Janelle Monae Comes Out As Queer In 'Rolling Stone' Magazine

Janelle Monáe, American music star  reveals details about her private life in the new issue of Rolling Stone, as she finally addresses longstanding rumors about her sexuality.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, published Thursday, the 32-year-old artist—who has previously skirted the question of her sexuality with responses like "I only date androids,"—said she is still exploring.

"Being a queer black woman in America, someone who has been in relationships with both men and women—I consider myself to be a free-ass motherf*cker," Janelle said.

She used to identify as bisexual, "but then later I read about pansexuality and was like, 'Oh, these are things that I identify with too.' I'm open to learning more about who I am."

In her past sci-fi-themed music (like 2010's The ArchAndroid), the singer has taken on the androgynous character of Cindi Mayweather, an android who serves as a "mediator" between humans and androids. 

She explained to Rolling Stone that she has tried to embody that character in her private and public lives as a means of self-protection. "It had to do with the fear of being judged," she told the magazine. "All I saw was that I was supposed to look a certain way coming into this industry, and I felt like I [didn't] look like a stereotypical black female artist."

"I felt misunderstood," she continued. "I was like, ‘Before I self-destruct, before I become a confused person in front of the world, let me seek some help.' I was afraid for anybody to see me not at the top of my game. That obsession was too much for me."

But staying mum (until now) about her love life led to speculation about her sexuality. Janelle has been linked to actress Tessa Thompson, who plays a love interest in the movie that goes with her new album Dirty Computer (which comes out on Friday).