Singer-songwriter-actor Dolly Parton
talked about her gay following in a recent interview with Michigan
gay weekly PrideSource.
The 70-year-old Parton described how
she helped LGBT people come out.
“I've had many people through the
years who I have helped to feel good about themselves. I say, 'You
need to let people know who you are and you need to come on out. You
don't need to live your life in darkness – what's the point in
that? You're never gonna be happy; you're gonna be sick. You're not
gonna be healthy if you try to suppress your feelings and who you
are,'” Parton
said.
“I have a couple of transgender
people in my company who are on salary with me, so I am totally open
for that. And a lot of people feel like they can come to me. … and
they do! Whether it's about being gay or whatever, a lot of people do
me like they used to do my mama and come to talk to me about things.
Hopefully I'm able to help. I think I have,” she said.
Parton added that in the “early days”
she did not know very many gay people.
“But I know a lot of them now! I
have a huge gay and lesbian following and I'm proud of 'em. I love
'em and I think everybody should be themselves and be allowed to be
themselves whoever they are; whatever they are,” Parton said.