Singer Demi Lovato talked about the process of coming out to their Christian parents during a recent SiriusXM interview, explaining why they waited until they were 25 before having the conversation.
Lovato, who uses both they/them and she/her pronouns and will be referred to using both sets of pronouns throughout this article, said she knew she was queer growing up but didn't tell people until she was comfortable.
She said:
"I came from a Christian background and grew up queer and didn't tell people until I felt comfortable with it."
"It took me until I was 25 to come out to my mom. At the time I was bisexual, and then I realized I was pansexual and so it took me a while."
Lovato said they first had the conversation with their stepdad, and he wasn't surprised by the news.
"I was like, 'Hey, I need to tell you something.' I was like, 'I like girls, too,' and he was like, 'Yeah, I know. You have "Cool for the Summer" out.'"
Their mom was next, and was mostly focused on Lovato being happy.
"She just almost started crying and was like, 'I just want you to be happy.'"
Lovato said she greatly appreciated her parent's supportive reactions because:
"There are so many parents that don't respond that way and it breaks my heart."
Lovato wants their social spaces as safe spaces for the LGBTQI+ community and wants young people to "feel valued."
You can view a clip of Lovato's interview below:
Lovato was doing the interview on SiriusXM to discuss her upcoming album REVAMPED, which will feature reworked rock versions of some of her most popular pop songs.
Lovato described their mission for the album:
"With REVAMPED, I wanted to pay homage to the songs that resonated the most with fans and played a big role in my career by breathing an exciting new life into them."
"Creating this project has been incredibly fun and allowed me to express my passion for rock music in a new way, and I feel so much closer to my older music because of it. I can’t wait for everyone to hear more!"
REVAMPED releases on September 15, 2023, and is even available for preorder on vinyl on Lovato's website.
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