American pop singer Demi Lovato comes out as non-binary

Singer Demi Lovato has come out as non-binary, officially changing their pronouns to they/them to best represent the “fluidity I feel in my gender expression”.

They said it “allows me to feel most authentic and true to the person I both know I am and still am discovering”.

The 28-year-old star announced the news in an Instagram video to their 104 million followers.

“Every day we wake up, we are given another opportunity and chance to be who we want and wish to be. 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,” they said.

“Not only has my life been a journey for myself, I was also living for those on the other side of the cameras.

“Today is a day I’m so happy to share more of my life with you all – I am proud to let you know that I identify as non-binary and will officially be changing my pronouns to they/them moving forward.”

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Lovato – who rose to fame on Disney series Barney & Friends and Sonny with a Chance, and the Camp Rock films – said their coming out followed “a lot of healing and self-reflective work”.

“I’m still learning and coming into myself, and I don’t claim to be an expert or a spokesperson,” they said.

“Sharing this with you now opens another level of vulnerability for me. I’m doing this for those out there that haven’t been able to share who they truly are with their loved ones. Please keep living in your truths and know I am sending so much love your way.”

Lovato went into more depth on the first episode of their podcast series 4D, linking the revelation to their near-fatal drug overdose three years ago.

“Now I realise it’s so much more important to live your truth than to ever suppress yourself because that’s the kind of stuff that happens when you do.”

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The singer said there was “nothing more freeing for me than to be unattached to a role that society wants me to play”.

“I fully believe that gender is just another boundary that separates humanity from divine wisdom,” they added.

Lovato also addressed their new pronouns going forward, saying “it would mean the world if people could start identifying me as they/them”.

“I will also be accepting if people slip and say her/she, because I know being in my position, it’s going to take a while for people to get used to. I just want them to be making the effort,” they said.

“I think it’s important because I want to use these pronouns to feel right to me; I also just don’t want people to be so afraid of messing up that they don’t try to use them.”