Celebrity relationships don’t last forever. But some couples are made to stand the test of time. The same goes for many LGBTQ+ couples. Some of these celebrities have been together for decades. In addition to dealing with the challenges of being in the public eye, some of these couples had to deal with hardships unique to the LGBTQ+ community itself. Learn more about these 8 longest LGBTQ+ celebrity relationships.
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi
Sources say Ellen DeGeneres met Portia de Rossi back in 2004 and there was instant chemistry. At the time, De Rossi wasn’t out and said she wasn’t ready to “date the most famous lesbian in the world.” She eventually came out in 2005 and the two got married in 2008. The two have been together for 16 years and are still going strong.
David Burtka and Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harris started dating David Burtka 16 years ago. They met the old-fashioned way: naturally and in person. They met on a New York City street corner in 2004. They kept in touch with mutual friends, and Harris says she fell harder for Burtka than the other way around. They got married in 2014 and now have twins.
Cynthia Nixon and Christine Marinoni
2004 seems to be a fitting year for LGBTQ+ couples, the same year Cynthia Nixon met her partner Christine Marinoni. His relationship with Marinoni was Nixon’s first experience dating a woman. This initially worried his partner a bit, but they continued to grow stronger and got married in 2012.
Dan France and Rob France
Dan France met Rob France on a dating app a decade ago. They initially became close due to similarities in their religious beliefs and lifestyle choices. They got married in 2007.
Lily Tomlin and Jane Wagner
What does 50 years look like for a long-term relationship? Lily Tomlin met Jane Wagner over 50 decades ago, and the rest is history. They initially teamed up when Tomlin’s writer asked Wagner to help with a character for a project he was on. Tomlin describes their first meeting as love at first sight. In the 80’s and 90’s they created amazing comedies and got together in love and career. They got married in 2013.
George Takei and Brad Altman
When Star Trek star Tacky joined a running group in the ’80s, he met Brad Altman, who was also a member of the exercise group. They started dating but kept their relationship a secret for 18 years. They professed their love for each other in 2005 and happily tied the knot in 2008. “We are truly a team – I’m the actor, writer, activist and broad manager, planner and all-round essential guy. We love sharing our lives and our livelihood. Tacky told Variety.
Elton John and Dave Furnish
Elton John met Dave Furnish in 1993. He was sober for the first time in years and needed a new group of friends to reflect his new lifestyle. He was introduced to Furnish and it was another case of instant chemistry. Elton John told Parade magazine, “”Every Saturday for 16 years, we’ve sent each other a card. “No matter where we are in the world, to tell each other how much we love each other.” The two joined together in a civil partnership in 2005. After same-sex marriage was legalized, John and Furnish married in 2014.
RuPaul and Georges Lebar
In 1994, RuPaul met Georges Leber at one of New York City’s most popular nightclubs, the Limelight. The two could not be more different. RuPaul is one of Hollywood’s elite, while George LeBarr is a rancher from Wyoming. RuPaul told Entertainment Tonight, “He works on the farm, I work in Hollywood, and we meet in amazing places. You know, he needs breaks every now and then because it’s such a weird life. So, we plan little trips once a month, you know? New York or Maui or San Francisco or Vegas. We do it.”
