Katy Perry used to ‘pray the gay away’ before becoming equality champion

In her acceptance speech at the Human Rights Campaign Gala held in Los Angeles, superstar Katy Perry opened up about her sexuality, and her journey from someone who “prayed the gay away” to LGBTQ rights champion.

Katy Perry received an award honoring her for her equal rights advocacy.

“I stand with you, and I know that we stand together against discrimination whether it be in the LGBTQ community, or our Latino brothers and sisters, or the millions of Muslims in this country,” Katy Perry stated in her speech.

She then went on to speak about her past being raised in a fundamentalist Christian environment.

“I’m just a singer-songwriter honestly. I speak my truths and I paint my fantasies into these little bite-sized pop songs. For instance, I kissed a girl and I liked it. Truth be told, a) I did more than that… but b) how was I going to reconcile that with a gospel-singing girl raised in youth groups that were pro-conversion camps?”

She admitted that even back then, she was already curious, and that she knew sexuality wasn’t black and white.

She delved even further into her personal history.

“When I was growing up, homosexuality was synonymous with the word ‘abomination.’ ”

Her fear of being cast down to hell pushed her to do what she thought needed to be done to go the heaven: “So most of my unconscious adolescence, I prayed the gay away at my Jesus camps. But then in the middle of it all, in a twist of events, I found my gift and my gift introduced me to people outside of my bubble.”

Now, she said, most of the people she admires, trusts, and collaborates with belong to the LGBTQ community.

“Without them I’d be half of the person I am today. My life is rich in every capacity because of them. They are trusted allies that provide a safe space to fall, to not know it all, and to make mistakes.”

Perry added that she hopes people will recognize her as a symbol that change is possible: “I hope I stand here as real evidence for all that no matter where you came from, it’s about where you are going. And that real change, real evolution, and real perception shift can happen if we open our minds and soften our hearts.”

She also praised the Human Rights Campaign for “being on the frontlines every day” as they fight for equality for marginalized people.

You can watch Katy Perry’s entire speech in the video below. Jump to the 35-minute mark.

— BM, GMA News