Being celebrated for her commitment to LGBTQ activism at the Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala, the 'Nope' actress confesses that she never felt straight, gay, woman or man enough.
- Apr 24, 2023
AceShowbiz - Keke Palmer has gotten candid about her sexuality and gender. When accepting her Vanguard Award at the Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala on Saturday, April 22, the "Nope" actress confessed that the two issues had always been a confusion for her.
At the event held at Century City's Fairmont Century Plaza, the 29-year-old shared with the world her own journey in discovering her sexuality and identity. "I've always been my own person, and sexuality and identity, for me, it's always been confusion," she admitted.
On the reason why, the former "Strahan, Sara and Keke" co-host explained, "You know, it's, 'I never felt straight enough; I never felt gay enough; I never felt woman enough; I never felt man enough.' You know, I always felt like I was a little bit of everything."
"So often, I lead with masculinity," she went on to elaborate. "And as a woman, I've always been met with so much disdain, you know what I mean? I think so much of that came from who I thought I had to be to get respect, admiration and love."
Keke further added, "And I've always really wanted to be like my father…to want to be taken seriously and not diminish because I was a woman. You know, that's always been a source of - I guess you would say - pain and resentment."
"Why did my gender have to define the power I have in the world? And why does my gender get to decide my sexuality?" Keke then asked while holding back her tears. "You know, since I was younger, I always questioned the boxes I was forced to be in and it starts with who you're supposed to be as a child."
The Emmy winner continued her speech by saying, "You're supposed to be as a black person or whatever the background you are from… Then those walls just try to cave you in from every damn angle, who you are as a creative, who you are as a friend."
During her speech, Keke did not forget to express her gratitude. "I'm truly so grateful to be seen in this room because I know I'm surrounded by people who know without a doubt what it's like to decide to be who you are in a world that tells you to be everything but yourself," she stated.
Two months before being honored with the award, Keke welcomed her first child with her partner Darius Jackson. On February 27, she shared a slew of photos along with details of her newborn. "Hey Son!!!! Born during Black History Month, with a name to match! LEODIS ANDRELLTON JACKSON, welcome to the world baby Leo," she wrote in the caption of her Instagram post.
