Yahoo Movies David Archuleta Says He Is Part of LGBTQIA+ Community, Opens Up About Finding ‘That Balance’ With Faith
“American Idol” alum David Archuleta has come out as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and is opening up about his experience reconciling his Mormon faith with his sexuality.
“I like to keep to myself but also thought this was important to share because I know so many other people from religious upbringings feel the same way,” Archuleta wrote in a heartfelt Instagram post. “I’ve been open to myself and my close family for some years now that I am not sure about my own sexuality.”
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Archuleta then detailed that he originally came out as gay to his family in 2014, but has since become uncertain of exactly where he falls on the spectrum of sexuality.
“I came out in 2014 as gay to my family. But then I had similar feelings for both genders so maybe a spectrum of bisexual,” Archuleta wrote. “Then I also have learned I don’t have too much sexual desires and urges as most people, which works I guess because I have a commitment to save myself until marriage. Which people call asexual when they don’t experience sexual urges.”
Archuleta further shared that he felt it was important to open up to his fans about his sexuality, in case it can help those who are experiencing the same uncertainty — especially people who are religious, like himself.
“There are people experiencing the same feelings of being LGBTQIA+, (i know that’s a lot of letters that a lot of people don’t understand, but there are a lot of unique experiences people feel and live that make them feel isolated and alone that are represented) who are wrestling to follow their beliefs that are so important to them, just as I have,” Archuleta said. “Idk what to make of it and I don’t have all the answers. I just invite you to please consider making room to be more understanding and compassionate to those who are LGBTQIA+, and those who are a part of that community and trying to find that balance with their faith which also is a huge part of their identity like myself.”
He also encouraged other Christians and members of the Mormon church to be more accepting of those who identify as LGBTQIA+, affirming that “you can be part of the LGBTQIA+ community and still believe in god and his gospel plan.”
“I think we can do better as people of faith and Christians, including Latter-day Saints, to listen more to the wrestle between being LGBTQIA+ and a person of faith. There are more than you may realize going through that wrestle after all the misunderstandings that come with it,” Archuleta wrote. “I don’t think it should come down to feeling you have to accept one or the other. For me to find peace the reality has been to accept both are real things I experience and make who I am. I’ve yet to figure out what that means but I appreciate you listening to this personal matter. Again I don’t feel comfortable sharing it, but felt I needed to to bring more awareness to people in my same situation and let you know you’re not alone.”
Archuleta continued in the comments of his post, further detailing his own journey to self-acceptance and asking others to keep an open mind.
“For people who don’t really understand how feelings outside of just being heterosexual can be possible and ok I just plead that you be more understanding to people who experience and struggle with things that you may not experience and understand yourself,” Archuleta wrote. “I’ve tried for almost 20 years to try and change myself until I realized God made me how I am for a purpose. And instead of hating what I have considered wrong I need to see why God loved me for who I am and that it’s not just sexuality.”
Read Archuleta’s full post below.
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