Demi Lovato says that they were withheld from coming out as non-binary earlier by the patriarchy.

Earlier this month the Heart Attack singer revealed they are non binary, taking to social media to say:  ‘Today is a day I’m so happy to share more of my life with you all – I am proud to let you know that I identify as non-binary & will officially be changing my pronouns to they/them moving forward.’

The singer has spent a lot of 2021 openly and honestly discussing their life: from drug use and a subsequent near-fatal overdose – which is detailed in the Amazon documentary Dancing with the Devil – to their journey of self-discovery when it comes to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Speaking to Jane Fonda as part of Greenpeace’s Fire Drill Fridays series, Lovato said they had been “held back” by the patriarchy and its determination to keep people “in a box”.

The singer continued: “If I had listened to the patriarchy, my life would have never changed. My gender, my pronouns would have never changed.”

“I realised… after years of living my life for other people, trying to make myself smaller for the patriarchy, because they run the industry, they are at the centre of everything.”

They continued: “When I realised that, I thought, ‘What are the ways that the patriarchy has been holding me back?’ And for me, it was putting me in a box… You are a female, this is what you’re supposed to like, this is what you’re supposed to do, don’t dream bigger and don’t speak louder.’”

Continuing: “When I stripped myself of the norms that society has pushed on me, specifically by the patriarchy, I have become the most complete and authentic version of myself… and I couldn’t be happier.”

Check out the interview with (the iconic) Jane Fonda below, you can also see Demi’s tribute performance to Sir Elton John this week too (it’s amaze)!