There seems to be a trend of speculation about celebrities’ sexuality or identity
Whether it be Kit Connor being pressured to come out after starring in the hit Netflix show Heartstopper or Billie Eilish being put on the spot on the red carpet, we have this odd fascination.
Let’s be real for a second, this is not information we’re entitled to and even if a celeb opts to decline to answer it still starts a whole flood of online speculation as to why.
As a queer person, I mean this when I say representation matters, having LGBQT+ identifying people speak so openly about their sexualities is incredible but it should be on their own terms.
I truly have an issue with the media labelling people before they’ve even had the chance to come out if that’s something they choose to do.
To finally understand yourself and your feelings completely is something so deeply personal, it can take years to come to terms with personally let alone to let other people become privy to.
Even if you know you fall somewhere in the range of sexualities there are things that change, feelings too and it can take a while to figure out which label best suits you.
There’s a pressure to define yourself be it from outside sources or even on a personal level.
There’s a sense of security and understanding that comes with a label and when you’re grappling with this big part of yourself sometimes you want to reach out and grab something that makes things a bit easier.
Yet things take time and there should be no pressure from external forces trying to make you reach a conclusion before you’re ready.
Speaking to British Vogue last July, Kit Connor revealed he would have “preferred to do it [come out] in another way” instead of feeling forced to do so on social media.
“It wasn’t something I was ready to talk about,” he said. “I wasn’t angry. I was just slightly disappointed by this reaction. I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business, and I’m super young.
Rebel Wilson has spoken multiple times about how “hard” it was after she was “forced” to come out, despite never keeping her relationship a secret.
On top of this Harry Styles has said that pressure to label his sexuality is “outdated,” adding that society should be moving to a point where people don’t have to “clarify what boxes you’re checking”.
While many of us non-celebrities can question, label and relabel ourselves in private for the most part, a lot of our favourite big names just don’t have that type of luxury.
There’s not much freedom to change your label or experiment when everything you do is put under a sort of microscope for people to peer at.
Just like most things in life sexuality can change.
We’re humans, after all, we evolved and so can our sexualities hopefully in the future with fewer headlines made about them.
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