Demi Lovato is on a gender journey ‘forever’: ‘It’s about keeping it open and free’
Demi Lovato. (Getty for iHeartMedia/ Emma McIntyre)
Demi Lovato has admitted that they were “nervous” about coming out as non-binary in case people thought they were being “inauthentic”.
The “Sorry Not Sorry” singer came out as non-binary in May, telling the world that their pronouns are they/them – but understanding their gender wasn’t all plain sailing.
During a virtual appearance at the 19th Represents Summit, Demi Lovato opened up about their journey to self-acceptance, explaining that opening up about their gender was vital to their “healing process”.
“Being non-binary, what that means is that I’m so much more than the binary of man and woman,” Lovato explained.
“And that we are all so much more if we allow ourselves the ability to look within ourselves and challenge that binary that we’ve grown up living in.”
They continued: “I was very nervous in the beginning to come out as non-binary because I didn’t want people to think it was inauthentic. I just wanted people to see what coming out as non-binary meant to my healing process.”
Lovato went on to open up about how their gender is “fluid”, explaining that their self-expression is open to change.
“There might be a time where I identify as trans… there might be a time where I identify as non-binary and gender nonconforming my entire life.
“Or maybe there’s a period of time when I get older that I identify as a woman.”
“I have a feeling that it’s not going to ever go back to one way or the other, but I just, it’s about keeping it open and free – and just, I’m a very fluid person, and so that goes with how I express myself as well.”
Demi Lovato came out as non-binary after ‘a lot of healing’
Lovato’s appearance at the 19th Represents Summit comes just months after they opened up about their gender in a video posted to social media in May.
The singer said their decision to come out as non-binary came after “a lot of healing and self-reflective work”, adding that they were “still learning” about their identity.
“Sharing this with you now opens another level of vulnerability for me,” they said at the time.
“I’m doing this for those out there that haven’t been able to share who they truly are with their loved ones. Please keep living in your truths and know I am sending so much love your way.”
In July, Lovato urged fans to continue trying to get their pronouns right while admitting that they sometimes misgender themselves.
“If you misgender me – that’s OK,” Lovato wrote on Instagram. “I accidentally misgender myself sometimes! It’s a huge transition to change the pronouns I’ve used for myself my entire life. And it’s difficult to remember sometimes!
“As long as you keep trying to respect my truth, and as long as I remember my truth, the shift will come naturally.”
