Demi Lovato Opens Up About How She Came Out To Her Christian Parents At The Age Of 25

Demi Lovato, the renowned American singer and actress, recently shared a candid account of her journey in coming out to her parents at the age of 25.

During an interview with Sirius XM on July 14, Demi, who identifies with the pronouns they/them/she/her, opened up about her experience. She revealed that she had first discussed her sexuality with her mom and stepdad before publicly coming out in 2020.

Gregg DeGuire / WireImage

Lovato acknowledged that while growing up, she had always known about her queerness, but it wasn't until later that she came out as pansexual. “It took me until I was 25 to come out to my mom. At the time I was bisexual and then I realised I was pansexual. It took me a while,” the singer said.

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

Reflecting on her journey towards embracing her sexuality, Demi Lovato, the singer of the famous track "Skyscraper," candidly discussed her Christian background. She revealed that she grew up queer but chose not to disclose the truth until she felt comfortable with it.

As Demi's music career blossomed, she subtly expressed her sexuality through the lyrics of her songs, including the hit "Cool for the Summer" released in 2015. Interestingly, this happened before she had discussed her sexuality with her parents.

In hindsight, Demi realized that her song "Cool for the Summer" contained "obvious" clues about her sexuality, and her parents also picked up on them. The lyrics featured the line: "Got a taste for the cherry I just need to take a bite," which Demi considered a significant hint to her sexuality, even though she was not yet ready to openly disclose it at that time.

"It's, like, very obvious, but I didn't feel like I was ready," she explained. "One day I was about to go to a show. I was sitting on a plane and I was with my stepdad, who's basically my dad, and I was like, 'Hey, I need to tell you something.' I was like, 'I like girls too.' And he was like, 'Yeah, I know. You have 'Cool for the Summer' out.'"

Demi Lovato / Instagram

As for her mom, Dianna De La Garza, Lovato said she "kind of had the same reaction in a way."

"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. I was like, 'I think it's time to tell my mom in case it becomes serious,'" she said.

"I sat my mom down and I was like, 'I need to talk to you.' I said, 'I am about to go on a date with a girl and I just wanted you to know and hear it from me that I do like girls too.' She just almost started crying and was like, 'I just want you to be happy.'"

Demi Lovato / Instagram

Her mom's response was "so valuable and so appreciated," Lovato said, because "there are so many parents that don't respond that way and it breaks my heart."

It's with that in mind that Lovato uses her social media to be outspoken about the LGBTQ+ community.

"Providing that energy and being a part of the community is so important to me, and providing a safe space is so important too," she said.

"That's why I post on social media all the time about being queer and what it means. Things that are in the public eye, what's going on, current events, I post about it because it's really important to me."

After Demi Lovato came out as nonbinary in 2021, she used only they/them pronouns. But later, she also accepted she/her pronouns alongside they/them for herself.

Getty Images for Operation Smile

"I constantly had to educate people and explain why I identified with those pronouns. It was absolutely exhausting," Lovato told GQ Spain. "I just got tired."

It's "for that very reason," though, that Lovato feels that "it is important to continue spreading the word."

"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. I would feel more comfortable in a genderless bathroom," she 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. I see myself conditioned to choose a woman because there are no more. I think this has to change. Hopefully, with time there will be more options."

"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," Lovato added. "That's the most meaningful thing to me."