Katy Perry ‘wouldn’t have survived’ without the LGBTQ community
The 'Teenage Dream' singer also says she was singing about her experiences when she sang 'I Kissed a Girl'.
Words: Alastair James; pictures: Capitol Records
Katy Perry has said she “wouldn’t have survived” without the LGBTQ and still couldn’t. Same!
As she prepares to open her Las Vegas residency, the ‘Teenage Dream’ singer opened up about her relationship with the community.
‘PLAY’ will run for 16 dates beginning 29 December on the strip at Resorts World in Las Vegas. Of the show, Katy says “if there is one show [sic] that ‘PLAY’ is for, it’s for that [LGBTQ] community”
“I wouldn’t have survived”
Discussing with Out where the relationship between her and the LGBTQ began Katy explains: “I came from a very sheltered upbringing where it wasn’t okay to be friends with anyone from that community. And now that is my community.
“That is my show. That is my people. It’s my everyday life. It’s in my house, it’s in my work. I mean… I wouldn’t have survived without the community and couldn’t, quite honestly. And so, it’s amazing how full circle it’s come and how much growth has happened since I started.”
She adds that she’s continued to grow and learn through engaging with the community. “I’m grateful for the support from the community and they just make everything more fun, and shine bright with glitter. OK.”
Approaching her iconic 2008 hit, ‘I Kissed a Girl’, the pop star says it was around the time, for her, when she was able to identify with certain feelings. “It was like, ‘Oh, so that is what this is,’ you know? This feeling or this experience or what have you. I was just writing about my own experience.”
Asked about the inclusion of two men kissing in the music video for ‘Firework’, another LGBTQ anthem, Katy says it was definitely intentional and “to be inclusive and to normalize.”
Relaying how a lot of her most iconic songs were written in her darkest times, Katy says she’s always wanted her music to be “fun and hopeful” and is more than happy to accept her campy side.
As well as hinting at some more music to come, Katy previewed her upcoming Las Vegas shows, which describes as “the kookiest, most camp show I’ve ever put together.”
Here’s ‘Firework’ because we know you’ll want it after reading this:
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