American Idol star David Archuleta has publically come out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.
The singer took to Instagram on Saturday (June 12) to reveal that he came out as gay to his family on 2014, but he actually feels like he exists on "a spectrum of bisexual."
Archuleta explained that he'd made the decision to publically share his story because he knows "many other people from religious upbringings feel the same way" and wants them to know they are "not alone".
"I've been open to myself and my close family for some years now that I am not sure about my own sexuality," the singer wrote. "I came out in 2014 as gay to my family. But then I had similar feelings for both genders so maybe a spectrum of bisexual."
"Then I also have learned I don't have too much sexual desires and urges as most people which works I guess because I have a commitment to save myself until marriage. Which people call asexual when they don't experience sexual urges.
"There are people experiencing the same feelings of being LGBTQIA+, (I know that’s a lot of letters that a lot of people don’t understand, but there are a lot of unique experiences people feel and live that make them feel isolated and alone that are represented) who are wrestling to follow their beliefs that are so important to them, just as I have."
Archuleta continued: "Idk what to make of it and I don't have all the answers. I just invite you to please consider making room to be more understanding and compassionate to those who are LGBTQIA+, and those who are a part of that community and trying to find that balance with their faith which also is a huge part of their identity like myself."
He said that, in his opinion, Christians and Mormons need to "do better" by listening to LGBTQ+ people of faith.
"For me to find peace the reality has been to accept both are real things I experience and make who I am... You can be part of the LGBTQIA+ community and still believe in God and His gospel plan," he wrote.
The singer rose to prominence in 2008 when he was runner-up on American Idol. He went on to release three albums before taking a break from music to work as a Christian missionary in Chile in 2012, the Independent reports.
