Szubanski 'officially' out

Magda Szubanski used last night's Ten Network program The Project to 'officially' come out as gay.

Revealing what the Sydney Morning Herald described as "one of the entertainment world's worst-kept secrets" Szubanski told presenters of The Project, "I absolutely identify as gay and for a very long time have."

Szubanski has been open about her sexuality with family and friends for many years, but said coming out publicly was still difficult.

"There's a difference between living your life openly and living your life absolutely publicly, and that thing of 20 million people knowing your business is stressful," she said.

The well-loved star of Babe and Kath and Kim said she believed coming out earlier would have hampered her career.

"It's so recent that things have changed. In my lifetime, in my adult lifetime [homosexuality] was illegal. Doors would be bashed down and they would be taken and prosecuted," she said.

Szubanski said if people thought things were fine for gay people nowadays they'd be mistaken.

"There's a kind of velvet oppression going on," she said.

"Younger people are killing themselves. It's not fine. This is a serious issue."

Earlier in the day she had hinted at her sexuality, when speaking out in favour of same-sex marriage.

“We pay taxes, fight wars for this country, nurse you when you are sick, make you laugh, sing and dance for you, play netball for you, star in your movies, cook your meals, decorate your store windows and chances are gay people designed whatever it is you're wearing," she said.

“The law as it stands means that you could be a serial killer and have killed all of your spouses and yet you would still be considered fit to marry. But if you are gay then you are not deemed to be worthy of these same rights.”

Australian Marriage Equality national convener, Alex Greenwich, welcomed Ms Szubanki adding herself to the growing list of celebrities supporting marriage equality.

“Magda and other high-profile supporters of marriage equality are reflecting growing support for the issue and growing impatience with politicians dragging their feet.”

“Like all of us, Magda wants her homeland to live up to its ideals of equality and a fair go,” he said.