Demi Lovato comes out as nonbinary, changes pronouns to they/them

Demi Lovato has come out as nonbinary and is changing their pronouns to they/them, the singer announced in a heartfelt video post. 

"I want to take this moment to share something very personal with you," Lovato, 28, began a minute-and-a-half-long video posted Wednesday. "The past year and a half, I've been doing some healing and self-reflective work. And through this work, I've had this revelation that I identify as nonbinary. With that said, I'll officially be changing my pronouns to they/them." 

They added: "I feel this best represents the fluidity I feel in my gender expression and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am and am still discovering." 

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Lovato has been in the spotlight since their teenage years on Disney Channel before hitting it big as a singer – the artist has twice been nominated for a Grammy Award. Most recently, Lovato opened up in a four-part YouTube docuseries "Dancing with the Devil" that debuted in March, sharing harrowing details from the leadup and aftermath of their near-fatal 2018 overdose.

"Every day we wake up, we are given another opportunity and chance to be who we want and wish to be," Lovato wrote in the video caption. "I’ve spent the majority of my life growing in front of all of you ... you’ve seen the good, the bad, and everything in between. Not only has my life been a journey for myself, I was also living for those on the other side of the cameras."

Lovato's announcement was made in conjunction with their first episode of new podcast "4D with Demi Lovato," which featured a conversation with author and performer Alok Vaid-Menon, who Lovato dubbed "an important voice within the nonbinary community." 

"I want to make it clear that I'm still learning and coming into myself, and I don't claim to be an expert or a spokesperson. I know this might be a new conversation for many," Lovato said, adding in the video caption that "sharing this with you now opens another level of vulnerability for me. I’m doing this for those out there that haven’t been able to share who they truly are with their loved ones. Please keep living in your truths and know I am sending so much love your way." 

What is nonbinary? 

GLAAD defines nonbinary as a term used by some "who experience their gender identity and/or gender expression as falling outside the categories of man and woman. They may define their gender as falling somewhere in between man and woman, or they may define it as wholly different from these terms." It has become increasingly more common for some people who identify as nonbinary use a singular "they/them" pronoun. 

“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,” Anthony Allen Ramos, GLAAD’s Head of Talent, said Wednesday in a statement.

“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.” 

Other stars who have spoken about being nonbinary include Jonathan Van Ness, Amandla Stenberg, Indya Moore and Nico Tortorella. 

Grammy-winning singer Sam Smith came out as nonbinary and genderqueer in 2019, sharing a few months later they use "they/them" pronouns after what the pop star called a "lifetime of being at war with my gender."

"Today is a good day so here goes. I've decided I am changing my pronouns to THEY/THEM," Smith wrote on social media at the time. "After a lifetime of being at war with my gender I've decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out."

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Smith was excited to share the news and said they felt privileged to be getting support, but was also "very nervous" to make the announcement because they "care too much about what people think." 

"I understand there will be many mistakes and mis gendering but all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now. ... I am at no stage just yet to eloquently speak at length about what it means to be non binary but I can’t wait for the day that I am. So for now I just want to be VISIBLE and open." 

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