Selena Gomez has long championed LGBTQ rights, making headlines last year when she donated the proceeds from her North Carolina concert to a charity group fighting the state’s controversial bathroom bill. So when Billboard approached her to write a letter in honor of Gay Pride Month, the pop star got up close and personal with anecdotes that reveal the cultural impact of growing up in an open-minded and non-judgmental family.
“I remember as a young child going to brunch on Sundays with my mom and her group of friends. I had no idea they were all gay, as I didn’t even comprehend what that meant at the time,” she wrote. “All I knew is that I loved being surrounded by these kind, fun and loving friends my mother had around her.”
She then opened up about her first time watching the 1991 documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare, which was considered radical at the time of its release. “I loved it and was especially struck by how groundbreaking it was for the gay rights movement and how far LGBTQ rights have come in my lifetime,” she wrote. “There is still a significant amount of work to do, and I look forward to the day when a person is never judged, discriminated or feared for their sexuality.” Us, too.
Read her full letter here.
