Sam Smithunderstands it may take time for people to adjust to using their preferred pronouns — but they’ll wait patiently.
On Friday, to launch their new single “To Die For” from their upcoming album of the same name, Smith, 27, sat down with Zane Lowe on Apple Music’sNew Music Dailyon Beats 1 to discuss their gender-neutral pronouns and hopes for a more inclusive society.
“What’s hard is people changing their vocabulary; that’s very, very difficult,” said Smith. “It takes time. Everyone messes up. I’m going to be misgendered to the day I die.”
They added: “This is going to take a long, long time for people to not use gender in their vocabulary.”
In September, the Grammy winner, who hadcome out as non-binarymonths prior, told fans and the rest of the world that “they/them” were theirpreferred pronouns, rather than “he/him.” The decision, Smith told Lowe, is so that they can feel more “comfortable” in everyday life.
“This is all about feeling safe, and it makes me feel happy and it makes me feel comfortable,” the singer said. “And if I get to live a life where I’m a little bit more comfortable and happy, then I think it’s worth it.”
Sam Smith.Courtesy Apple Music
At the time, Smithannounced the pronoun changeon Instagram,writingthat after “a lifetime of being at war with my gender I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out.”
They added: “I understand there will be many mistakes andmis genderingbut all I ask is you please please try. I hope you can see me like I see myself now. Thank you.”
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With the new album — their third — Smith said that they reached a new level of self-acceptance and emotional freedom when creating it.
“I‘m more proud of this album than anything I’ve ever done,” the artisttweetedon Thursday. “I’ve really set myself free the last two years whilst writing this & I hope you can dance and relate to these stories. It’s all for you, always xx.”
To Die Forwill be available wherever you stream music on May 1.
source: people.com
