Star asks to be called ‘they’

Singer Sam Smith has asked friends and family to no longer refer to him by gender — instead asking them to use “they” rather than “he”.

The Sun reports, the plea comes after Sam, who identifies as gay, revealed he was questioning his gender and had considered a sex change.

A pal said: “This is a decision Sam has thought long and hard about, including doing a lot of reading on up it.

“He knows that it will take some people longer than others to fully get it.

“First the request is going out to mates and then it will be passed on to the music industry too. It’s an exciting and groundbreaking time for him.”

Smith took to Instagram to confirm the reports.

Sam, 27, thanked Hits Radio presenter James Barr on Twitter after he wrote: “Just interviewed Sam Smith and they sounded so happy and free and more themselves than ever.”

Sam responded: “You’re one of the first people to use these pronouns with me. Thank you. That feels really beautiful.”

Sam, who won best song Oscar with Writing’s on the Wall from Bond film Spectre, said in May: “Right now my focus is the non-binary conversation.

“I have a few friends and people in my team who are non-binary and they’re really teaching me stuff I didn’t know before. It’s wonderful.

“Ever since I was a little boy, ever since I was a little human, I didn’t feel comfortable being a man really.”

“Some days I’ve got my manly side and some days I’ve got my womanly side.”

In a March interview with actress Jameela Jamil, Smith spoke of gender identity.

“You are just you,” Smith said.

“You are a mixture of all different things. You are your own special creation. That’s how I take it. I’m not male or female. I think I float somewhere in between.”
 

Bravo to @samsmith ❤️❤️❤️ With more and more people in the public eye coming out as Non Binary... can we convince the industry to allow awards ceremonies to create a third gender category? I feel as though this shouldn’t be too hard. ?? pic.twitter.com/bgo5x6cooE

— Jameela Jamil ? (@jameelajamil) September 13, 2019