The 2009 Out 100: Kelly McGillis

Jason Bell

Our featured honoree of the day from the "School Days"-themed 2009 Out 100 -- this year's look at the 100 gay, lesbian, and trans people who made an impact in both gay and mainstream culture -- is Kelly McGillis.

McGillis's coming out last April created an outsize media storm. The 52-year-old star of Top Gun and The Accused revealed she was a lesbian to SheWired.com, unleashing a torrent of support from around the globe. McGillis, who also starred on The L Word as a closeted army colonel trying a "don't ask, don't tell" case, emphatically said she is "done with the man thing." A sexual icon for millions of straight boys who grew up in the 1980s, McGillis became another iconic example of the significance of sexual honesty later in life. This winter she will star in a U.K. tour of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune.

During the coming days we'll continue to roll out more honorees from the 2009 Out 100 -- shot by renowned photographer Jason Bell -- until the full portfolio is revealed in stores and online in mid-November. Keep checking back for a new honorees and in the meantime check out the 2008 Out 100 here.

Previously > The 2009 Out 100: Lee Daniels