Katy Perry: From 'A Bit Homophobic' To LGBTQ+ ICON

Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" was one of the first mainstream songs that completed embodied an LGBTQ+ identity or even struggle.

Since then the singer's bond with the LGBTQ+ community has been strong. As she's getting ready to open her Las Vegas residency, she's looking to incorporate a couple of nods to the community that she says is part of her everyday life.

Although, her relationship with Orlando Bloom might indicate to some that she's a straight woman. Perry's upbringing in a strict Christian household wasn't exactly a LGBTQ+ friendly environment. The California native recently sat down with, Out magazine to talk about her relationship with a community that is now very near and dear to her heart.

In the interview it was essentially brought to Perry's attention that her song "I kissed a Girl" had quite the impact in the community. Perry was not shy in saying that the song was truly based on her own experience with her sexuality.

Perry basically mentioned that she isn't necessarily a fan of labeling people by sexual orientation. She never labeled herself bi. As the song says she kissed a girl just to try it. She also goes on to say in the song I kissed a girl and I liked it, but from what she's saying in the interview that doesn't necessarily mean she felt bisexual. Perry told Out,

"For me in that time, bisexuality kind of got its label of sorts," She would go on to say "It was like, 'Oh, so that is what this is,' you know? This feeling or this experience or what have you. I was just writing about my own experience."

Katy Perry whose real name is Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson, shared some stories about her upbringing. She mentioned that she didn't have a lot of contact with the LGBTQ+ community growing up. Her folks may not have been 100% homophobic. However, it wasn't like they were encouraging their daughters to socialize with people in this community. To go from that type of upbringing to being called a gay icon goes to show that people can certainly change. Perry had this to say about her upbringing.

"I came from a very sheltered upbringing where it wasn't okay to be friends with anyone from that community. And now that is my community," She continued to say, "That is my show. That is my people. It's my everyday life. It's in my house, it's in my work. I wouldn't have survived without the community and couldn't, quite honestly. It's amazing how full circle it's come and how much growth has happened since I started."

As we've recently reported Katy Perry is headed to Vegas for her upcoming residency. The singer is very excited about the project. She calls the show, the most fun that she's had in rehearsals, and the kookiest ideas to ever come together for one of her shows. Let's see if she can deliver on her promises. For now though she's talking her show up quite a bit. Saying,

"It's just gonna be a feast for both the ears and the eyes, and it is like the most laughter I've had in a rehearsal setting ever in my life. My co-creators and collaborators and the dancers and the band, everybody's just like, 'This is the kookiest idea.'"