Janelle Monae opens up about her discoveries about herself and says she identifies as non-binary.
In the recent episode of ‘Red Table Talk,’ the singer says she doesn’t see herself as being a woman solely. Janelle, who came out as pansexual in 2018, added, “I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or the ‘she.’ And if I am from God, I am everything.”
However, the ‘Hidden Figures actor did say regardless of her identity, she will “always, always stand with women” and “always stand with Black women.”
Later in the episode, Janelle shares why she chose to discuss her gender identity publicly.
“Somebody said, ‘If you don’t work out the things that you need to work out first before you share with the world, then you’ll be working it out with the world,’” Janelle explained. “That’s what I didn’t want to do. So I thought I needed to have all my answers correct. I didn’t want to say the wrong thing.”
Janelle added that her family not knowing her gender preferences played a part in her publicly slowly speaking about the matter.
“I wasn’t ready to have my family question my personal life or get calls from people who still look at me as Little Pumpkin. That’s what they call me back home—I needed to talk to my dad, who was just great. My sister knew already because I’ve been in monogamous relationships. I’ve been in polyamorous relationships. But I knew that I couldn’t be Little Pumpkin. I couldn’t be little Janelle,” she explained.
She also spoke about her potential partner’s specific gender identity not affecting her decision to pursue them. “I don’t see how you identify,” Janelle says. “And I feel like that opens you up to fall in love with whoever, with any beautiful spirit.”
