Pop star Demi Lovato has revealed why they stopped exclusively using they/them pronouns—they simply grew tired from explaining their identity to others.
Lovato, 30, came out as nonbinary in May 2021 but announced a little over a year later that they readopted she/her pronouns. At the time, they said it was because they were “feeling more feminine,” but the singer gave a more detailed explanation to GQ Hype Spain in an interview published Tuesday.
“I constantly had to educate people and explain why I identified with those pronouns. It was absolutely exhausting,” Lovato said in the interview, translated to English. “I just got tired. But for that very reason, I know that it is important to keep spreading the word.”
Today, Lovato uses they/them and she/her pronouns—all are listed on their Instagram page—and said they are “such a fluid person” during a 2022 appearance on the Sprout podcast with Tamara Dhia.
The “Heart Attack” and “Cool for the Summer” singer said in a 2021 interview that they realized they are nonbinary in March 2020, while in a relationship with ex-fiancé Max Ehrich. According to Seventeen, the couple broke up in September of that year, and Lovato said the split was “probably the best thing that’s happened to me” because it allowed them to be their authentic self. Lovato has been publicly dating Canadian rapper Jute$ since August 2022.
In the GQ interview, the former Disney Channel star also expressed their desire for more gender-neutral safe spaces, such as all-gender bathrooms, to help them and other fluid individuals live more comfortably. Data from the Pew Research Center in June 2022 showed that 1.6 percent of the United States population identifies as transgender or nonbinary, including 5 percent of adults younger than age 30.
Lovato has long been a vocal ally of the LGBTQ community, even serving as the grand marshal for the Los Angeles Pride Parade in 2014. Earlier this June, they shared an Instagram post in celebration of Pride Month calling the community “the epitome of resilience, excellence and joy.”
Lovato said they remain dedicated to making their music a safe space and being vocal about LGBTQ issues. “It will be worth it as long as there are people who tell me that I am an inspiration to them or that I have helped them learn more about themselves and feel more comfortable in their skin,” they said. “That’s the most meaningful thing to me. There are queer couples who have gotten engaged at my concerts, and that’s really special.”
Tyler Piccotti first joined the Biography.com staff as an Associate News Editor in February 2023, and before that worked almost eight years as a newspaper reporter and copy editor. He is a graduate of Syracuse University. When he's not writing and researching his next story, you can find him at the nearest amusement park, catching the latest movie, or cheering on his favorite sports teams.
