Demi Lovato has explained her decision to switch her pronouns from they/them to she/her.
At 32 years old, Lovato rose to fame with her performances in the popular Disney films Camp Rock (2008) and its sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010).
In addition to her acting success, she has enjoyed a thriving music career, with estimates suggesting she has sold over 24 million records in the U.S. alone.
Throughout the years, Lovato has been very candid with her fans about her gender identity and sexuality.
In 2021, the ‘Heart Attack’ singer shared on Instagram that she identifies as non-binary.
The pop star announced, “Today is a day I’m so happy to share more of my life with you all. I am proud to let you know that I identify as non-binary and will officially be changing my pronouns to they/them moving forward. This has come after a lot of healing and self-reflective work. I’m still learning and discovering myself, and I don’t claim to be an expert or a spokesperson.”
Lovato spoke candidly with actress Jane Fonda on Fire Drill Friday about her childhood and how it shaped her understanding of gender identity.
She shared with Fonda, “Growing up in Dallas, Texas, in a Christian environment, I faced many societal expectations regarding sexuality and gender.”
“And I consider myself to be quite fluid; I’m free-spirited and open-minded.”
The ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ artist characterized her early years as “very confusing,” noting that her environment in the South was “not very open.”
Fortunately, Lovato seems to be much more at ease discussing her gender identity and sexuality these days. During YouTube Pride, she expressed her gratitude to her family for “using my pronouns.”
She also shared with fans that this shift came as she began to learn more about herself.
In an interview with the music podcast Audacy Check-In, the ‘Cool for the Summer’ singer explained, “As I’ve learned more about gender identity and what it means to be non-binary or gender non-conforming, I’ve taken this time to explore what feels right for me.
“After a year and a half of exploration, I realized it was important to share that being referred to as ‘she’ or ‘her’ feels uncomfortable for me.”
“I understand that it may be difficult for people to adjust because this is new for them, but I encourage everyone to keep trying. I recognize that it’s a process to get used to,” Lovato said.
She also admitted that she sometimes “messes up” when it comes to pronouns.
Elsewhere on the podcast, Lovato shared that she has developed deep friendships within the LGBTQIA+ community.
“I used to define family as those who are blood-related, but now my queer friends feel more like family than just friends,” she stated.
“And I feel like I now have two families: my blood relatives and my queer family, which I consider my chosen family,” she expressed.
A year before she came out about her gender identity, Lovato’s engagement to actor and singer Max Ehrich ended.
Later, the ‘La La Land’ singer shared with Glamour that she views their breakup as a blessing in disguise.
She told the publication, “As I got older, I began to realize just how queer I truly am. Last year, I was engaged to a man, and when that didn’t work out, I thought, ‘This is a significant sign.’”
“I believed I was going to spend my life with someone, and when that didn’t happen, I felt a sense of relief that I could finally live my truth,” she reflected.
During an appearance at the 19th Represents Summit, Lovato also noted, “By saying goodbye to that relationship, I was also letting go of everything that had been holding me back from being my most authentic self.”
The pop vocalist also shared with the outlet that she was uncertain about how her journey of gender exploration would unfold.
“There may come a time when I identify as trans. I’m not sure what this will look like for me. I could also identify as non-binary and gender non-conforming for my entire life,” she explained.
“Or maybe there will come a time when I identify as a woman as I get older. I’m not sure what that will look like, but for me, in this moment, this is how I identify.”
However, over time, it seems Lovato has grown more accepting of people using she/her pronouns when referring to her.
The ‘Skyscraper’ artist appeared on the Sprout Podcast and shared, “I’ve actually adopted the pronouns ‘she/her’ again.
“Last year, my energy was balanced between my masculine and feminine aspects, so when I faced the choice of walking into a bathroom labeled ‘women’ or ‘men,’ it felt more straightforward.”
“I didn’t feel like there was a bathroom for me because I didn’t necessarily identify as a woman or a man; I just felt like a human,” she said.
Lovato also mentioned that she had been “feeling more feminine” lately.
“But I think what’s important is that nobody’s perfect,” she concluded. “Everyone messes up pronouns at some point, especially while they’re learning. It’s all about respect.”
