ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 19: Tevin Campbell attend the 7th Annual Black Music Honors at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on May 19, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/FilmMagic)
<p data-pm-slice="0 0 []">Tevin Campbell has finally put speculations about his sexuality to rest. The &#8220;Can We Talk&#8221; crooner has opened up about identifying as a <a href="https://dev.theshaderoom.com/update-kehlani-says-christian-walker-was-losing-his-mind-over-gay-trans-flags-in-the-starbucks-window/">gay</a> man. In a new interview on the <a href="https://people.com/music/singer-tevin-campbell-opens-up-about-his-life-and-sexuality/">PEOPLE</a> Everyday podcast, he said, &#8220;What makes me happiest right now is how far I&#8217;ve come in life. You know, there are a lot of child stars that don&#8217;t make it. But a lot of us do … and the fact that I&#8217;ve embraced me.&#8221;</p>
<p>In addition, the singer also revealed that throughout his early years in the music industry, he never concealed his identity from those around him. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t hide anything about me. I didn&#8217;t try to act a certain way or anything,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p>&#8220;You just couldn&#8217;t be [gay] back then.&#8221; Tevin, who also has acting chops and spent six years performing in the Broadway musical &#8216;Hairspray&#8217; beginning in 2004, credits that experience for much of his growth. &#8220;When I came out to my family and friends [at] about 19 or 20, that was it for me. And then I went on the road of discovering myself. I didn&#8217;t know who I was.&#8221;</p>
<p>The crooner also explained that he had never seen LGBTQ+ people that were living normal lives and had partners. &#8220;That was a great time in my life,&#8221; he added. During the conversation, Tevin brought up openly queer Black stars like <u><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://people.com/tag/frank-ocean/">Frank Ocean</a></u> and <u><a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="http://people.com/tag/lil-nas-x">Lil Nas X</a></u>. &#8220;It wasn&#8217;t like that in the &#8217;90s,&#8221; he says with a laugh. &#8220;But I&#8217;m glad I get to see it. I&#8217;m glad that&#8217;s changing. There are a lot of kids, especially young Black boys, that need to see representation.&#8221;</p>
<p>He adds, &#8220;They&#8217;re not being taught to love themselves because of who they are.&#8221; The news of Tevin identifying on Twitter has him trending, and many Black folks are saying they already knew. Either way, Congrats, Tevin, for living in your truth!</p>
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