Meryl Streep's daughter Louisa Jacobson opens up about the realities of coming out as a lesbian

Meryl Streep's daughter Louisa Jacobson has opened up about the realities of coming out as a lesbian after publicly announcing her sexuality.

While attending the Human Rights Campaign 2025 Greater New York Dinner, Louisa, 33, spoke exclusively with DailyMail.com about coming out.

The Gilded Age actress said she did not keep it a secret too long before she came out on her famous mom's 75th birthday - June 22, 2024.

Meryl has been 'so supportive,' she revealed.

Louisa also told DailyMail.com that the entertainment industry has been just as encouraging.

'Luckily the community is a very accepting one and I haven't run into any issues with regard to casting, yet. So we'll see,' she shared.

She then noted that the 'biggest change' for her since coming out was her relationship with her femininity.

'I think that the biggest change is actually how it's affected my relationship to my femininity. I think we're in a very exciting time where femininity is being redefined by artists and people in the fashion industry,' she explained.

'I think it has brought a lot more possibility to my expression of self and my life than I thought. It's so much more about, just the fact that I'm dating a woman. 

'It's my whole identity and my entire self expression has just expanded.'

Louisa's coming out post included a series of photos of her with producer partner Anna Blundell. 

She captioned them: 'Blessed to be entering the Joyful New Era bb' followed by heart and rainbow flag emojis.

Louisa previously dated actor Jonathan Higginbotham, who she met at the Yale School of Drama, in 2022.

Louisa's mom, Meryl, for her part, was married to her husband Don Gummer for 45 years before they announced their split in October 2023.

They revealed at the time that they've been separated 'for more than six years' after deciding to have 'lives apart.'

The pair initially tied the knot in 1978 and share four children: Henry Wolfe, 45, Mamie Gummer, 41, Grace Gummer, 38, and Louisa. 

Louisa's girlfriend Anna accompanied the star to the HRC Dinner, which took place at New York Marriott Marquis on February 1.

Louisa gushed, 'Anna's here tonight. She's just really proud of me,' while adding, 'It's so special. It's such an honor,' about receiving the Visibility Award.

During the dinner and award ceremony, Louisa got on stage to accept the Visibility Award and give her speech, which she said Anna helped prepare.

'Shame buries me so far into my own head that I forget what an immense privilege it is to even stand on this stage and feel safe doing so,' she told the crowd.

She then explained her backstory and how she came out to friends and family 'two years ago,' but publicly didn't come out until 'seven months ago.'

In her speech, she told the audience that she realized she was queer when she wanted to get intimate with a friend rather than just 'be her.'

'Aside from some anxiety, I felt relatively comfortable stepping into my truth which is amazing. Yeah, it's amazing that I felt that comfortable. 

'This is in part because I was lucky enough to grow up in a liberal family surrounded by artists that never wavered in their self-expression,' she explained.

'I also work in an industry where many of the artists openly identify as LGBTQ+.'

She also credited living in New York City since it's 'in the midst of a movement in art and fashion led by a vanguard of women and non-binary people who are redefining femininity adding shapes, textures, colors, to what it looks like and means to be a woman.'

During her speech, she gave a shout out to other actresses who paved the way and helped her be 'brave.' In the list of names, she mentioned Cynthia Nixon, Kristen Stewart, Sarah Paulson and Cynthia Erivo.  

She also talked about how one can be 'vulnerable' while being visible.   

Louisa shared, 'As an actor, I've learned that the most powerful performances happen when the actor allows themselves to be revelatory — when they drop the mask and stand in the raw truth of who they are. 

'It's the same in life. The moments where we drop the mask, and allow ourselves to be seen, those are the moments when we truly connect with others. 

'More over, it is now what we do with this vulnerability that determines whether or not we progress as a society.'

Louisa graduated from the Yale School of Drama with an MFA in acting. She is known for starring in the HBO period drama series The Gilded Age as Marian Brook.

She concluded her speech with, 'Visibility is the antidote to shame. Visibility says that you are enough as you are. So here I am, standing in front of you and I am enough as I am.'

The Human Rights Campaign is the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization.

The HRC Greater New York Dinner brought together more than 1,000 LGBTQ+ advocates and supporters from across the country. 

The evening featured speeches by HRC's President Kelley Robinson, Agatha All Along actor Joe Locke, social media star RaeShanda Lias and US Congresswoman Sarah McBride.

Other special guests included Sophia Bush and her partner Ashlyn Harris, comedian Dana Goldberg, singer David Archuleta and TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney. 

Sophia, 42, and Ashlyn, 39, took the stage together to introduce McBride.

Ashlyn introduced herself, saying, 'I use she/her pronouns,' and Sophia said, 'My name is Sophia Bush and given the last 11 days, I just want to confirm no relation. I also use she/her pronouns.'

The former pro soccer player then told the crowd they were 'HRC's newest board members' and how 'it's very exciting for both of us.' 

The One Tree Hill star and Ashlyn began dating in 2023. Sophia confirmed her and Harris' relationship and came out as queer in a Glamour cover story that came out in April 2024.