The 32-year-old actress said, 'I don't like labeling myself, or anyone else, but if it's easier for you to understand me, what I'm saying is that I'm queer.'
- Jul 1, 2017
AceShowbiz - Natalie Morales publicly came out as queer on Friday, June 30. "The Grinder" alum wrote on Amy Poehler's Smart Girls website to share her struggle of having to hide her true identity and show her support for the LGBTQ community.
"I don't like labeling myself, or anyone else, but if it's easier for you to understand me, what I'm saying is that I'm queer," she wrote. "What queer means to me is just simply that I'm not straight. That's all. It's not scary, even though that word used to be really, really scary to me."
"I know I thought I was sick. I know I thought something was really wrong with me. I was ashamed and I thought I was dirty. I knew that the church said it was wrong and that God said it was wrong [even though I couldn't exactly figure out why, if it wasn't hurting anyone]," Natalie continued. "I was told bisexuals were degenerates who are selfish and just want the best of both worlds. I was told gay men are fine because they're funny and have good taste, but lesbian women are wastes of space. I was told the idea of two women kissing was disgusting."
Natalie shared that what made her share her experience was the fact that people like her still struggled to live in peace. "I know this isn't some big, life-shattering revelation that everyone will be shocked by," she stated. "The reason I decided to share this with you and with the world is because even though me telling you I'm queer might not be a big deal these days, things are still pretty bad out there for people like me. Our safe spaces are not safe."
"You're not unholy. You're exactly what God intended you to be," she concluded. "You are exactly what you are supposed to be, because nothing is supposed to be anything except for what it is, even if not everyone understands that."
