Charice comes out as lesbian, apologizes to family

In this earlier photo Charice, a cast member in “Glee,” arrives at the television show’s second season premiere in Los Angeles. AP

MANILA, Philippines— Charice Pempengco, a Filipino singer who played an exchange student in “Glee,” says she’s a lesbian and has apologized to her family in an emotional TV interview.

The 21-year-old said on Sunday’s talk show on ABS-CBN TV that she wants to apologize to those who do not understand and cannot accept her.

Most comments online and in the local media are supportive of Charice.

But an official with the dominant Roman Catholic Church, Melvin Castro, stirred controversy by saying Charice was experiencing an identity crisis.

Charice and her brother were raised by their single mother. She sang in local contests and appeared on TV talent shows in the Philippines and South Korea before she got a big break on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” at age 15.