Some of the biggest stars in the LGBTQ+ community opened up about their personal journeys of self-acceptance and coming out at the ‘Can’t Cancel Pride’ event on Thursday.
The virtual celebration, hosted by iHeartRadio and P&G, featured performances and appearances by JoJo Siwa, Raven-Symoné, Lil Nas X, Demi Lovato, Elton John, and more.
ET spoke with some of the celebrities who shared their advice and experiences for those who are struggling with their identity or facing discrimination.
JoJo Siwa, who came out as pansexual earlier this year, said she was inspired by her girlfriend Kylie Prew to be herself.
‘She was super encouraging. She was like, ‘Do it!’ And I was like, ‘All right.’ And I did it,’ Siwa said.
Raven-Symoné, who married Miranda Pearman-Maday last year, said she felt ‘free’ after coming out as a lesbian in 2013.
‘I felt like I could finally live for myself and not for anyone else,’ she said. ‘I felt like I didn’t have to lie anymore.’
Lil Nas X, who came out as gay in 2019, said he hopes his music and his story can help others feel less alone.
‘I want to show them that you can be yourself and you can still be successful,’ he said. ‘You can still be loved by millions of people.’
Demi Lovato, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, said they are still learning and growing every day.
‘I think the best advice I can give is just be patient with yourself,’ they said. ‘Don’t feel like you have to have it all figured out.’
The ‘Can’t Cancel Pride’ event raised funds and awareness for LGBTQ+ organizations, including GLAAD, SAGE, The Trevor Project, CenterLink, and OutRight Action International.
