I will fully admit that when JoJo Siwa first came out with a TikTok of her singing along to Born This Way and a Gay Cousin t-shirt I was completely convinced that it was a money-guzzling rouse prompted by the new resurge in Dance Mom’s popularity. It all just seemed a bit contrived to me. She was partying with queer Disney stars hours after her coming out, was posting way too much on social media, and was already cashing in on all the views. I was suspicious. As another queer icon (depends on who you ask), having the small, once homophobic Dance Mom’s kid with the bow suddenly come out was a little strange to me. 

But I was WRONG, and I will admit that. 

This is an open apology to JoJo Siwa, as my skepticism of her led me to believe that not everyone can be born this way. I don’t know if it’s that she’s already super flamboyant and insane, or if I’m just morally banned from trusting anyone that got their start on Lifetime. Her coming out was just so carefully calculated. First with the t-shirt, then the song… all vague examples of how people have come out before—but nothing concrete. It was choreographed like a publicity stunt. 

It wasn’t until her apparence on Jimmy Fallon that seemed to legitimize it for me. She dropped the magic word—“girlfriend” and cited that this mysterious queen was the source behind her finally being ready to come out (this is not to say you need to have a Significant Other to be queer). And that is adorable, but I was still suspicious. Not in a gatekeep-y way, more in a scared for the younger queers kinda way. If JoJo turned out to be playing us for a fool and using our community for the money, then any kid or celebrity that comes out after her will have lost legitimacy. 

Forgive me, but I do think, given the political and social climate of the last few years, that we need to protect the legitimacy of identity. It cant be a fad or a way to make money, especially when it’s an identity that can get you murdered (2020), stoned (2019), burned alive (2018), and many, many other things. 

Forgive me, but I didn’t like a rich teen coming out when poor teens are kicked out of their homes for the same thing. 

I reacted poorly and I am sorry. 

JoJo and her girlfriend are absolutely adorable and I’m beyond happy for them. I’m glad this queen has learned to be courageous in her identity, as well as her glitter choices. I hope she learns that you don’t need to label yourself as any kind if (blank)sexual to be a part of the community. 

BUT I WILL SAY, as a final word. That is little miss Maddie “I Hate the Autistic Community” Ziegler decides to come out… well. I’m gonna blame a little more than the institution of Lifetime and Dance Mom’s for my suspicions.