Model and actress Cara Delevingne said she is “very happy” to call herself a lesbian despite long struggling with the concept of labels.
“People love to comment on stuff like that, [and say things like] ‘she’s not gay, she’s pan,’ or ‘she’s had boyfriends,” Delevingne told Variety in a May 29 interview. “I’m like, yes I have, but at this point in my life I’m very happy to say I’m a lesbian.”
Related
Delevingne’s comments were reportedly in reaction to uproar from fans after she recently told an audience she’s a lesbian, considering she has dated men in the past.
She explained that while she has always hated labels, she can’t see herself being with anyone but the her current partner – singer songwriter Minke – she’s for the rest of her life. “And I want to have a family with this woman, so yes, I’m a very proud lesbian.”
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
The interviewer asked if she felt it was empowering to claim the word lesbian as something positive. Delevingne instantly said yes. “There was something about my own internalized homophobia where that word was something I really didn’t want to say or admit.”
She praised younger people’s openness and said it inspired her. “It is incredible when you have that kind of representation and community what it can do. We really can learn so much from the youth.”
Delevingne has spoken out in the past about her struggle to embrace her queer identity. In 2022, as part of her BBC documentary series, Planet Sex, she spoke about the suicidal ideation she experienced as a young person coming to terms with who she was.
“I couldn’t talk to anyone about it. I had a lot of internalized homophobia and shame. I thought that I was abnormal,” she said. “I thought about ending my life, like I had multiple times, and I’m so glad I didn’t because if I can help any other kid that means the world to me.”
She also called binaries “stupid” and said she refuses to let herself be put into a box.
“I’m definitely genderfluid. I love playing with what we’ve been given as those gender constructs. Being super femme, being super masc, mixing it all up in one big cauldron.”
Editor’s note: This article mentions suicide. If you need to talk to someone now, call the Trans Lifeline at 1-877-565-8860. It’s staffed by trans people, for trans people. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for LGBTQ youth at 1-866-488-7386. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.