Singer Demi Lovato announced they are nonbinary and their pronouns are they/them Wednesday during the pilot episode of their new podcast, 鈥�4D.鈥�
鈥淚 want to take this moment to share something very personal with you,鈥� Lovato said to begin the show. 鈥淥ver the past year and a half I鈥檝e been doing some healing and self-reflective work. And through this work, I鈥檝e had the revelation that I identify as nonbinary.
鈥淲ith that said, I鈥檒l officially be changing my pronouns to they/them. I feel that this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression, and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am, and still am discovering.鈥�
In conversation with gender-nonconforming author and performer Alok Vaid-Menon, the 鈥淒ancing With the Devil鈥� artist detailed their coming-out journey and explained why they thought they were 鈥渟upposed to be a certain way鈥� before discovering their true identity. Lovato added that they are 鈥渟till learning鈥� and don鈥檛 consider themself to be an 鈥渆xpert or spokesperson鈥� for the nonbinary community.
鈥淚n 2018 when I overdosed, I feel like the reason why that happened was because I was ignoring my truth, and I was suppressing who I really am in order to please stylists or team members 鈥� or even fans that wanted me to be the sexy, feminine pop star in the leotard,鈥� Lovato told Vaid-Menon.
鈥淚 thought that was what I was supposed to be, and now I just realize that it鈥檚 so much more important to live your truth than to ever suppress yourself because that鈥檚 the type of stuff that happens when you do.鈥�
The 鈥淪kyscraper鈥� hit-maker also noted that they will allow a grace period for people who 鈥渟lip and say her/she鈥� when referring to them because they understand that 鈥渋t鈥檚 going to take a while for people to get used to.鈥�
鈥淸It] would mean the world if people could start identifying me as they/them,鈥� they said. 鈥淚 just want them to be making the effort. I think it鈥檚 important because I want to use these pronouns that feel right to me. I also don鈥檛 want people to be so afraid of messing up that they don鈥檛 try to use them.鈥�
Vaid-Menon, who frequently upends traditional gender norms in their work and speaks openly about their identity on social media, debunked some of the prejudices society harbors toward the nonbinary community and encouraged gender nonconforming individuals to practice 鈥渘onbinary joy鈥� in the face of adversity.
鈥淪poiler alert: All language was made up. And last time I checked, you don鈥檛 speak Shakespearean English. You understand that language evolves over time to address topics and better communicate,鈥� Vaid-Menon said.
鈥淭his is not about grammar or language. This is about power. And what I mean by that is they say, 鈥楤e yourself, except if you鈥檙e an LGBTQ person.鈥� They say, 鈥楨xpress yourself, except if you鈥檙e an LGBTQ person. Invent new language, innovate, except if you鈥檙e an LGBTQ person.鈥� Because we have a society that is so homophobic and transphobic, they鈥檙e going to basically try to delegitimize us in every way.鈥�
While introducing their latest endeavor to fans, Lovato elaborated on their self-discovery in an Instagram post. The former Disney Channel star鈥檚 announcement comes several months after another prominent star, Elliot Page, came forward as nonbinary and transgender in a powerful social media statement.
Lovato will release new installments of their podcast Wednesdays on Apple Podcasts, Audacy, Spotify and other streaming platforms. Each episode, they and their weekly guests will engage in conversations about 鈥渋dentity, creativity, activism, philanthropy, and beyond,鈥� according to the project description on Apple podcasts.
鈥淓very day we wake up, we are given another opportunity and chance to be who we want and wish to be,鈥� Lovato wrote on Instagram. 鈥淚鈥檝e spent the majority of my life growing in front of all of you鈥� you鈥檝e seen the good, the bad, and everything in between.
鈥淣ot only has my life been a journey for myself, I was also living for those on the other side of the cameras. Today is a day I鈥檓 so happy to share more of my life with you all 鈥� I鈥檓 doing this for those out there that haven鈥檛 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.鈥�
鈥� Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times
