Singer Katy Perry used an awards show over the weekend to blast her Christian past and Vice President Mike Pence while telling a Los Angeles audience that “truth” is a relative term.
Human Rights Campaign bestowed its highest honor Saturday upon Ms. Perry of “I Kissed a Girl” and “Roar” fame. The 32-year-old artist used the moment to skewer her Christian upbringing while praising the LGBTQ community.
“When I was growing up, homosexuality was synonymous with the word ’abomination’ … and hell,” the singer said while receiving her National Equality Award, THR reported Sunday. “A place of gnashing of teeth, continual burning of skin and probably Mike Pence’s ultimate guest list for a barbecue. No way, no way. I wanted the pearly gates and unlimited fro-yo toppings. … Most of my unconscious adolescence, I prayed the gay away at my Jesus camps. But then in the middle of it all, in a twist of events, I found my gift, and my gift introduced me to people outside of my bubble. My bubble started to burst.”
Ms. Perry then addressed her LGBTQ friends.
“These people were nothing like I had been taught to fear,” the singer said. “They were the most free, strong, kind and inclusive people I have ever met. They stimulated my mind and they filled my heart with joy, and they freaking danced all the while doing it. These people are actually magic, and they are magic because they are living their truth. Oh, my goodness, what a revelation! — and not the last chapter of the Bible.”
While speaking on manager Bradford Elton Cobb III, she added, “I know we really connected on the soul level, though, because we came from the same upbringing where it was difficult to be our authentic selves. We had similar struggles breaking out of our suppressive shells, but we kept inspiring each other and challenging each other and retiring our past frame of mind.”
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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