Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Sarah Marsh

Did you come out later in life?

Barry Manilow Garry Kief
We want to hear from our readers who have, like Barry Manilow (right, with Garry Kief), come out publicly later in life. Photograph: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Barry Manilow has spoken about being gay for the first time, and about his relationship of 39 years with Garry Kief. He had worried that revealing his sexuality would disappoint fans.

After coming out, Manilow said he was overjoyed by the reaction. “I thought I would be disappointing them if they knew I was gay. So I never did anything. When they found out that Garry and I were together, they were so happy. The reaction was so beautiful – strangers commenting, ‘Great for you!’ I’m just so grateful for it,” he added.

Share your experiences

We want to hear from our readers who have, like Manilow, come out publicly later in life. Maybe you told your parents or friends after years of keeping it a secret, or perhaps you only admitted your sexuality to yourself when you got older. Tell us your stories.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.