Janelle Monae has gushed over her “incredible” first Pride experience.
The singer-songwriter became one of the most recognizable faces in the LGBTQ community after she came out as pansexual in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine last April (2018). And speaking to People on Monday (June 24th) at a launch event for her new project Beautiful Future – a digital series promoting inclusivity and empowering creative women – the Make Me Feel hitmaker enthused over her “joyous” first Pride parade in New Orleans this year.
“It was so incredible, people were so happy,” she quipped. “I encourage everyone, even if you’re not a part of the LGBTQIA+ community to go and experience that joy.”
The 33-year-old Moonlight actress went on to laud the sense of “community” she experienced at the Louisiana event, and admitted it made her emotional to see so many parents publicly embracing and accepting their LGBTQ children.
“The thing that made me really teary-eyed was seeing young black kids with their moms there. Their moms brought them and were standing by their sides,” the star recalled. “Being able to see that community at pride and in New Orleans, to see them celebrating, dancing, laughing, just not having a care in the world for those two hours I was there was just a sight to see.”
