Adam Lambert shares advice on coming out as he meets with LGBT youth in London
The Queen frontman spent time with kids at Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre on Thursday evening (May 31).
By Will Stroude
Adam Lambert proved that he takes his position as one of the world’s most famous gay musicians seriously as he visited a leading LGBT youth centre in London on Thursday (May 31).
The former American Idol runner-up and Attitude cover star, who is set to tour the UK with legendary rock band Queen this summer, took time out of his press day in London to visit the Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre in Camden, where he met with young LGBT+ people from the area.
Adam, 36, opened up about his own stuggles growing up and entering the public eye as a gay man as he took questions from the adolescents in the audience and offered his advice on coming out, tackling stereotypes and ditching labels.
Asked by a young man in the audience his tips for coming out to family, Lambert replied: “I think the best way is to begin communicating, to talk about how it makes you feel. When you own how you are feeling to another person, it always seems to work better and connect deeper in that moment.”
Speaking to Attitude after the session, Lambert admitted he’d been as inspired by the kids at Mosaic as much as he’d inspired them.
“I feel like I learned more than I taught – it was amazing!” he said.
“I was very excited by the fact I got to speak with young people, who chose to be here, who wanted to talk. I don’t get that experience. I do get things from fans and things online, but to have a face-to-face meant a lot today.”
The ‘Ghosttown’ singer continued: “My favourite part was getting to talk to them – there were some smart people in there! I feel like that’s evidence of how far we’ve come, the fact that these conversations exist.”
Mosaic was founded 15 years ago to help support and educate young LGBT people in London aged thirteen to nineteen, and the young people in attendance on Thursday clearly relished the opportunity to hear from one of the world’s most successful gay artists.
Calum, 15, who has been coming to the youth centre for about a year after his school struggled to offer the support he needed while coming to terms with his sexuality and gender identiy, told us: “Nobody understands, but when you see Adam Lambert and RuPaul, it can open your mind.
“It can be hard coming from a Catholic family who don’t really accept you for who you are. There is problems is every family, and to see people out there like Adam Lambert, they’re massive inspirations.”
Talia, 19, who has been coming to Mosaic for three years and now studies in Brighton, went on: “Growing up as Jewish, I came from a very accepting family and I’m very privilgeded to have that experience, but I’m pansexual, and while you see pansexual celebrities and you see Jewish celebrities, you very rarely see the two identity traits in one person.
“To have someone like Adam Lambert com in who is Jewish and happens to be gay as well, it’s amazing to have someone with a shared experience in such a visible place.”
Mo, 18, added: “He was so happy and positive and welcoming.”
You can find out more out the Mosaic LGBT Youth Centre here.