Rapper Lil Nas X is one of the hottest rising stars in music today. He has openly discussed his sexuality in both his music and a number of interviews over the past couple of years.
Lil Nas X is gay. He first revealed his homosexuality in the 2019 song “C7osure” and has since been vocal in his support of LGBTQ+ rights and the community as a whole. He has discussed the responsibility that comes with being a gay public figure and hopes he can use his platform to encourage others to come out when they are ready.
Continue reading for more on Nas’ story, accepting his sexuality and publicly coming out.
Early Years
Montero Lamar Hill was born and raised in Lithia Springs, Georgia, a small city near Atlanta. His parents divorced when he was six and he lived both with his mother and grandmother, then with his father, a gospel singer.
He discovered the internet as a teenager and found he could express his personality and sense of humour more openly online. It was also during this time that he first realized he was gay, later stating that he desperately prayed it was a phase and that he hoped he might grow out of it. By the time he left Georgia, he had learnt to accept himself but could not yet come out as gay publicly, fearing the potential consequences.
Coming Out
Adopting the name Lil Nas X for his rap career, Hill felt that his fame and wealth gave him an opportunity to be open about his sexuality. He revealed the truth in his track “C7osure“, encouraging his Twitter followers to listen closely to the lyrics.
He hopes others will feel comfortable coming out as gay or bisexual but also warns people to not take that step unless they feel ready or properly supported. It’s a decision that they must make for themselves and not one to be pressured into, even by those who are accepting of their sexuality.
Nas believes it was easier for him to come out due to his financial independence and that people who rely on others often feel the need to be more cautious in revealing their sexuality. He has stated that he likely would have died with his secret intact, if not for the confidence and platform provided by his rap success.
It was during a performance alongside Miley Cyrus as the Glastonbury festival that he decided to publicly reveal his sexuality, feeling empowered by his rapidly growing fanbase. He later poked fun at his coming out in a series of April Fools’ Day tweets, where he jokingly revealed that he was taking “a stand to lead the other straight people. He quickly made clear that this was not actually the case and he is still a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Supporting LGBTQ+
Lil Nas X struggled through the turmoil and inner conflict of accepting his homosexuality as a teenager but has since become a proud member of his community. He hopes that he can be a positive gay role model and he might set an example for others to come out. It hurts him to know that young people might be bullied for listening to his music.
Nas received homophobic criticism for some of his style choices, such as from Georgia rapper Pastor Troy. He downplayed the attack in his Twitter response, joking “damn i look good in that pic”, a sign that he won’t let intolerance alter how he presents himself.
Time Magazine included Nas in their list “The 25 Most Influential People on the Internet” and it’s clear that he wants to use that influence to spread positivity and acceptance. If he continues encouraging his fans to be proud and embrace who they are, Lil Nas X should be able to make a significant difference in the future.