Viral ngayon ang isang American Idol alum na si David Archuleta matapos ang kanyang naging pag amin sa kanyang mga pinagdaanan tungkol sa kanyang sexuality.
Ginulantang ni David Archuleta ang buong online community matapos nalaman ng marami na isa pala siyang member ng LGBTQ+ community. Nitong Sabado lang, June 12, inamin niya sa publiko.
Sinabi ng singer na sinubukan niya na subukang hindi pasukin ang LGBTQ+ at magbago sa loob ng 20 taon habang siya ay sumubok na rin mag reconcile sa kanyang faith dahil sa kanyang naging sexuality.
“I’ve tried for almost 20 years to try and change myself until I realized God made me how I am for a purpose. And instead of hating what I have considered wrong, I need to see why God loved me for who I am and it’s not just sexuality,” sabi ni David.
Sa kanyang Instagram post, ang singer-songwriter ay tapat na inamin na hindi siya komportable na ibahagi sa harap ng publiko.
Ngunit gusto niyang mag raise ng awareness sa lahat at lalong lalo na sa mga tao na may mga "religious upbringings' na nakaranas ng pareho sa kanyang naranasan ngayon.
“I’ve been open to myself and to my close family for some years now that I am not sure about my own sexuality,” he said. Archuleta said he came out in 2014 as gay to his family, and later identified as bisexual after realizing that he had similar feelings for both genders.
“Then I also have learned I don’t have too much sexual desires and urges as most people, which works I guess because I have a commitment to save myself until marriage, which people call asexual when they don’t experience sexual urges,” sabi ni Archuleta.
Si Archuleta ay isang member ng Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (also known as the Mormons). Sinabi niyang ang kanyang naging pag amin ay maging dahilan ng pag question ng karamihan.
Ngunit ayon pa kay David, ang mas importante ay ang mga "people of faith" na maging compassionate sila sa mga members ng LGBT+ community.
“I just invite you to please consider making room to be more understanding and compassionate to those who are LGBTQ+, and those who are a part of that community and trying to find that balance with their faith, which is also a huge part of their identity like myself,” sabi ng American Idol alum.
Ang 30-year old singer ay nilinaw ang punto na ang mga religious na tao ay pwede namang makinig sa mga mga "wrestle" sa pagitan ng pagiging member ng LGBT+ at ang pagiging "person of faith."
“For people who don’t really understand how feelings outside of just being heterosexual can be possible and ok, I just plead that you be more understanding to people who experience and struggle with things that you may not experience and understand yourself,” he said.
“If other people choose to live differently than what you’ve been raised to believe is right, please have compassion because it’s most likely been an exhausting journey for them to be ok with the feelings they have and never have been able to change,” sabi ng singer-songwriter.
Dagdag pa niya, pwede ka namang maging member ng LGBTQ+ habang ikaw ay naniniwala sa Panginoon at sa gospel.
“You can be part of the LGTBQ+ community and still believe in God and His gospel plan."
“Even if you’re left with so many more questions with faith and sexuality like me, I believe being open to both questions and to faith is how we receive answers. So let’s keep asking and seeking, and having compassion and patience."
Marami namang mga kaibigan at fellow American Idol contestants ang nagparating ng kanilang mensahe para kay David.
“Love you man, and so proud of who you are,” komento ni David Cook.
"I am so proud of you and proud to know you. You are so loved, David.” sinabi naman ni Jordin Sparks.
Marami na ring beses nakapag perform ang singer dito sa Pilipinas at nagstar pa sa series kasama ang aktres na si Jasmine Curtis-Smith at nagrelease ng album na covers ng mga Filipino songs.
