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Janelle Monae Addresses Gay Rumors Amid ‘Electric Lady’ Release

Janelle Monae’s new album “The Electric Lady” has sparked some serious speculation that the soulful songstress is gay, but Janelle quickly dispelled the rumors while also opening up about the intentions of her music.

Janelle’s menswear-inspired looks and refusal to strip down to sell albums had some observers questioning her sexuality and it seemed like the lyrics on her new album confirmed those suspicions.

On the song “Q.U.E.E.N,” which also features Erykah Badu, she sings, “Am I a freak because I love watching Mary?”

She later adds the line, “Hey sister, am I good enough for your heaven?”

That wasn’t the only song that seemed to fuel the gay rumors. Another song called “Givin Em What They Love,” told a story of a woman following Janelle into a lobby for what she describes as “undercover love.”

Despite tons of fans and critics wondering if the lyrics are indeed Janelle’s “coming out” moment, the soulful crooner was surprised fans connected her sexuality to her lyrics.

“I actually have never heard that,” she told Pride Source on Thursday when asked if “people (are) reading too much into the lesbian themes of this album and applying them to you?”

She continued, “This is the first time I’m hearing it. But I will say that a lot of my work always comes from an authoritative stance, so it may not be about me; it may just be about a story or something that I’ve witnessed, or my imagination. You just never know.”

Janelle also revealed that she isn’t upset about people believing she is gay because at the end of the day, there is nothing wrong with being gay or a lesbian.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with being gay or lesbian or straight or black or green or purple, so I’m OK with that,” she explained.

According to Janelle, her entire album is supposed to be about unifying people anyway.

“I’m a uniter,” she said. “I won’t allow myself to be a slave to my own interpretation of myself not the interpretations that people may have of me. I just live my life, and people can feel free to discuss whatever it is that they think and use whatever adjectives they feel. It’s a free country.”

Back in 2010, before the sexually charged lyrics, fans questioned Janelle’s sexuality because of her attire.

During an interview with Rolling Stone, Janelle said that the “lesbian community has tried to claim” her, but she pointed out that she only dates “androids.” According to the author, speculation began thanks to Monae’s “outré look and penchant for pants over skirts.”

Whatever the reason for the rumors, the “Sally Ride” singer’s reaction about her sexuality could certainly serve as an example for other celebrities on how to deal with meaningless gossip.

Meanwhile, Janelle is remaining focused on pushing boundaries in music and has currently been deemed a “gender-bending” musical artist.

Janelle Monae’s “The Electric Lady” hit shelves on Sept. 10.

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