We were crushed about Hilary and Chad. Saddened by Nick and Jessica. Wounded by Jennifer and Brad. But, hey, queer
celebrities have had their share of heartache as well. Heres a list of the top nine most devastating lesbian and gay celebrity break-ups.
9) k.d. lang and Leisha Hailey
They were a more low-key couple, but singer lang and
L Word star Hailey (who was then a member of the band the Murmurs) were out and proud during their five-year relationship. They broke up about four years ago.
8) B.D. Wong and Richie Jackson
Actor Wong (currently on
Law & Order: SVU) and talent agent Jackson made headlines with the release of Wongs 2003 book
Finding Foo, about the 2000 birth of their son via surrogate. The event also marked the official coming out of Wong, and the book generated much attention for the couple as well as for gay parenting. The couple parted ways in 2004.
7) Martina Navratilova and Judy Nelson
Tennis star Navratilovas relationship with writer Judy Nelson made headlines when Nelson (who left her husband to be with the tennis star) sued Martina for palimony. They settled in 1992, and Judy wrote a book about the whole thing.
6) Greg Louganis and Steve Kmetko
The Olympic diver and the now-former E! News anchor began dating in early 1998. The handsome couple would make appearances together and openly spoke about their relationship in the press (including in
People magazine!). The guys ended things back in 2000.
5) Madonna and Sandra Bernhard
OK, so we were never totally sure that these two were actually dating, but they definitely went out of their way to make us think they weregoing as far to appear on David Lettermans show in the late 80s wearing matching outfits, and they referred to each other as the snatch batch. The pair never actually copped to the relationship, and soon Madonna was dating Warren Beatty. But we still cling to the hope that there was truth to the rumors.
4) Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabanna
This stylish duo found loveand founded a companyin the mid 80s, and soon Dolce & Gabbana became (and remains) one of the top lines in couture. In 2005, after 19 years together, the duo announced their amicable personal split, and their commitment to stay united as one of fashions major forces.
3) Bob Paris and Rod Jackson
This twosome was one of the first out gay
celebrity couples. Paris, a former Mr. America and Mr. Universe, and Jackson actually married back in 1989, hyphenated their names to Jackson-Paris, and starred in the photography book
Duo by Herb Ritts. The pair split in September of 1996.
2) Melissa Etheridge and Julie Cypher
Rock star Etheridge went public with her homosexualityand her relationship with Cypherin 1993. Cypher, a filmmaker who met the singer when working on one of her videos, eventually bore the pairs two children (with some sperm from David Crosby). They became poster gals for queer romance, but split in 2000. Melissa now lives with actress Tammy Lynn Michaels, and the pair had a lavish wedding in 2003.
1) Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche
When Ellen came out in 1997, it was with a roar that included her character coming out on her self-titled sitcom, a
Time magazine cover, and a wonderfully public relationship with Heche. Both became outspoken activists, earning heaps of praise from the community and opening a lot of minds in the process. The couple went their separate ways in 2000. Ellen is now happily involved with actress Portia de Rossi, and Anne is married to cameraman Coley Laffoon.
