Demi Lovato at Pride Parade: My Jesus Loves All
Singer and entertainer Demi Lovato told fans at a Los Angeles Pride parade earlier this month that she believed in a God who accepted everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
"You don't have to hate, because my Jesus loves all," Lovato said before performing her new single "Really Don't Care," a break-up song seemingly rethemed as a Pride anthem.
Lovato's Pride performance is also the setting for the song's recently released music video which opens with footage showing protesters with signs saying "Jesus saves from hell" and "Homo sex is sin." The video also shows excited concert attendees, a "no bullying" message and a lesbian couple kissing.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Lovato has not been shy about her support for LGBT issues; in 2013, she played Dani, who dated Naya Rivera's character, Santana, on the television show "Glee."
The former "X Factor" judge has also spoken about her faith over the years.
"I'm not super religious, but I grew up Christian and I believe in God," she told Cosmopolitan. "When I'm in L.A., I don't talk about it that much because people are very judgmental, but I just feel like God gave me a voice, not just to sing with."
She added, "He put me through those things, which seemed horrible at the time, but they were so worth it. With the obstacles I've overcome, I can help people."
In February, Lovato recounted that as an 11-year old girl she remembered attending a church service where individuals were speaking in tongues.
"I was like 'What is this?' but like interested at the same time and the lady who was speaking in tongues, she pointed at me and said 'Come here.' So she just put her hand on my head and started saying 'God says, you will be hero to thousands of people one day and it will be using some form of art.' And she said, 'Are you ready?'" Lovato recalled.
The singer, who had already acknowledged her ambitiousness as a child, said she was excited about the woman's premonition.
"Of course me being at like 11-years-old I was like 'Yeah, let's do it. Let's go paint a picture. What can I do?'" she said.
Lovato has spoken about her faith over the years and credited it with helping her through her recovery. She has a cross tattoo and the first entry in her book, Staying Strong: 365 Days a Year, a collection of inspirational daily devotionals, is a Bible verse.
Lovato, who has made waves in recent years after she entered rehab following an eating disorder and rampant drug and alcohol abuse, has since used her platform to speak out against bullying and substance abuse.
Last month, Lovato announced a North American tour which will kick off on Sept. 6 in Baltimore.
