Starting out in Hollywood: Hollywood can be a tough town, but it's not such a bad place to be gay

BILL SHEPARD

AGE: 23 OCCUPATION: Assistant to the director of international servicing at PorchLight Entertainment STATUS: Single OUT SINCE: 18 ON BEING OUT IN THE BUSINESS: Shepard moved to Los Angeles the day after graduating from film school at the University of Nevada Las Vegas and after a temping strut landed at PorchLight--a film and TV distribution and Production company for family-oriented entertainment. Says Shepard: "It's hard to imagine being in a place where gay is a problem. My boss has a gay cousin. All my coworkers come to me with their anecdotes about their LGBT friends." As for what the future holds the pretty boy recently took a two-week course in stunt work, the highlight of which was "being set on fire." No matter where he ends up, Shepard is taking his time. "Its not that I'm not ambitious: it's just that I'm not in a rush."

THE PERRY TWINS

AGE: 29 OCCUPATION: DJs dancers choreographers. music writers and producers STATUS: Doug is single: Derek has been in a relationship for the past year. OUT SINCE: 20 ON BEING OUT IN THE BUSINESS: The duo started as dancers in Rhode Island, where they formed their own company and eventually landed gigs dancing backup for gay artist Ari Gold and icons like Kristine W. This June they're releasing their first album Activate, and remixes for Funny Boy Films' upcoming Naked Boys Singing When asked about prejudice in the industry, they both laugh. "I think we have more of an issue with our age than anything else. People always think we are younger than we are."

TRACY RYERSON

AGE: 27 OCCUPATION: Development executive STATUS: Partnered for one year OUT SINCE: 26 ON BEING OUT IN THE BUSINESS: "I had to figure it out for myself," says Ryerson, who worked at a literary agency before landing as an assistant at Jerry Weintraub Productions. After coming out to friends and at work last year, Ryerson was promoted to the role of creative executive. "For the first few months I was really nervous. But it really doesn't hurt [to be out] in the entertainment industry. In fact, if anything, it might open doors." At Weintraub, Ryerson has been working on the Ocean's franchise and the upcoming Nancy Drew, but her eventual goal is to run a production company that makes movies with meaning that are also fun. As for her parents, Ryerson plans to come put to them at the same time this magazine hits newsstands. "I think I might just walk in and hand it to them."

CRAIG GANGI

AGE: 38 OCCUPATION: Hairstylist STATUS: Partnered (five years with his boyfriend, Angelo, a performer currently in The Lion King on Broadway) OUT SINCE: 20 ON BEING OUT IN THE BUSINESS: Gangi started cutting hair for his friends in college, and after working with extras on films and TV shows that were shooting in Boston, he made the leap to Los Angeles. He got his big break working with Alicia Silverstone, who was being photographed by David LaChapelle for the cover of the now-defunct Detour magazine. Today, he works regularly with the likes of Diane Lane, Joss Stone, America Ferrera, and Christina Ricci. "I was lucky since everyone is pretty cool, and there is obviously a big gay community [in the entertainment industry]--plus not many hairdressers are judgmental."

KAYCE BROWN

AGE: 33 OCCUPATION: Assistant to Kate Hudson OUT SINCE: 17 STATUS: Single (Says Hudson: "I'd like to think I keep her busy enough to remain the only woman in her life") ON BEING OUT IN THE BUSINESS: Starting as a production assistant on Jerry Maguire, Brown eventually moved from Arizona to Los Angeles, where she worked as the on-set assistant to Leonardo DiCaprio. It was Leo who first introduced her to Hudson, a meeting Brown describes jokingly as "love at first sight." Everywhere Hudson goes, so does Brown. She also serves as a sounding board and idea girl for Hudson's burgeoning company. Brown has always been out at work, even on the set with directors such as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, and has never had one problem--though she was once called "dyke" by paparazzi when she blocked a shot of Hudson. "Kate is really amazing and supportive," Brown says. "She has embraced all my friends, and she makes whomever I am dating at the time a part of what we call our 'family.'"

TY LIEBERMAN

AGE: 24 OCCUPATION: Screenwriter OUT SINCE: 18 STATUS: Single? (Started seeing someone a few weeks ago but hasn't changed his status on MySpace) ON BEING OUT IN THE BUSINESS: "It's very rewarding to be out in Hollywood instead of having to be nervous about hiding myself," says Lieberman. whose screenplay Kiss the Bride was recently made into a film directed by C.Jay Cox (Latter Days) and starring Tori Spelling and Joanna Cassidy. It's slated as the closing-night premiere at this years Outfest film festival. Lieberman started out in the mail room of the Creative Artists Agency and also did a stint at World of Wonder Productions, where he worked on the TransGeneration miniseries. He now devotes all his time to writing. "My mother cautioned me that being gay and having a career was going to be hard. But it's been much better for my career. It's definitely a community where people help each other."