Demi Lovato has revealed in a recent interview how she came out to her mom and stepdad about her sexuality.
The 30-year-old pop sensation recalled the two conversations she had and how accepting her parents were of her sexuality, during a chat with SiriusXM.
Reflecting on how she shared the news, Lovato said: "I came from a Christian background and grew up queer but didn’t tell people until I felt comfortable with it.
"It took me until I was 25 to come out to my mom. At the time, I was bisexual, then I realized I was pansexual. It took me a while."
At the time, Lovato had stormed the charts with 'Cool For The Summer', and the message behind the lyrics to the song was a giveaway to the star's stepdad.
"It was kind of funny because I released 'Cool For The Summer' before I came out to my parents. [The] 'got a taste for the cherry/I just need to take a bite' lyrics [are] very obvious but I didn’t feel I was ready.
"One day I was about to go to a show, and I was sitting on a plane with my stepdad, who is basically my dad, and I was like: 'Hey, I need to tell you something, I like girls too'. And he was like, 'Yeah. I know, you have 'Cool For The Summer' out', and I was like: 'Oh'.”
Lovato also shared that her mom had a similar reaction.
"I was getting ready to go on a date with a girl and I didn’t know if I would be photographed or what would happen and I really liked this girl and I was like: 'I think it’s time to tell my mom in case it becomes serious'.
"I sat my mom down and said: 'I need to talk to you. You know, I am about to go on a date with a girl and I just wanted you to know and hear from me that I like girls too'. She almost started crying and was like, 'I just want you to be happy.'"
During the interview, Lovato explained how much the two reactions meant to her and how valuable having such positive coming out experiences was. The 'Heart Attack' singer mentioned how "there are so many parents who don't respond that way" and that, as a member of the LGBTQ+ community she wants to provide "that energy, community and safe space" for her young LGBTQ+ fans.
Lovato also makes sure to post a lot of content inclusive of the community on her social media channels so fans can feel "appreciated and valued" in the same way her parents made her feel during her two conversations with them. With an Instagram following of over 156 million people, she is one of the most widely followed LGBTQ+ celebrities in the world.
In 2021, Lovato came out as non-binary and recently also reclaimed she/her as well as they/them pronouns. Her latest single 'Swine' is a pro-choice anthem off her upcoming album Revamped, due out in September, which will see the popstar's biggest hits, including the aforementioned 'Cool For The Summer', reimagined as rock songs.
