Katy Perry Says She Tried To Pray The Gay Away When She Was A Teen

Katy Perry started singing in church during her childhood, this passion evolved into a career in gospel music as a teenager. However, what made her achieve her Hollywood fame were her hits “I Kissed a Girl” and “Hot n Cold.” Last Sunday, the singer, and songwriter took the stage at the Human Rights Campaign gala to accept the National Equality award as she declared herself a dedicated supporter of LGBTQ rights.

This American girl who grew up within the rigid parameters imposed by two Pentecostal pastors also revealed a big thing about her sexuality; that even though she thought she’s actually bi, she tried to “pray the gay away,” as a young teen.

Katy’s influence at the HRC L.A. Dinner.

Besides Katy Perry, the dinner was filled with stars such as Troye Sivan, Shannon Woodward, and Perez Hilton. The American singer and songwriter gave an outstanding speech where she explained why she was a passionate and dedicated supporter of LGBTQ rights. Katy explained that it was a position that demanded her fighting to overcome the suffocation of her strict conservative religious upbringing. “When I was growing up, homosexuality was synonymous with the words abomination and hell,” Perry revealed onstage.

✨sparkly af✨in @rasarioatelier for the @hrclosangeles 2017 gala. (@anakhouri jewels)

A post shared by KATY PERRY (@katyperry) on Mar 20, 2017 at 9:51am PDT

I kissed a girl and…

“Truth be told, I did more than that. But how I was I going to reconcile that with a gospel-singing girl raised in youth groups that were pro-conversion camps?” those were Katy’s words while referring to her hit “I Kissed a Girl.” Which rosed the star in 2008 when it was released.

That song was a huge success for Perry, but since this girl came from a family of two Pentecostal pastors, both very attached to the Christian religion, that particular situation made her spend much of her youth attending religious schools and camps, which also sparked controversy for its homosexual themes.

VIDEO: @HRC honors Katy Perry with the National Equality Award at the #HRCLADinner. Watch her speech here: pic.twitter.com/lzfwDcFQnt

— Katy Perry Lately! (@katyperrylately) March 19, 2017

Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

The Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC, envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work, and in the community.