Janelle Monae, Kehlani come out as queer

Actor and singer Janelle Monae has revealed she identifies as queer in a new interview with Rolling Stone.

The 32-year-old singer said that she has previously been in relationships with men and women.

“Being a queer black woman in America… I consider myself to be a free-ass motherfucker,” Monae said.

Monae adds that she had at one point identified as bisexual, but after reading about pansexuality she realised that label could also apply.

“I am open to learning more about who I am.”

Monae’s latest release, her third full-length album Dirty Computer, has already released three singles celebrating bisexual and lesbian women, sex and femininity.

Fellow musician Kehlani also recently revealed that she too identifies as queer.

“I’m queer. Not bi, not straight,” the Good Life singer tweeted at a fan who asked about her sexuality.

“I’m attracted to women, men, REALLY attracted to queer men, non binary people, intersex people, trans people. lil poly pansexual papa hello good morning. Does that answer your questions?”

Kehlani later deleted the tweets after some criticised her for singling out trans and non binary people as fetishising their identities.

i retracted my queer tweet because i am being corrected about the way in which i listed the gender spectrum and i’m super super sensitive to being offensive especially when i’m only trying to appreciate. point is, i love love, and that love lies in every gender there is. 🧡

— Kehlani (@Kehlani) April 23, 2018