For Teen Vogue’s June issue, it was nothing short of a perfect choice to make queer pop artist and YouTube star Troye Sivan their cover star. They ran what can only be described as a vital interview – not only for his fans, but for anyone who identifies as part of the LGBTQA+ community, particularly in the United States.
In the ‘Young Love’ special of Teen Vogue, Troye spoke to transgender American model and actress Hari Nef, sharing some important information and life lessons he’s learnt as a gay man. What was really interesting to read, though, were his thoughts on being queer in Trump’s America.
“[The post election] has touched all of us,” Troye said. “I plan on spending a lot of my life in the United States, [but] I think I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve accepted defeat in the fact that Donald Trump is going to be president. But it doesn’t change my opinion. I let myself grieve for a little bit, but the most comforting thought in the world to me is that LGBTQ people have always existed. To think of all of the hardships and all the regimes that LGBTQ people have survived—we are such fighters. I have faith in us as a people. I know that we can survive this.”
Troye also discussed the positive aspects of the internet: “I don’t know what I would have done had I not found the Internet. I found a community of people who I really liked and who I felt got me. I remember the first time I ever watched footage of the Pride parade, or the first time I started discovering music. It formed who I am as a person. I always felt different in a lot of ways and didn’t really know how to express that.”
When asked if he believes the internet has played a significant role in sort of fast-tracking his sense of self, he answered, “A thousand percent. I had an anonymous account on every gay forum there was. I used to make accounts and talk to people about my problems. I felt so much kinship with these people who were dealing with the same exact sh*t that I was. It just made me realize that there was potential for things to get better, and that’s what ended up pulling me through.”
I think we can all agree that Troye definitely shared some words of wisdom for any of us who feels even more oppressed in society following the outcomes of recent political events. It’s people like him that we need to be vocal and act as advocates to remind us that together we can be strong, because at the end of the day, love trumps hate.
Teen Vogue’s ‘Young Love’ is on sale this month
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