R&B singer Janelle Monae says she can relate to the gay
community.
The 27-year-old Kansas City native told Michigan gay weekly Pride
Source that her second studio album The Electric Lady
includes tracks inspired by the gay rights movement.
“I have songs on The Electric Lady – from Sally Ride
to Electric Lady to Q.U.E.E.N., and the list goes on –
where I definitely thought of the gay community in terms of a
community that is oftentimes discriminated against and marginalized,”
Monae said.
Monae added that she can relate to the gay community.
“I can relate being a woman and being African American. There
is definitely stereotypes that I am fighting against. There is
marginalization. There is sexism. So many things that I think we're
mutually having to go through. And I have parents, I have friends, I
have loved ones who come from working-class backgrounds and who have
oftentimes definitely felt oppressed. And I have friends who are
gay. I have people I love and care about, and I feel like I want to
use my platform to bring awareness and talk about that.”
In
an earlier interview, Monae said that she might be dating a
lesbian android.