NEWS'American Idol' Star David Archuleta Comes Out As LGBTQIA+ Via Instagram: 'I've Been Open To Myself And My Family For Some Years Now,' Says Archuleta
American Idol star David Archuleta took to Instagram this Pride month to officially announce to his fans that he is part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
In the heartfelt message, Archuleta discussed his struggles with his sexuality, his commitment to his faith, and called for compassion and understanding to be shown towards anyone that comes out as LGBTQIA+.
The American Idol alum began his post, "I like to keep to myself but also thought this was important to share because I know so many other people from religious upbringings feel the same way."
The "Crush" singer admitted that though he has been out to his family for many years, he has struggled with an exact label for his sexuality for a long time. "I've been open to myself and my close family for some years now that I am not sure about my own sexuality."
"I came out in 2014 as gay to my family. But then I had similar feelings for both genders so maybe a spectrum of bisexual," he went on, "Then I also have learned I don’t have too much sexual desires and urges as most people," which the singer joked "works" for him since he still plans to wait until marriage to have a sexual relationship with a partner.
It was Archuleta's religious upbringing and wholehearted beliefs that weighed heavily on him when it came to unraveling his sexuality. Archuleta said that he knows there are others like him, "who are wrestling to follow their beliefs that are so important to them" as well as "a lot of unique experiences people feel and live that make them feel isolated and alone."
Archuleta, 30, also gently called for compassion from religious communities, including his own. "I think we can do better as people of faith and Christians, including Latter-day Saints, to listen more to the wrestle between being LGBTQIA+ and a person of faith."
He ended his first post (which continued in the comments) with the simple but powerful statement reminding his fans that, "You can be part of the LGBTQIA+ community and still believe in God".
The singer rose to fame in 2008 when he appeared on season 7 of American Idol, and finished second place to David Cook. Since then, he has continued his work in the music industry, and released his single "OK, All Right" last year.
As OK! previously reported, Archuleta has also joined a roster of Broadway stars for the highly anticipated album "In Pieces", which will also feature the voices of Dear Evan Hansen star Andrew Barth Feldman, Hamilton’s Solea Pfeiffer, Newsies’ Ben Fankhauser, Be More Chill’s George Salazar and Breaking Down the Riffs YouTube sensation Natalie Weiss.
