On 4th July 2019 I had the honor of publishing an interview with David Archuleta in my digital magazine (you can read it here: https://humanamente.pt/en/interview-david-archuleta/). I felt incredibly lucky to have this opportunity, as a small Portuguese outlet (which is still small by the way), it doesn’t happen very often.
In the interview, David wrote to me about dealing with fame following his participation as runner up in American Idol, mental health, and his two years as a volunteer in Chile. I realized immediately his intense devotion to God being raised within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Born and raised Roman Catholic, I had my experiences with religion as well and to this day I always believed God exists. The problem with churches, of any kind, is the set of rules and the paradigms of good boys and good girls that can be incredibly oppressive (more on that later).
I could hear in some songs that David seemed a bit on a war with his mind like “Paralyzed”, “Numb” or most notably “You worry” and “Just breathe” from his album Therapy sessions.
Following the immense privilege of interviewing him I kept following his career. I was really glad when David came out. It felt like he released a huge burden of his shoulders and is setting himself free from many expectations placed on him. On a recent video interview I saw his eyes shine, his smile wider than ever before. He is dancing, he is releasing honest heartfelt songs: it’s a pure joy to watch as a fan this evolution.
I’m sure it took a lot of courage for David to make this decision, one that certainly implies some form of grief of our former self and thought models that no longer benefits us.
I think people should be able to love whoever they want to love, no question about it. I’m glad to see Catholic Church being more open and acceptant towards it, especially Pope Francis. But let’s not forget that until 1973, homosexuality was considered a mental illness, and it was only in that year that the American Psychiatric Association (APA) removed that diagnosis from the second edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). Let’s not forget there’s still conversion therapy going on in certain parts of the world, namely the United States of America, which must be a mental torture for the person involved. Let’s not forget the pain and traumas that come with repressing your sexual expression in a world that is a judgmental as ever.
I remember when Italian singer Tiziano Ferro came out, at 33 years old, after suffering terribly of guilt because of his catholic beliefs. I remember more recently when Spanish singer Pablo Alborán revealed he was homosexual and that there was no problem, everything was okay. Lastly there was Swedish singer Darin (also a runner up in American Idol from Sweden) said he was proud to be gay.
I feel the outpouring of love and creative expression from my favorite lgbtqiap+ artists: so unique, so special and with so much to share with the whole world.
After the storm and the existential crisis, one can always find the faith, resilience and spiritual fortitude to be who he/she/they really are.
David, I wish you all the best, embrace the positivity around you, know that you are touching lives of people that care and love you truly. Keep going strong!
Paula Gouveia