Let the rumors be true.
So sings Janelle Monáe on her brand new album.
And so says Janelle Monáe, basically, in the latest issue of Rolling Stone.
The singer opens up about her sexuality for the first time in an extended chat with the national publication.
“Being a queer black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women, I consider myself to be a free-ass motherf-cker,” says the artist in this cover story.
She first identified as bisexual, Monáe explains, “but then later I read about pansexuality and was like, ‘Oh, these are things that I identify with, too.
“I’m open to learning more about who I am.”
As defined by Wikipedia, pansexuality (also referred to sometimes as “omnisexuality”) is the “sexual, romantic or emotional attraction towards people regardless of their sex or gender identity.”
This admission should not come as a major surprise to anyone who has been following the life and/or career of Monáe.
Monáe has been linked to actress Tessa Thompson for awhile now, yet she refused to discuss her dating life with Rolling Stone.
She didn’t want to get into any specifics.
The singer, though, says she’s never gone out of her way to hide her sexuality; that she never was trying to keep it some big secret.
“If you listen to my albums, it’s there,” she says.
Has she had a big talk with her loved ones about this side of her personal life? No.
Will she? Maybe.
“I literally do not have time to hold a town-hall meeting with my big-ass family and be like, ‘Hey, news flash!"” she tells the magazine.
The veteran singer said she’s concerned they’ll bring it up when she visits her home town of Kansas City.
“There are people in my life that love me and they have questions,” Monáe explains. “And I guess when I get there, I’ll have to answer those questions.”
She will now, yes.
Monáe’s new album comes out tomorrow and the singer says she hopes it will serve as an inspiration to everyone who gives it a listen.
“I want young girls, young boys, nonbinary, gay, straight, queer people who are having a hard time dealing with their sexuality, dealing with feeling ostracized or bullied for just being their unique selves, to know that I see you,” she tells Rolling Stone.
She then concludes:
“This album is for you. Be proud.”
