NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 11: Maren Morris performs onstage during the The 54th Annual CMA Awards at Nashville’s Music City Center on Wednesday, November 11, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Image: Getty)
Acclaimed country music artist Maren Morris publicly came out as bisexual in a celebratory Pride Month post on Sunday.
The 34-year-old Grammy winner took to Instagram to post photos of herself performing at a recent tour stop in Phoenix, waving a Pride flag proudly. Alongside the images, Morris wrote, “Happy to be the B in LGBTQ+. Happy pride.”
The announcement marks a significant moment for the country music industry, which has historically been viewed as a more conservative space, at odds with the values and experiences of the LGBTQ community. However, Morris has long been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights within the genre, using her platform to challenge homophobic and transphobic attitudes.
Just last year, Morris made headlines for her public feud with Brittany Aldean, the wife of fellow country star Jason Aldean, over Aldean’s transphobic remarks in regard to gender-affirming care for children. In response, Morris released “lunatic country music person” merchandise, with proceeds benefiting Trans Lifeline and the GLAAD Transgender Media Program.
“I hate feeling like I need to be the hall monitor of treating people like human beings in country music,” Morris said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “It’s exhausting. But there’s a very insidious culture of people feeling very comfortable being transphobic and homophobic and racist, and that they can wrap it in a joke and no one will ever call them out for it. It just becomes normal for people to behave like that.”
Morris’ decision to come out as bisexual during Pride Month further solidifies her commitment to advocating for LGBTQ rights and representation within the country music community. As she continues her RSVP Redux Tour, the singer has announced a partnership with Ally Coalition, with $1 from every ticket sold being donated to LGBTQ youth organizations.
This news comes just a little over four months after Morris finalized her divorce from fellow country artist Ryan Hurd, with whom she shares a 4-year-old son, Hayes. Despite the personal changes in her life, Morris’ unapologetic embrace of her identity and her continued work as a vocal ally for the LGBTQ community serves as an inspiration to fans and fellow artists alike.
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