By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
JoJo Siwa Reveals Ignorant Question Her Boss Asked When She Came Out
The dancer recently shared an experience she had after coming out.
JoJo Siwa has made it perfectly clear in the short time she’s been out that she has no desire to hide who she is, and a recent story she shared on TikTok highlights just how far society still has to go when it comes to understanding that.
There’s a pervasive idea among homophobes, and sometimes even just members of older generations who consider themselves socially moderate, that explaining anything LGBTQ+ to children is innately inappropriate or requires a certain amount of discretion. This plays right into the beliefs that queer identities are sexual in a way that hetero identities are not, and cannot be separated from discussions of sex, which also plays into the idea that one of these is “normal” and the other is not.
We see examples of this every day, in bigots complaining about children learning their classmates have two moms, or that sometimes grown-ups play dress-up in clothing that doesn’t match their gender identity. But for Siwa, one such incident shortly after she came out hit closer to home.
In a recent TikTok featuring Meghan Trainor's new song, the Dance Moms alum wrote that when she came out in January 2021, a company she worked for (and did not name) called her into an urgent meeting.
“During this meeting the PRESIDENT of the company negatively asked me ‘what are you gonna tell your young demographic,’” she recalled. “I took a second to process what I was just asked, and then… I replied… ‘THE TRUTH.’”
According to the dancer, the unnamed man rolled his eyes and remained silent, so Siwa took the opportunity to continue: “I said, ‘I’m not gonna hide who I am and who I love to anyone, ESPECIALLY to the next generation.’”
“He didn’t like that very much. However… since I came out SO many adults say to me ‘I wish I had someone like you when I was younger.’ Which reminds me everytime that I did the right thing and to never let ANYONE change who you are,” she concluded.
@itsjojosiwa Inspired by a true story.😨 (side note if that meeting was today I would literally just press play on this song….)
Siwa’s career doesn’t seem to have suffered whatsoever in the wake of her decision to be true to herself — if anything, it’s helped her connect with fans more authentically, and find the right audience for the things she wants to do. And children and teenagers don’t need to be “protected” from the knowledge that LGBTQ+ people exist. It doesn’t harm them, and it won’t stop them from being LGBTQ+ themselves.
Fortunately, the next generation has people like Siwa who understand that and know that embracing and celebrating your identity is the best way to combat these archaic ideals so that one day, hopefully, others won’t get drawn into the same sorts of ridiculous meetings over who they love.
Siwa does not appear to currently be in a relationship.
Siwa has naturally blonde hair.
Siwa gained public attention after appearing in the Dance Moms franchise as a child and wowing viewers with her dancing skills and bubbly personality.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
