Photo: Adriana M. Barraza/WENN
Lil Nas X was “afraid” of coming out as gay fearing “judgment” and “ridicule” from the world.
The Old Town Road hitmaker came out in June 2019, and has now admitted he was terrified of telling the world he is gay but knew he had to
“stand in (his) truth” for the sake of all the other young people like him.
He said: “I was afraid because I knew the world was watching, and all I ever saw for boys like me was judgment and ridicule, but it was because the world was watching, that I knew I had to stand in my truth.”
And Nas X ” whose real name is Montero Hill ” said he hopes society reaches a point where it is “no longer ground-breaking” for LGBTQ artists to find success.
Speaking as he was honored at the Native Son Awards, he said: “Some people say I am pushing an agenda, and I am. It’s called liberation.
There’s no road map when you’re the first to break a barrier, and I hope that one day it’s no longer ground-breaking for queer artists to find mainstream success”. Until that day comes, there’s work to do and I will continue to do my part.”
When Nas X released his single, Montero (Call Me By Your Name), it was accompanied by a note written to his 14-year-old self, in which he shared he initially feared he would have to be “straight passing” if he wanted to continue his career.
He explained: “(I thought that I wouldn’t be) allowed to be really sensual or anything … like, I’m gay but I’m not ‘gay’ … like, I’m gay but I have to make sure you feel like I can be straight passing too.”
