Demi Lovato announced Wednesday that they are nonbinary and will be using the pronouns they and them.
The pop singer, 28, announced the decision on social media.
“Every day we wake up, we are given another opportunity and chance to be who we want and wish to be,” Lovato wrote. “I’ve spent the majority of my life growing in front of all of you. You’ve seen the good, the bad, and everything in between.”
The singer, whose hits include “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Heart Attack” and “Stone Cold,” recently shared their personal struggles with mental health and addiction in a YouTube documentary, CNN reported. The video followed their journey before and after a near-fatal overdose in 2018.
Lovato said that they felt the overdose happened because they were “ignoring (their) truth” and “suppressing” themselves to please stylists, team members and fans who wanted them to be “the sexy, feminine pop star in the leotard,” Variety reported.
“I thought that was what I was supposed to be, and now I just realize that it’s so much more important to live your truth than to ever suppress yourself because that’s the type of stuff that happens when you do,” Lovato said.
Leaders with the LGBTQ group GLAAD responded favorably to Lovato’s announcement.
“Demi has always been one of the loudest and proudest advocates for LGBTQ people and issues,” Anthony Ramos, GLAAD’s head of talent, said in a statement. “In sharing their story today, they will educate countless people around the world and reach other nonbinary people with a message of pride.”
GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis congratulated Lovato in a tweet.
In late March, Lovato came out as pansexual, announcing on “The Joe Rogan Experience” that they were attracted to men, women and “anything” in between, “Today” reported.
“I’m so fluid now, and a part of the reason why I am so fluid is because I was super closeted off,” Lovato said.