Janelle Monae is determined to “live with integrity”.
The 36-year-old singer, who came out as non-binary in April, has been surprised by the accolades she’s received from the LGBTQ community in recent months.
she says:
“I’ve just tried to live true to myself and be honest. I want to honor that through art and storytelling, and as a free mother.”
Janelle actually feels ‘free’ like never before.
she told E! News: “As long as I am patient and know who I am and how I perceive myself, and as long as I respect that, I feel lighter.
“When I talk about nonbinary storytellers and communities, I feel like I have more freedom and more work to do.
“I think a lot of people will be more educated if we can get more visibility.”
Janelle also recalled having an “internal conversation” before announcing she was non-binary.
The award-winning star says, “You can have an inner conversation with yourself until you feel better.
“I had to talk to myself, and then I had to talk to my family and loved ones, before I started allowing it to spill over into my art. The world.”
Janelle first opened up about gender fluidity when she appeared on “Red Table Talk” earlier this year.
“I’m non-binary, so I only see myself as a woman,” she said at the time.
“I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than ‘him’ or ‘she’. If I am from God, I am everything. I am everything.” , I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with black women.”
