‘My soul is male’: Charice talks about coming out, father’s death, suicide try
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22WoRLW2lVk
MANILA, Philippines—In an interview with Oprah Winfrey aired Sunday, singer Charice revealed the events and struggles that prodded her to come out as a lesbian, including the fact that she once thought of killing herself.
In an Oprah episode entitled “Oprah: Where Are They Now?”, Charice said that she knew in a very early age that she is a lesbian.
“I knew when I was 5. I was in grade school and when I saw this girl and I felt different. I didn’t know what it was but I just knew that time, it felt special. When I was 10, I was like, ‘Oh, that’s it, I’m gay,” Charice said.
‘Everything fell apart’
Charice said that before she came out, she felt that she was faking her personality to please her family. The singer also added that the murder of her father, Ricky Pempengco, in 2011 took its toll on her.
“Before I came out, I was already a mess. It felt like a character that I was portraying for my mom, for my family, to be happy. When my father got murdered, that’s when everything fell apart and I got even more depressed,” Charice said.
She added that after her father’s murder, she thought of killing herself.
“Losing my dad, knowing that we didn’t have any closure… When I went to the funeral, I saw him right there and regretted everything,” Charice said.
His father died when he was twice stabbed in the chest in a drunken street fight in 2011.
On coming out
Charice was transformed by her father’s death, saying that it pushed her to come out.
“I took all those feelings, I took all the pain in me and made me stronger to tell myself that ‘It’s time and go out there,” Charice said.
The singer said that while she was contemplating her decision to publicly reveal that she is a lesbian, she knew that she will be risking everything.
“That night when I was thinking of coming out, I was ready to lose my career, lose my fans. I was confident that I wouldn’t lose my family that eventually they’ll understand me,” she said.
‘My soul is male’
The singer also discredited rumors that she wanted to be a transgender.
“My soul is male. But I’m not gonna go through that stage that where I’m gonna change everything. I would change this look and all, cut my hair, wear boy clothes, and everything but that’s all,” Charice clarified.
Charice added that after falling out with her mother Raquel due to her decision to come out, they are now in good terms. The singer added that she and her girlfriend Alyssa Quijano will see Raquel soon.
The singer concluded the interview by saying that she is now happy and “couldn’t ask for more”.
Charice appeared in the now-defunct The Oprah Winfrey Show in CBS four times.
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