Janelle Monáe

She used to “only date androids,” or so she said, but this year, singer and actress Janelle Monáe opened up about her sexuality when she came out in a Rolling Stone article. The Dirty Computer singer had long avoided labeling herself, though she admitted later to dropping hints of bisexuality in her music. (Also, that video for her recent single “PYNK”? Hello!) But in an April cover story, she said, “Being a queer Black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women — I consider myself to be a free-ass motherfucker.” (LGBTQ FAM? Yes, please.) She went on to say she had been reading about the term “pansexual” and realized she identified with it, in addition to the term “bisexual.” After sharing this personal side of herself, Monáe went a step further, saying she wanted be a role model to queer and questioning people. “I want young girls, young boys, nonbinary, gay, straight, queer people who are having a hard time dealing with their sexuality, dealing with feeling ostracized or bullied for just being their unique selves, to know that I see you,” she told Rolling Stone. “This album is for you. Be proud.” —SEJ