When They Knew

"I'm Coming Out"

Television producer Patrick Riley realized he was gay in 1978 at the age of 8. "The first time I saw Diana Ross she just really spoke to me," he remembers. "She was glamorous, sparkly, talented. As a little boy I would spend lots of time kind of pretending to be Diana. I've never done drag, but there are times that I'd be behind closed doors pretending to be in heels—maybe with the towel on my head—working my best Diana, [singing] 'I'm Coming Out.'"