David Archuleta shares struggles with faith and sexuality
Archuleta said that ‘it shouldn’t come down to accepting to be one or the other.’ The 30-year-old artist added, “For me to find peace, the reality has been to accept both are real things I experience and make me who I am.’
David Archuleta, made his mark as second placer to David Cook in American Idol 7 in 2008 and for his chart-topping debut single “Crush.” But with his coming out publicly in a heartfelt post last 12 June, David is also now being recognized as an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and equality.
He encouraged followers to make room to be more understanding and compassionate to “people who don’t understand how feelings outside of being heterosexual” to the members of the LGBTQIA+ community and to “those who are part of the community that is trying to find that balance with their faith,” such as himself. Archueleta admitted he was “not comfortable” sharing his experience, but felt like he needed to “to bring awareness to people in the same situation.”
It was in 2014 when he told his family that he’s gay, but has since been unsure of what his own sexuality is. He learned that he had “similar feelings to both genders, so maybe a spectrum of bisexual” and that he “doesn’t have too much sexual desires and urges,” which people identify as asexual.
“There are people experiencing the same feelings of being LGBTQIA+, (I know that’s a lot of letters that a lot of people don’t understand, but there are a lot of unique experiences people feel and live that make them feel isolated and alone that are represented) who are wrestling to follow their beliefs that are so important to them, just as I have,” the American Idol alum said. “Idk (I don’t know) what to make of it and I don’t have all the answers.”
The American singer-songwriter said that the people of faith, Christians, and the Latter-day Saints can do better in “listening more to the wrestle between the LGBTQIA+ and a person of faith.”
Archuleta said that “it shouldn’t come down to accepting to be one or the other.” The 30-year-old artist added, “For me to find peace, the reality has been to accept both are real things I experience and make me who I am.”
“You can be part of the LGBTQIA+ community and still believe in God and His gospel plan.”
The “Crush” singer said that he has tried for almost 20 years to “try and change himself” until he realized that “God made him how he is for a purpose.”
“Instead of hating what I have considered wrong I need to see why God loved me for who I am and that it’s not just sexuality,” Archuleta said.
He concluded: “Even when you’re left with so many questions with faith and sexuality like me, I believe being open to both questions and to faith is how we receive answers. God blesses those who ask. So let’s keep asking and seeking, and having compassion and patience.”