Dolly Parton Opens Up About How She’s Helped Her Gay Family Members Come Out

BBC

It’s no surprise that Dolly Parton has a huge LGBT fan base. We’ve seen many Dolly impersonators, and not all are women!

Growing up in the Great Smoky Mountains of Tennessee, Parton was pretty sheltered to what was happening outside of her small town.

“In my early days we didn’t know [what gay was],” she told Pride Source. “It didn’t take me long to know that people were different and that was always fine with me. I was different too, and I embraced and accepted them and I knew them. I knew them well.“

So well, in fact, that many turned out to be members of her own family! Parton revealed to Pride Source that she “didn’t know they were at the time” because to her, they “were all just mountain people”.

She admits that over the years, many of her family members have come out as gay or lesbian to her and she loves it. Her attitude towards the LGBT community has made it easier for her family to come out. 

“Actually, I’ve had many people through the years who I have helped to feel good about themselves. I say, ‘You need to let people know who you are and you need to come on out. You don’t need to live your life in darkness – what’s the point in that? You’re never gonna be happy; you’re gonna be sick. You’re not gonna be healthy if you try to suppress your feelings and who you are.'”

She also revealed she supports transgender rights. Parton employs a few transgender people and wants anyone she meets to feel that they can come talk to her about things.