Demi Lovato says coming out as queer helped her embrace authenticity

Demi Lovato is happy that she came out as queer when she did, noting that identifying as such has made it easier for her to connect with the queer community.

In a recent interview with Paper magazine, the former Disney starlet turned pop star spoke about her connection to queer club culture. "I love going out with my friends," she said. "I love dancing, and I love doing that in queer spaces because it feels safe to me."

The pansexual singer added, "If I were to go to a straight club, it just doesn't feel as safe. I feel there's more danger…I feel like when I go to a queer space, I know that I'm with my friends. I know I'll have a great time,"

Lovato added that she's always felt safer in queer spaces because "queer people have a way of living so authentically that it makes me feel like I can live authentically."

Lovato didn't stray away from talking about how she'd always longed for that sort of community and "having people around me that make me feel safe to be myself" as a young queer kid living in Texas. "I had a lot of religious shame around coming out, and I think that's because growing up in the Bible belt…or maybe Texas isn't in the Bible belt, but you know what I mean. Same thing," the singer explained in the interview. "So now I get to go out, and I get to live authentically and be myself, and it feels amazing."

Lovato then talked about how she's also doing this with her music. "I'm celebrating with my music, too, you know?" she added. "I went to a queer party and played 'Kiss.' It went really great. I’m so happy with how everyone loved it."

The singer is in the midst of a new era in her pop star career, which is a complete switch-up from her last full-length project, 2022's HOLY FVCK. Now, she's focusing on club-ready dance music, and fans got a taste of what's to come on her upcoming ninth studio album, It's Not That Deep, out on October 24, with the two lead singles, "Fast" and "Here All Night."