Lil Nas X ended last year’s Pride Month by doing something he never thought he’d do: coming out.
In a new interview with the Guardian, the artist openly discussed his sexuality and the realities of coming out as a young black man. “The honest truth is, I planned to die with the secret,” he told the publication. “But that changed when I became Lil Nas X.”
Though he’s been leaning into that part of his identity—and notably has begun wearing more intricate and extravagant outfits on every red carpet—he also doesn’t want to pressure his young fans into having to dress or look a certain way. “I 100 percent want to represent the LGBT community,” he said. “I don’t want to encourage them to do something they don’t 100 percent want to do. Especially in, like, middle school or high school. Because it’s just super-hard.”
“It’s easier for me,” he continued. “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 shitty.”
He discussed his relationship with his family. Last year, he touched on the “nerve-wracking” experience of coming out to his father—and in the Guardian interview, he reveals he doesn’t speak to his mother.
“My family knows now,” he told the publication. “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 don’t want [my love life] to be something we never talk about. Because what about the kids in my family? I would like it to be a healthy medium between, ‘Who are you fucking?’ and just not saying anything.”
The artist shared some of photographer Mary Rozzi's Guardian shots on IG:
Nas also touched on his decision to not publicly endorse Mayor Pete Buttigieg for president, who dropped out of the race in March. “I’m not too into politics,” Nas said. “I don’t know his political history or motives. The only thing I know…wasn’t he from the Democratic Party? ... All I know is he’s from the Democratic Party and he’s gay. So it’s like…I don’t want to base my support off, ‘Oh, you’re gay, I’m going to support you.’
“Yeah, you’re gay,” he added. “But I don’t know everything you’re planning when you’re running the entire country.”
Lil Nas X noted that though “politics gets me very upset,” he’s reluctant to endorse a candidate “because I don’t know what else they’re doing, or what they’re going to do.” He said that he’ll “of course” vote and “I encourage my fans to vote.”
