Demi Lovato announced early on Wednesday (May 19) that she now identifies as non-binary and will be “officially changing… pronouns to they/them.”
The 28-year-old revealed their identification on an episode of her podcast 4D with Demi Lovato. The singer stated, “Over the past year and a half, I’ve been doing some healing and self-reflective work. And through this work, I’ve had the revelation that I identify as nonbinary.”
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What exactly does that mean? According to Dictionary.com, “Nonbinary people have a gender identity that does not fit into the male/female binary.” While many were raised to believe that gender can only be two things, the reality is that everything is not black and white.
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) released a statement in support of Lovato. From the words of Anthony Allen Ramos, GLAAD’s Head of Talent, “Gender is not simply male or female. Nonbinary people live outside of those rigid categories and they should be respected for who they are, which includes using the pronouns they tell us to use. People identifying as nonbinary is not new—and recognition and visibility of nonbinary people has been growing. Demi has always been one of the loudest and proudest advocates for LGBTQ people and issues. In sharing their story today, they will educate countless people around the world and reach other nonbinary people with a message of pride.”
LGTBQ+ celebs shared support for Demi on social media. Francesca Farago of Too Hot to Handle commented with clapping emojis while activist, Matt Bernstein, commented “so PROUD!”
Unfortunately, Lovato’s announcement did not come without hate. One troll on Instagram, said “I’m tired of her” and another saying, “Them drugs messed her…I mean they/them up.”
Regardless of people’s opinions, Demi says that “It would mean the world if people could start identifying me as they/them. I will also be accepting if people slip and say her/she because I know that being in my position, it’s going to take a while for people to get used to.”
Lovato is not alone in their identification as a growing group of celebrities such as Sam Smith, Amandla Stenberg and Elliot Page also identify as non-binary.
We’ve seen Demi go through a lot from mental illness to drug abuse. They deserve to be happy and express themself in their truth and we’re here for it!
