Demi Lovato’s Non-Binary Awareness Week Post Tells Those Who Misgender Them ‘It’s Okay’
When celebrity Demi Lovato publicly declared themself non-binary, the reactions from fans and those on the sidelines varied greatly. Not everyone has accepted the former Disney Channel star’s new pronouns. But Lovato addressed those who’ve misgendered them with a positive message.
Demi Lovato came out as non-binary in 2021
This year brought a lot of revealing moments for Lovato. The artist opened up about the time before, during, and after their 2018 overdose in a docuseries, Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil. They also released an autobiographical album, Dancing with the Devil… the Art of Starting Over, around the same time.
But perhaps the most significant shift for the star arrived when they came out as non-binary. While announcing their podcast, 4D with Demi, Lovato told fans, “I identity as non-binary. With that said, I’ll officially be changing my pronouns to they/them. I feel that this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression.”
Lovato’s non-binary awareness week post
Being misgendered is a common experience for non-binary individuals. In a viral clip, musician Lizzo corrected a photographer who used the wrong pronouns for Lovato. Lovato, in turn, thanked Lizzo on social media. And on July 13, 2021, during Non-Binary Awareness Week, the singer continued the discussion.
“If you misgender me – That’s okay,” the text post began. “I accidentally misgender myself sometimes! It’s a huge transition to change the pronouns I’ve used for myself my entire life. And it’s difficult to remember sometimes!”
“As long as you keep trying to respect my truth, And as long as I remember my truth, The shift will come naturally,” Lovato continued. “I’m just grateful for your effort in trying to remember what means so much to my healing process,” they finished.
“I felt the need to post this because I often find that the change in pronouns can be confusing for some, and difficult to remember for others. It’s all about your intention. It’s important to me that you try, but if you make a mistake, it’s okay,” Lovato wrote in a caption. They added, “remember that I love you, and to keep going.”
Lovato on their experience coming out
Establishing their pronouns and identity publicly meant a lot to Lovato. “It has been so rewarding to hear how many people it has helped and it has impacted,” the artist told their friend, Alok Vaid-Menon, during a YouTube Pride 2021 event.
Lovato also commented on the “people telling me that they hadn’t heard of what non-binary means until I changed my pronouns,” who noted that “it forced them to take a look at the topic.”
Being out during Pride month was a new experience for Lovato. “It feels incredible. I just feel like I’m finally showing the world my truth, too. It’s been really cool,” they said. The singer continued. “For me, this has been my truth.”
