Janelle Monáe: 'I Am Very Proud to Be a Queer, Young, Black Woman in America'
Janelle Monáe isn’t interested in hiding her true self.
The 32-year-old singer got candid on CBS Sunday Morning over the weekend, discussing her sexuality openly while talking about her new album, Dirty Computer.
After the “Tightrope” singer came out as “pansexual” in a cover story for Rolling Stone, she elaborated even further on Sunday’s show. It started when Monáe brought up her longtime mentor, Prince.
“If this was Star Wars, he was kind of like Yoda to my Han Solo,” she said of the late “Purple Rain” singer.
CBS correspondent, Tony Dokoupil, then asked about Prince’s influence on how she wants to portray her sexuality, considering he was a straight male who often came off as sexually fluid. Dokoupil wanted to know if Monáe planned to leave the same “question” in her work.
“I think that is important for people to be proud of their identity,” she said. “I am very proud to be a queer, young black woman in America. I’m proud of who I am.”
She also thinks it’s important to be open about her identity for the sake of her fans.
“I love myself, and I want for all the Dirty Computers around the world to feel seen, to be heard, and to feel celebrated and to know that I’m right there with you,” she said of the label she’s trademarked on her new record.
After initially coming out as bisexual, Monáe redefined her identity in Rolling Stone last week, saying, “Later I read about pansexuality and was like, ‘Oh, these are things that I identify with too. I’m open to learning more about who I am.”
The term “pansexual” means an attraction toward someone regardless of their sex or gender identity.
For more from Monáe, watch the clip below!
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