Drag Race star Adore Delano shares moving statement as she comes out as trans
RuPaul's Drag Race star Adore Delano has come out as transgender in a moving video.
The star, who rose to fame on American Idol and then on the sixth season of Drag Race, spoke about her journey from "dysphoria to euphoria" in an Instagram video.
"There's been a lot of talk about my body and questions about my gender going around the internet and my comments sections," Adore began. "I just want to explain everything that's happening these past few months.
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"So I wanted to let everybody know that I am transitioning, and I kept it really kind of hush-hush for the first three months, because I wanted to go through the beginning stages of the puberty privately. There's a lot that kind of changes and integrates into the way that you think, and the way that you receive information, and the way that you react, I guess.
"But I've found that it's been very enlightening, and has made me the happiest I've ever been probably in my adult life."
Adore detailed about "not feeling like [she] belonged" as a kid, recalling how she came out as bisexual at 12, and then trans to her mother as a teenager, who was "so understanding".
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However, when she appeared in American Idol, she "suppressed everything", explaining: "It was almost like a sacrifice in order to get what I wanted career-wise. It made sense to me at the time, as a 16-year-old, and then I got on the show, and that carried on in the story on Drag Race."
However, after being eliminated from American Idol, she went back to a more "femme-presenting way", and today she is "living in [her] world now, and it feels so empowering".
Adore also revealed that she will be getting surgery in November and in early 2024 and goes by the pronouns she/her, adding: "I feel like I'm giving my teenage self permission to be my true self now, and it feels so liberating."
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The star has since received a host of support in the comments, with Drag Race judge Michelle Visage writing: "I'm so happy for you [I] could BURST".
Courtney Act added: "I accompany you on any journey. I love you forever. My ride or die!", while Peppermint said: "I'm so proud of you. Welcome home sis."
RuPaul's Drag Race US airs on MTV in the US and WOW Presents Plus in the UK.
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