David Archuleta addresses sexuality in Pride Month post

American Idol season seven runner-up David Archuleta addressed his sexuality in an Instagram post commemorating Pride Month.

Archuleta, who has discussed his struggles with his Mormon upbringing, discussed making sense of his sexuality and faith.

“I like to keep to myself but also thought this was important to share because I know so many people from religious upbringings feel the same way,” Archuleta captioned his Instagram post which featured a selfie from him.

“I’ve been open to myself and my close family for some years now that I am not sure about my own sexuality,” Archuleta continued. “I came out in 2014 as gay to my family. But then I had similar feelings for both genders so maybe a spectrum of bisexual. Then I also have learned I don’t have too much sexual desires and urges as most people, which works I guess because I have a commitment to save myself until marriage. Which people call asexual when they don’t experience sexual urges.”

Archuleta continued by asking his followers to show more grace to those “wrestling to follow their beliefs.”

“Idk what to make of it and I don’t have all the answers,” Archuleta said. “I just invite you to please consider making room to be more understanding and compassionate to those who are LGBTQIA+, and those who are a part of that community and trying to find that balance with their faith which also is a huge part of their identity like myself.”

He then went on to address the issues that face the Christian faith in accepting members of the LGBTQ community and urged his followers to remember that “You can be part of the LGBTQIA+ community and still believe in God and His gospel plan...”

“I think we can do better as people of faith and Christians, including Latter-day Saints, to listen more to the wrestle between being LGBTQIA+ and a person of faith,” Archuleta said. “There are more than you may realize going through that wrestle after all the misunderstandings that come with it.”

“I’ve tried for almost 20 years to try and change myself until I realized God made me how I am for a purpose,” he continued in the comments. “And instead of hating what I have considered wrong I need to see why God loved me for who I am and that it’s not just sexuality.”