ø Actress Kelly McGillis of "Witness" and "Top Gun" fame came out at age 51, saying she was "done with the men thing."

ø Noted intellectual Susan Sontag became lovers with photographer Annie Leibovitz in her mid-50s after being married for 18 years and having a son, but never came out. She died in 2004.

ø Comedian and writer Carol Leifer, on whom the character Elaine on "Seinfeld" was based, dated men (including Jerry Seinfeld) before falling in love with a woman.

ø At 38, Cynthia Nixon of "Sex and the City" fame left her male partner, with whom she had two children, for a woman.

ø Wanda Sykes was once married to a man, and is now to a woman, with whom she is raising twins.

KRISTIN TILLOTSON