Sam Smith: I sometimes feel ‘guilty’ for having the freedom to be gay
Out singer Sam Smith has taken to Twitter to lament action against countries where gays are persecuted – saying it “kills him” to see inaction on the issue.
The Leave Your Lover singer – who publicly came out as gay last year and has picked up a swathe of prestigious awards – took to Twitter to vent.
He wrote: “It’s so deep. But sometimes I sit and get so upset when I think about all the hundreds and thousands of gay men and woman all over the world, who are going through such heartache and hard times for just wanting to love someone they love.
“It makes me so sad and sometimes feel so guilty that I have that simplest freedom whilst others don’t.
“Sorry to get so deep, but it kills me. I don’t understand why more of us aren’t doing something about it. I’ll leave it there.”
Smith does not explicitly refer to a male love interest in his music, explaining previously: “I don’t want to limit to just one community. I want to reach everyone, gay people, lesbians, transsexuals, straight people, Catholics, anyone.”
He has spoken in the past about plans to set up a gay rights charity.
He said: “I would like to become a voice for gay youth in difficulty around the world. I just created a foundation.”
In a previous interview, he said: “[It involves] money going to gay guys who are struggling to come out in different countries.
“I’m very aware that we are not where we should be, so I’m trying to play my part. But in a certain way, in my way.”
“I may not be comfortable with my weight, or with the way I look, but I’m really comfortable with my sexuality. That’s one thing I have mastered.”
