Araya Doheny/Getty Images for Los Angeles LGBT Center
<p><a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/watch-keke-palmer-gets-emotional-while-praising-single-parents-pull-out-your-cape/?_gl=1*1rqe0qz*_up*MQ..*_ga*OTM4MDY3ODMwLjE2ODIzNDQ0NTI.*_ga_V2HX8YP3XL*MTY4MjM0NDQ1MS4xLjEuMTY4MjM0NDQ1Ny4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>Keke Palmer</strong></a> recently opened up about her experience with the &#8220;confusion&#8221; surrounding gender, sexuality, and overall identity.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Keke Questions Why Her Gender Had To &#8216;Define The Power&#8217; She Holds</h3>
<p>Over the weekend, Keke attended the annual <a href="https://gala.lalgbtcenter.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Los Angeles LGBT Center Gala</a>. At this event, she, <strong>Pamela Anderson</strong>, and late comedian <strong>Leslie Jordan </strong>were honored, and Palmer got candid during her speech.</p>
<p>After acknowledging that gender-based expectations have been a &#8220;source&#8221; of &#8220;pain and resentment,&#8221; she opened up about how she &#8220;always questioned the boxes [she] was forced to be in.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;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.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
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<p>In her own <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CrY0DhIJriE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener">upload</a>, Keke shared some stunning photos from the event; within the caption, she praised the L.A. LGBT Center, which is &#8220;the largest LGBTQ+ organization in the world.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;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!&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>After continuing to express her gratitude, Palmer wrapped by noting, &#8220;Let&#8217;s continue bringing marginalized people and diverse stories to the screen.&#8221;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Keke Palmer Says She Was &#8216;Met With So Much Disdain&#8217; For Channeling Masculinity</h3>
<p>While the Center only shared a brief clip of Keke&#8217;s speech, <em><a href="https://variety.com/2023/awards/news/keke-palmer-lgbt-center-sexuality-1235591696/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Variety</a> </em>provided a lengthier transcript with additional context.</p>
<p>After acknowledging how she was &#8220;grateful&#8221; to be &#8220;embraced by a community that [she&#8217;s] always felt accepted by and a part of,&#8221; Keke reportedly bared all.</p>
<p>The &#8216;Nope&#8217; actress noted how &#8220;sexuality and identity&#8221; always resulted in &#8220;confusion&#8221; for her. While explaining, Palmer shared that she &#8220;never felt straight enough&#8221; while simultaneously never feeling &#8220;gay enough.&#8221;</p>
<p>She also proclaimed, &#8220;I never felt woman enough. I never felt man enough. You know, I always felt like I was a little bit of everything.&#8221;</p>
<p>Additionally, Keke reportedly addressed how she has &#8220;always been met with so much disdain&#8221; for embracing &#8220;masculinity.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;So often, I lead with masculinity. And as a woman, I’ve always been met with so much disdain.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Shortly after, she acknowledged that her approach stems from wanting to emulate her father and &#8220;be taken seriously.&#8221;</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve always really wanted to be like my father… to want to be taken seriously and not diminish because I was a woman.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>Notably, she previously spoke on the influence her father — along with her &#8220;tons of uncles&#8221; — had on her, and Keke said, &#8220;I welcome all the energies that make me me.&#8221;</p>
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