One year ago, Lil Nas X released the remix to ‘Old Town Road’ featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, which is one of the biggest songs in music history. The 20-year-old recently had a new interview with the Guardian. In the interview, he opens up about his sexuality, politics, and family life.
The Grammy winner says he hid his sexuality, keeping his fashion real low-key and “acting really hard” early in his musical career.
“The honest truth is, I planned to die with the secret,” says the rapper, who eventually revealed that he is gay in a tweet last summer.
“I 100 percent want to represent the LGBT community,” he says, adding, “I don’t want to encourage them to do something they don’t 100 percent want to do. Especially in, like, middle school or high school. Because it’s just super-hard.”
Lil Nas X adds that he has more independence and it may be more difficult for others to open about their sexuality.
“It’s easier for me,” he continues. “I’m not depending on anybody. There’s no one who’s going to kick me out of the house — nobody to start treating me s****y.”
Lil Nas X opens up that he does not speak to his mother but he does talk to his family but, they are not open conversations.
“My family knows now,” he tells the newspaper. “But it’s not something that’s ever brought up or we speak about. We’re quiet on it. Nobody’s like, ‘Oh, you got a boyfriend?’
“It would have to be something I grew used to hearing,” he says when asked if he wishes his family were more invested in his love life. “I don’t want it to be something we never talk about. Because what about the kids in my family? I would like it to be a healthy medium between, ‘Who are you f***ing?’ and just not saying anything.”
Lil Nas X also touched on politics. During the interview, he explained his decision to decline a request to publicly endorse Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is the openly gay politician that since dropped out of the Presidential race.
“I’m not too into politics,” he says. “I don’t know his political history or motives. The only thing I know … Wasn’t he from the Democratic Party? … All I know is he’s from the Democratic Party and he’s gay. So it’s like … I don’t want to base my support off, ‘Oh, you’re gay, I’m going to support you.’
“Yeah, you’re gay,” he continues. “But I don’t know everything you’re planning when you’re running the entire country.”
Lil Nas X said he is hesitant to endorse someone “because I don’t know what else they’re doing, or what they’re going to do,” that said, he does plan to take vote in the 2020 election.
“Of course I’m going to vote,” he says. He added, “I encourage my fans to vote.”
