Honestly, if you’ve ever watched Kate McKinnon transform into a bug-eyed Hillary Clinton or a ghost-busting eccentric, you know she’s a force of nature. But for a long time, there was this weird, quiet bubble around her personal life. People knew she was funny. They knew she was a genius. Yet, the phrase Kate McKinnon is gay wasn't just a biographical footnote; it was a slow-burn revelation that changed the DNA of Saturday Night Live and comedy at large.
She isn't exactly the type to post "soft launch" photos of a partner on Instagram. In fact, she doesn't even have social media.
That’s probably why there’s still so much curiosity. In an era where every minor celebrity overshares their breakfast and their breakups, McKinnon’s privacy feels almost radical. She’s famously "insular," as she once told GQ. But when she does speak, it’s usually with a level of vulnerability that makes the jokes hit even harder.
The Basement, the Weights, and the "Alien DNA"
The most defining moment of Kate’s public coming-out story didn't happen in a magazine spread. It happened on a global stage in 2020. She was presenting the Carol Burnett Award to Ellen DeGeneres at the Golden Globes.
She stood there, looking genuinely moved, and told the world about being a kid in Sea Cliff, Long Island.
Picture this: 1997. Kate is 13. She’s in her mother’s basement, lifting weights in front of a mirror, asking herself that heavy, terrifying question: "Am I gay?"
"And I was," she told the star-studded room. "And I still am."
She compared the realization to doing a 23andMe test and finding out you have alien DNA. It’s a hilarious image, but also kinda heartbreaking. For a kid in the late 90s, seeing someone like Ellen on TV wasn't just entertainment. It was proof of life. It was evidence that you didn't have to hide in a basement forever.
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Breaking the SNL Ceiling
When Kate joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2012, she wasn't just another talented impressionist. She was a pioneer.
While the show had seen gay cast members before—Terry Sweeney in the 80s and John Milhiser later on—Kate was the first openly gay female cast member in the show's history. That’s a massive weight to carry. Think about the legends who came before her: Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler. None of them were out lesbians.
Kate changed the "vibe" of the show's queer representation.
Before her, LGBTQ+ sketches often felt like they were written about gay people, sometimes leaning on tired tropes. With Kate, the humor felt like it was written by us and for us. Take the "Lesbian Period Film" sketch. It wasn't just mocking the genre; it was leaning into the specific, niche exhaustion of being a queer woman watching cinema.
She didn't just play "gay characters," though. She played everything. She played Justin Bieber with a swagger that was confusingly attractive to everyone. She played Rudy Giuliani with a manic energy that defied gender.
By being so undeniably good at her job, she made the fact that Kate McKinnon is gay feel like a source of power rather than a limitation.
The Jackie Abbott Factor
If you’re looking for a timeline of her dating life, you’re going to be disappointed. Kate keeps her circle tight.
However, we do know about Jackie Abbott.
The two made a rare public appearance together at the 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards. When Kate won for Outstanding Supporting Actress, she gave Jackie a quick hug before heading to the stage. It was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment, but for fans, it was everything.
Jackie is an artist, photographer, and—fittingly—a clown. Yes, an actual trained clown from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
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They’ve been spotted at Broadway shows like Fun Home, and friends like Michelle Visage have occasionally posted photos of them together, calling them a "lovely" couple. Beyond that? They’re ghosts. No red carpet drama. No "exclusive" interviews about their domestic life. Just two creative people living their lives in New York.
Why Labels Actually Mattered to Her
There’s a bit of a misconception that Kate hates labels. While she’s private, she’s been very specific about her identity in the past.
In her early career on Logo TV’s The Big Gay Sketch Show, she leaned heavily into the word "lesbian." She once joked about always wanting to be a "lesbo comedian."
But as she grew older, she seemed to embrace the broader "gay" or "LGBTQ+" umbrellas. During her SNL tenure, she used her platform to push back against things like Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill. She didn't just do it with a serious statement; she did it by being "Step-Mom" on Weekend Update, making the absurdity of the law the butt of the joke.
Her expertise isn't just in mimicry. It’s in the "fringe" perspective.
She once told AfterEllen that being a minority gives you a "wonderful" and "inspiring" perspective. You’re on the outside looking in, which is the perfect vantage point for satire. You can poke fun at the world while still lifting people up.
What This Means for You
Whether you’re a fan of her comedy or someone navigating your own identity, Kate McKinnon’s journey offers a few real-world takeaways:
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- Privacy is a Choice: You don't owe the world every detail of your personal life, even if you’re famous. You can be "out" and "private" at the same time.
- Representation is a Lifeline: Just as Ellen was a roadmap for Kate, Kate has become that roadmap for a new generation of queer kids who feel like "aliens."
- Skill First: Kate proved that being your authentic self doesn't have to be your only "thing." She’s a world-class actor who happens to be gay, not a "gay actor" who tries to be funny.
If you're looking to see more of her work, her transition into film with roles in Ghostbusters and Barbie (as Weird Barbie, the ultimate queer-coded icon) shows she’s only getting started. She’s moved past the basement and the weights. She’s exactly where she belongs.
To keep up with her latest projects, check out her recent voice work or her collaborations with her sister, Emily Lynne, on projects like Heads Will Roll. You won't find her on TikTok, but her influence is everywhere you look in modern comedy.