JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV)– As Pride Month continues, the presence and impact of LGBTQ Mississippians exists beyond June. 

Even though the federal government did not recognize Pride Month nationally until 1999, LGBTQ Americans were present and had a sizable impact in the United States. Those from Mississippi have poured into the well of American culture before and since the turn of the 21st century.

According to the Williams Institute, about 3.5% of Mississippi’s population is part of the LGBTQ community. However, their impact on many Mississippian’s lives is immeasurable. Below are a few famous examples.

Lance Bass

Birthplace: Laurel, MS

The singer part of the famous boy band *NSYNC was born in the Pine Belt. He went on to graduate from Clinton High School. After his stint in the music group, Bass became known as an actor, producer, writer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2003, he was inducted into the Mississippi Musician’s Hall of Fame, making Bass the youngest person to receive this honor.

Bass currently resides in Los Angeles with his husband Michael Turchin, whom he married in 2014.

Tig Notaro

Birthplace: Jackson, MS

Notaro is an acclaimed stand-up comedian, writer, radio contributor and actress born in the Capital City. The Emmy and Grammy-nominated comedian currently has comedy specials on Netflix and Amazon.

Notaro was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 and had a double mastectomy. June marks her 8th year of being cancer-free. She married Stephanie Allynne in 2015 and has two children.

Robin Roberts

Birthplace: Tuskegee, Alabama

Though born in the Yellowhammer State, she grew up in Pass Christian on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Before becoming a co-anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America” in 2005, she was a host on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” and a contributor on “NFL PrimeTime.” She even worked at Biloxi news station WLOX during the 1980s.

She married her longtime partner Amber Laign in 2023.  

Tennessee Williams

Birthplace: Columbus, Mississippi

Born Thomas Lanier Williams, he became one of the most successful playrights out of the Magnolia State. Williams won two Pulitzer Prizes for “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1947) and “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1955). Perhaps writing ran in the family, as his seventh cousin once removed is novelist and playwright Truman Capote.

Williams met long-term partner Frank Merlo in 1948. Though separated briefly in 1961 and again in 1962, the two were partners for 15 years. Merlo acted as his manager/secretary.