Is Whoopi Goldberg Gay? The Actress Has Supported the LGBTQ Community for Years

For a long time, many people have been curious about the famous actress Whoopi Goldberg's real sexuality. Some, including a fellow actress, have even speculated that she might be a lesbian.

Whoopi Goldberg has had an impressive career in Hollywood, earning multiple awards for her outstanding work in both television and film. She's also a successful TV presenter, co-hosting the popular talk show "The View."

Despite her remarkable achievements in the entertainment industry, her reputation is occasionally overshadowed by rumors about her sexuality, despite her well-documented history of high-profile romances and marriages.

Rumors Regarding Whoopi's Sexuality

Whoopi Goldberg has faced rumors about her sexuality, which she addressed during a recent podcast interview with Raven-Symoné and her wife Miranda Maday on "The Best Podcast Ever with Raven and Miranda."

In a light-hearted moment, Raven-Symoné admitted that she felt a strong connection to Whoopi, playfully suggesting that the Oscar-winning actress gave off "lesbian vibes" and "stud vibes."

Adding a touch of humor, Miranda joked that Raven-Symoné might secretly wish that everyone they know was gay and teased that Raven-Symoné eagerly anticipated the possibility of Whoopi coming out as gay during the interview.

However, Whoopi responded to Raven-Symoné's comment with grace and understanding, using the moment to gently point out that others had also made similar assumptions about her. Whoopi said:

"Women have been asking me this for as long as I've been around. I am not a lesbian. But I know lots of them, and I've played them on television."

Apart from her portrayals of lesbian characters on-screen, the renowned actress emphasized she has friends who are lesbians. In 2014, the actress told Pride Source that she had always considered herself straight.

Whoopi noted that people just make assumptions when she plays a lesbian in "The Color Purple" and "Boys on the Side." Nonetheless, the star expressed her happiness to be classified as part of the LGBT community.

Businessman Michael Visbal was Whoopi's last known romance, but they reportedly parted ways because Whoopi did not want to get married again.

"You know, no one was trying to claim me, nobody wanted me," Whoopi said. "Black folks didn't want me. Nobody wanted me. But I've always been claimed by the gay community. Always."

Whoopi Shares Her Bold Stand for Trans Equality

In 2017, Whoopi received the GLAAD Media Award for the Outstanding Reality Program. However, she didn't do so without advocating for transgender rights and fighting against those who were trying to undermine them.

"If you're listening to people who are saying there's something wrong with transgender people, and we have to make all these crazy changes, maybe it's time for them to go," said Whoopi, who was surrounded by the transgender stars of the Oxygen reality show "Strut."

Following her acceptance speech, Whoopi expressed her gratitude to the television network Oxygen for putting a bet on her transgender modeling show, which she claimed made others frightened.

According to Whoopi, the primary reason why people were scared was that they had preconceived notions about what transgender meant, rather than simply accepting the person for who they are.

Whoopi Reacts to Matt Damon's Sexuality Remarks

In 2015, Whoopi used "The View" to respond to Matt Damon's controversial statements regarding actors keeping their sexual identities private for their professional careers, which she disagrees with.

In her opinion, actors should be able to play everything convincingly and play it in all kinds of situations. As such, she went on to say that whether or not a person knows or believes she is gay has little to do with her abilities.

"People out you," Whoopi said. "People tell your business whether you tell your business or not, in terms of mystique and all of that stuff, you know, you used to be able to make that choice for yourself."

Whoopi's Views on Marriage & Her Last-Known Romance

Whoopi once gave an in-depth interview in which she elaborated on her marriage philosophy and her perspective on the societal pressure on women with regard to marriage. The star said that people's expectations of her led her to keep trying to get married.

The problem was that she did not want to share information with somebody else. But in a relationship, people have to do those things, and it took her a while to realize that she was not interested in doing that.

Whoopi is no stranger to marriage, as she has tied the knot three times. She was married to drug counselor Alvin Martin, cinematographer David Claessen, and actor and unionist Lyle Trachtenberg.

Before fame, Whoopi married her first husband, Alvin, in 1974, and they welcomed a daughter named Alexandrea Martin. However, their marriage ended in 1979.

Her second marriage to David occurred in 1986, after their initial meeting during the "Who Are They?" documentary production. Unfortunately, the couple divorced in 1988 after just two years of marriage and had no children together.

Whoopi entered her third marriage with Lyle in 1994, but their union was short-lived. Although the exact date of their split is unknown, their relationship ultimately ended in 1995.

After three unsuccessful marriages, Whoopi eventually dated actors Timothy Dalton, Ted Danson, Frank Langella, and orthodontist Jeffrey Cohen. Businessman Michael Visbal was Whoopi's last known romance, but they parted ways because Whoopi did not want to get married again.

Whoopi romantic relationship status is currently unclear, but she has expressed contentment with being single in recent years. In "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in 2015 and in "The Drew Barrymore Show" in late 2021.

She admitted to TV host Stephen Colbert that she was single because she didn't want to put in the effort required for a relationship and her realization that she was okay being on her own.

Whoopi also reiterated her belief to host-actress Drew Barrymore that relationships are "great for others" but acknowledged that she had found the right path for herself in being single.