Demi Lovato has expressed their frustration with the lack of gender-neutral restrooms, saying that being non-binary is "absolutely exhausting".
The 30-year-old Camp Rock actress first came out as non-binary in May 2021 and announced that they have changed their pronouns to "they/them" during the pilot episode of their podcast, 4D.
The 'Cool for the Summer' artist told fans that they had been "doing some healing and self-reflective work" in the past year that had ultimately led them to re-examine their gender identity.
"With that said, I’ll officially be changing my pronouns to 'they/them'. I feel that this best represents the fluidity that I feel in my gender expression, and allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am and still am discovering," Lovato added.
Then in August of 2022, Lovato announced that they have started using she/her pronouns again during an episode of the Spout Podcast, explaining: "I think what's important is nobody's perfect. Everyone messes up pronouns at some point, and especially when people are learning. It's just all about respect."
About a year later, the Grammy-nominated singer opened up in a new interview with GQ Hype Spain about her identity and revealed the reason she decided to re-adopt she/her pronouns in addition to they/them pronouns last year.
"I constantly had to educate people and explain why I identified with those pronouns. It was absolutely exhausting," Lovato said, translated from Spanish to English. "I just got tired. But for that very reason, I know that it is important to continue spreading the word."
The Disney Channel alum also spoke about how "exhausting" the continued limitations placed on nonbinary people in society are, such as gendered bathrooms or paperwork that doesn’t contain gender-neutral identifiers.
She explained that she often has no choice but to enter a women-only bathroom, even though she doesn’t "completely identify with it" and "would feel more comfortable in a genderless bathroom".
"I face this every day. For example, in public toilets. Having to access the women's bathroom, even though I don't completely identify with it," the 'Sorry Not Sorry' hitmaker said. "Or it also happens when filling out forms, such as government documents or any other where you have to specify your gender."
"You only have two options, male and female, and I feel like none of that makes sense to me," they expressed. "I see myself conditioned to choose a woman because there are no more," she continued. "I think this has to change. Hopefully, with time there will be more options."
This isn’t the first time the 'Stone Cold' singer has voiced their tiredness with the backlash they have received after sharing so much of their personal life in music and interviews.
In a 2022 interview with The Los Angeles Times, Lovato stated that she was "done spoon-feeding myself to the media," adding: "These are my pronouns and this is who I am."
"I’m putting myself out there and that’s what people should appreciate. And the ones that don’t can f*** off. I’m tired of explaining myself. I’m so tired. With all due respect, I’m not going to answer questions that I don’t want you to know," she continued. "And I think that’s an empowering place to be when I’ve shared everything with everyone my whole life."
Despite the difficulties she has and continues to face, Lovato told GQ Hype Spain that she believes she made the right choice to go public with their self-identity.
"It will be worth it as long as there are people who tell me that I am an inspiration to them or that I have helped them learn more about themselves and feel more comfortable in their skin," she said. "That is the most significant thing for me."