Lil Nas X didn't come out gay fearing fans would leave him: 'They're not accepting of homosexuality'
The 'Old Town Road' singer Lil Nas X revealed that he never thought he'd come out as part of the LGBTQ+ community and would stay in the closet forever. However, during the month of Pride in June, Lil Nas X announced he was gay after he came out to his sister and father.
As reported by Daily Mail, Lil Nas, 20, said, "the honest truth is I planned to die with the secret, but that changed when I became Lil Nas X." He went on to explain, now, as part of the LGBT community, he feels for the individuals that don't feel ready to come out of the closet. "I 100% want to represent the LGBT community. I don't want to encourage them to do something they don't 100% want to do," he said.
Born and raised in Georgia, The well-acclaimed singer spoke of how individuals may have to fear many things that are associated with coming out — especially to family members, as he spoke of times when he was growing up. "Especially in, like, middle school or high school. Because it's just super hard. It's easier for me. I'm not depending on anybody. There's no one who's going to kick me out of the house — nobody to start treating me s***y, in contrast to another 20-year-old who doesn't quite have it figured out and still lives with his parents," he revealed.
He also shared details on how his father and the rest of his family members don't really converse about this. "I should talk to them more. My family knows now. But it's not something that's ever brought up or we speak about. We're quiet on it. Nobody's like: 'Oh, you got a boyfriend?'"
"I would like it to be a healthy medium between: 'Who are you f***ing?' and just not saying anything," he continued. His parents divorced when Lil Nas X was just 6 years old, and he continued to live with his mother in a housing project until he was nine years of age, after which he moved in with his father to the suburbs. Lil Nas X does not speak to his mother, and had only one thing to say about his relationship with her, "People have to be willing to help themselves first before you can help them."
He had also revealed to Billboard that coming out to his father, a gospel singer, was nerve-wracking. He says coming out publicly was "something I never probably would have did if I was still living with my parents. I have that independence to do it, you know?"
Nas had also revealed to Time, after he publicly came out that growing up, he was taught that being homosexual "is never going to be OK" and that's why he was hesitant to take the leap of faith. Not to mention, that he thought his fans, would leave him, "I know the people who listen to this the most, and they're not accepting of homosexuality," he said.
On coming out about his sexual orientation, he said the was "in a way pushed by the universe," explaining, "In June, I'm seeing Pride flags everywhere and seeing couples holding hands — little stuff like that."