Keke Palmer recently opened up about her experience with the “confusion” surrounding gender, sexuality, and overall identity.
Keke Questions Why Her Gender Had To ‘Define The Power’ She Holds
Over the weekend, Keke attended the annual Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala. At this event, she, Pamela Anderson, and late comedian Leslie Jordan were honored, and Palmer got candid during her speech.
After acknowledging that gender-based expectations have been a “source” of “pain and resentment,” she opened up about how she “always questioned the boxes [she] was forced to be in.”
“Why did my gender have to define the power that I have in the world? And why does my gender get to decide my sexuality? You know, since I was a young girl, I always questioned the boxes I was forced to be in.”
In her own upload, Keke shared some stunning photos from the event; within the caption, she praised the L.A. LGBT Center, which is “the largest LGBTQ+ organization in the world.”
“The Center, houses, feeds and celebrates the community in more ways than one and has been doing so since 1969! It was such a gift to be in a room, being celebrated for being exactly who I am. I am so grateful you guys to be living in this time, where yes there is still so much work to do, but da**it we doing it!”
After continuing to express her gratitude, Palmer wrapped by noting, “Let’s continue bringing marginalized people and diverse stories to the screen.”
Keke Palmer Says She Was ‘Met With So Much Disdain’ For Channeling Masculinity
While the Center only shared a brief clip of Keke’s speech, Variety provided a lengthier transcript with additional context.
After acknowledging how she was “grateful” to be “embraced by a community that [she’s] always felt accepted by and a part of,” Keke reportedly bared all.
The ‘Nope’ actress noted how “sexuality and identity” always resulted in “confusion” for her. While explaining, Palmer shared that she “never felt straight enough” while simultaneously never feeling “gay enough.”
She also proclaimed, “I never felt woman enough. I never felt man enough. You know, I always felt like I was a little bit of everything.”
Additionally, Keke reportedly addressed how she has “always been met with so much disdain” for embracing “masculinity.”
“So often, I lead with masculinity. And as a woman, I’ve always been met with so much disdain.”
Shortly after, she acknowledged that her approach stems from wanting to emulate her father and “be taken seriously.”
“I’ve always really wanted to be like my father… to want to be taken seriously and not diminish because I was a woman.”
Notably, she previously spoke on the influence her father — along with her “tons of uncles” — had on her, and Keke said, “I welcome all the energies that make me me.”
My dad is one of 9 boys, I grew up with tons of uncles and I have a great father. Emulating your heroes, male or female or both, is fine! I welcome all the energies that make me me.
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) January 4, 2023
