Janelle Monáe has come out as non-binary during an inspiring Red Table Talk interview

Grammy-nominated singer, Janelle Monáe has come out as non-binary during the latest installment of the Red Table Talk (opens in new tab).

The latest episode of the sit-down interview series not only saw Jada Picket Smith hint about Will Smith's Oscar slap but saw Monáe make an empowering revelation.

Speaking to Jada, Willow Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris about their journey with sexuality, Monáe revealed publically, for the first time: “I’m non-binary so I just don’t see myself as a woman, solely, I feel all of my energy.

“I feel like God is so much bigger than the 'he’ or the ‘she’ and if I am from God, I am everything. I am everything. But I will always, always stand with women. I will always stand with Black women. But I just see everything that I am. Beyond the binary.” 

The Dirty Computer artist also gave a beautiful insight into relationships saying: “When I see people, I see your energy first, I don’t see how you identify and I feel like that opens you up to fall inlove with any beautiful spirit.

Monáe previously came out as pansexual on the cover of Rolling Stone in 2018, but was met with speculation in 2020 after retweeting a meme using the hashtag  #IAmNonbinary. Monáe clarified to Variety (opens in new tab): “When I retweeted I’m nonbinary, it was ‘I’m not binary day,’ and so I did a hashtag to show support to the community.”

Speaking on their decision to come out during the Red Table Talk, Monáe said: “Somebody said if you don’t work out the things that you need to work out first before you share with the world, you’ll be working it out with the world. That’s what I didn’t want to do.

“I thought I needed to have all my answers correct, I don't want to say the wrong thing and also I hadn’t had the necessary conversations with my family…it took me some time.”

What does non-binary mean? 

The term non-binary is an umbrella term that encompasses many gender identities, but essentially describes someone whose gender cannot be defined as male or female.

Non-binary people may therefore choose pronouns for people to use to address them, rather than using their names, for example, they/them.

Is Janelle Monáe in a relationship? 

Monáe was previously in a relationship with Thor Ragnarok’s Tessa Thompson, but the pair reportedly split in 2019. 

Most recently Monáe was spotted locking lips with musician Nate Wonder while on holiday in Cabo, in 2021, with Page six (opens in new tab) reporting that the couple looked very cozy together.