Sexuality Isn't Sexual: JoJo Siwa's Coming Out Story
I don’t think any of us could have predicted JoJo Siwa coming out to start off 2021.
JoJo Siwa, a multi-talented child star, came out officially to Twitter on January 22nd. JoJo tweeted a picture of her wearing a t-shirt that read “Best. Gay. Cousin. Ever.” and the internet went crazy. Her nonchalant way of coming out is representative of how Gen Z is changing our preconceived notions of sexuality.
Before JoJo came out on Twitter, fans had been speculating about her sexuality. On January 20th, she visited TikTok’s “Pride House” and filmed a TikTok for creator Kent Boyd’s account. In the TikTok, JoJo is dancing with Pride House members to the lyrics “now you’re one of us.” Later that day, she posted a TikTok of her donning a rainbow bow, lip syncing to the song “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. Many creators assumed this was her coming out, with a plethora of LGBT influencers commenting on the post congratulating and welcoming her. After she came out, she clarified on an Instagram Live that she wasn’t ready to assign a label to herself yet and instead said, “I think humans are awesome.”
In 2014, JoJo Siwa got her start on the show Dance Moms. On Dance Moms, viewers were captivated by JoJo’s bubbly personality and signature look: a high ponytail with a huge bow. She really came into herself in May of 2016 when she released her song “Boomerang,” an anti-bullying anthem. JoJo was only 13 when she debuted as an artist and her music, along with her personal style, and really appealed to a younger audience. She really capitalized on her success and has since released toys, games, accessories, etc. all in her own name. As of 2021, her net worth is estimated to be about $14 million.
I’ll be honest, I have always overlooked JoJo Siwa as a sort of industry puppet. However, it is clear that she holds astronomical influence—especially over children. JoJo has 10.5 million followers on Instagram, 31.9 million followers on TikTok, and 12.1 million subscribers on YouTube. Her coming out is so important because of her young audience. There are so many children who look up to her, and for them to see that it’s okay to be open about their sexuality is huge.
In “When Your Child Opens the Closet Door,” Dr. Kathy McCoy writes, “Each family's coming out scenario is, in many ways, unique. But if you have an LGBTQ child, you’re far from alone. An estimated 9 million Americans, representing 3.5 percent of adults in the U.S., a figure roughly equivalent to the population of New Jersey, identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. So that’s a lot of parents who have had a beloved child come out. And some have yet to hear the news.” JoJo identifying as LGBT will definitely make her viewers feel like they are not alone.
On February 4th, JoJo went on Jimmy Fallon and addressed how her girlfriend inspired her to come out. She has not stated who her girlfriend is, but mentioned that they are long distance and very much in love. JoJo was referencing a conversation with her girlfriend about the risk she took by coming out when she said, “If I lost everything that I’ve created because of being myself and because of loving who I want to love, I don’t want it.”
JoJo Siwa coming out is representative of this child-like innocence in loving whoever you want. It is amazing that someone with such a huge, young fanbase is paving the way for the next generation on how we view sexuality.
Edit: On February 8th, JoJo debuted her girlfriend Kylie on her Instagram and revealed that they have been dating for a month.