Tevin Campbell Reveals He’s Finally Embracing His Life As A Gay Man

When I was younger and used to see Tevin Campbell chasing that girl around in the ‘Can We Talk’ video I thought to myself “Nah Tevin, can WE talk?” because he always sent my Gaydar into overdrive. And as a black gay kid myself back then it would have been nice to know one of the biggest singers of the era was one of us, but alas the 90s were a different time where being gay was a huge taboo. Luckily, we live in a different time of representation and now Tevin is ready to slide the door of his glass closet open to let everyone know he’s embracing life as a gay man, although he’s been out to close family and friends for over twenty years.

People reports during an appearance on the PEOPLE Every Day podcast, Tevin was finally ready to discuss his sexuality, which has been the subject of much scrutiny over the years because people are nosy and love distractions from their own miserable lives. But Tevin admits that his coming out is hardly new information (and the world collectively sighs in agreement) but there was no way for him to be out and proud during a time when there wasn’t a real safe space for him.

Coming of age in the heteronormative space of R&B at that time, “I didn’t hide anything about me. I didn’t try to act a certain way or anything,” says Campbell. But also, he notes of that era in the industry, “You just couldn’t be [gay] back then.”

“When I came out to my family and friends [at] about 19 or 20, that was it for me. And then I went on the road of discovering myself. I didn’t know who I was,” says Campbell, who stepped away from the music industry and credits much of his growth to the six years he spent performing in the Broadway musical Hairspray beginning in 2004.

Tevin admitted after he was exposed to so many thriving members of the LGBTQ+ community during his time in Hairspray, it became easier to embrace his sexuality, which is probably what John Waters had in mind when he wrote it because if you can’t embrace your campy side with Hairspray there’s no hope for you in life. And although Tevin admits his sexuality really isn’t anyone’s business, he also has nothing but good things to say about artists like Frank Ocean and Lil Nas X, who he sees as young black men giving voice to an under-represented generation.

“It wasn’t like that in the ’90s,” he says with laugh. “But I’m glad I get to see it. I’m glad that’s changing. There are a lot of kids, especially young Black boys that need to see representation.”

He adds, “They’re not being taught to love themselves because of who they are.”

Good move Tevin! Because now that you’ve spoken the name Lil Nas X, I expect him to appear like Rumpelstiltskin with a contract in hand ready for a re-recording of Can We Talk titled Can We Twerk.

Check out Tevin’s interview below.

Pic: Derek White/Getty Images