b. 1953 American Photographer L Per Imerslund 1912–1943 Norwegian Nazi soldier, writer G Facundo Imhoff b. 1989 Argentine Volleyball player G Mark Indelicato b. 1994 American Actor G Gary Indiana 1950–2024 American Writer, actor, artist, cultural critic G Rita Indiana b. 1977 Dominican Author, singer-songwriter L Alvin Ing 1932–2021 American Singer, actor G William Inge 1913–1973 American Playwright, novelist GChipman, Jay Scott. Inge, William Motter (1913–1973) . glbtq.com. Retrieved 1 November 2007. John Inman 1935–2007 English Actor G Vera Int-Veen b. 1967 German TV presenter and producer L Willoughby Ions 1881–1977 American Dramatist L Cemil İpekçi b. 1948 Turkish Fashion designer G Daniela Iraschko-Stolz b. 1983 Austrian Ski jumper LMichael Shields (29 January 2014), Ski jumping-Austria's Iraschko dreams of Olympic flight, Reuters. Percy Irausquin 1969–2008 Aruban-Dutch Fashion designer G Samantha Irby b. 1980 American Comedian, author B Doug Ireland b. 1946 American Journalist, blogger GBoykin, Keith (18 August 2006), Black LGBT Bloggers Flex Their Muscles , keithboykin.com. Retrieved 29 June 2007. Evelyn Irons 1900–2000 Scottish Journalist L Daniel K. Isaac b. 1988 American Actor G Rachel Isaacs b. ? American 1st openly lesbian rabbi ordained by the Conservative movement's Jewish Theological Seminary L Håkan Isacson 1958–2002 Swedish Intelligence agent G Richard Isay b. 1934 American Author, psychiatristG Sharon Isbin b. 1956 American Classical musician L Taiga Ishikawa b. 1974 Japanese Politician, activist G Wataru Ishizaka b. 1976 Japanese Politician, LGBT rights activist G Tania Israel b. 1966 American Psychologist, professor B Sam Irvin b. 1956 American Director G Elisabeth Irwin 1880–1942 American Educator, psychologist, reformer LFaderman, Lillian. To Believe in Women: What Lesbians Have Done for America – A History. Houghton Mifflin Books, 1999. p. 29. Christopher Isherwood 1904–1986 English Author GPeter Parker, Isherwood: A Life (2004). Arturo Islas 1938–1991 American Academic GAldama, Luis Frederick,Dancing With Ghosts: A Critical Biography of Arturo Islas, (University of California Press, 2004). Tari Ito 1951–2021 Japanese Performance artist, activist L Maja Ivarsson b. 1979 Swedish Rock musician (The Sounds) BShapiro, Gregg (20 June 2006), Interview with Maja Ivarsson of The Sounds , AfterEllen.com. Retrieved 3 November 2007. George Cecil Ives 1867–1950 English Poet, writer, penal reformer, gay rights campaigner GMeetup: Today In GLBT History for 30 January. Retrieved 25 May 2008 Rurik Ivnev 1891–1981 Russian Poet, translator G James Ivory b. 1928 American Filmmaker GMerchant Ivory at glbtq.com Jarosław Iwaszkiewicz 1894–1980 Polish Poet, writer B Harish Iyer b. 1979 Indian Activist G Boris Izaguirre b. 1965 Venezuelan Writer GEchaide, María (10 April 2006),Boris Izaguirre: «Acepté mi matrimonio sin fidelidad», 20minutos.es. Retrieved 10 September 2008.

J

Name Lifetime Nationality Notable as Notes Paul Jabara 1948–1992 American Actor, singer-songwriter GSan Vicente, Romeo (12 October 2006), Catherine Keener and Bradley Whitford Commit An American Crime, San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved 10 September 2008. Harold Jackman 1901–1961 British-American Teacher, model, patron of the arts G Brian Keith Jackson b. 1968 American Writer G Cheyenne Jackson b. 1975 American Actor G Colin Jackson b. 1967 Welsh Sprinter, hurdler G Jack Jackson Jr. b. ? American Politician G Joe Jackson b. 1954 English Singer-songwriter, musician B Michael R. Jackson b. ? American Playwright, lyricist and composer G Paris Jackson b. 1998 American Actor, daughter of Michael Jackson B Tony Jackson 1882–1921 American Pianist, singer, composer G Max Jacob 1876–1944 French Poet, painter, writer, critic GEverdell, William R. (1997). The First Moderns: Profiles in the Origins of Twentieth-Century Thought. University of Chicago Press. . Derek Jacobi b. 1938 English Actor, director GJacobi's low-profile partnership contactmusic.com | 20 March 2006. Helen Jacobs 1908–1997 American Professional tennis player LPaid Notice: Deaths JACOBS, HELEN HULL. The New York Times (4 June 1997). Retrieved 10 September 2008. Marc Jacobs b. 1963 American Fashion designer GOxfield, Jesse, Idov, Michael (4 March 2007), ‘Out’ Ranks the Top 50 Gays; Anderson Is No. 2 , New York Magazine.