Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui Comes Out as Bisexual

Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui just came out as bisexual in a powerful open letter to Donald Trump supporters."I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it," she wrote. Since Donald Trump was elected president, a lot has happened. There have been protests, there have been arguments, there have been assaults, there have been threats, there have been scary White House appointments, and there has been much more. Chief among those things though, there have been a multitude of feelings that his detractors have often struggled to express. It seems there's so much ground to cover when you think about Donald as president because he has threatened so many people. He's threatened Muslims, immigrants, Latinos, women, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities and more. That's why it's so powerful that Lauren decided to come out in this way.

In an open letter to his supporters published in Billboard, Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui wrote exactly how she and so many others feel. As a bisexual Cuban-American woman, Lauren outlined exactly why she feels Donald is a threat to her, and exactly how he's not. She wrote mainly to Donald's supporters who don't consider themselves racist, homophobic, xenophobic and other ists or phobics, because it's that those votes likely represent the people who are responsible for getting Trump elected. It's the people who just liked that he wasn't Hillary Clinton, and didn't believe that he'd carry out his threats that got Donald named President-elect, and though they might not actively consider themselves any of those ists or isms that many have accused Trump supporters of being, those voters validated racism, homophobia, ableism, transphobia, xenophobia and other forms of descrimination.

She also writes that political correctness isn't a worthless construct because it eliminates hate speech.

Our "political correctness" that your champion, Donald Trump, so pointedly disregarded throughout his entire campaign and now with the appointment of his advisors and other government officials, is the language we have worked tirelessly to establish to feel safe in a world that never stops reminding us we are minorities. I am a bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it. I am proud to be part of a community that only projects love and education and the support of one another. I am proud to be the granddaughter and daughter of immigrants who were brave enough to leave their homes and come to a whole new world with a different language and culture and immerse themselves fearlessly to start a better life for themselves and their families.

I am proud to be a woman. Proud that the sex between my thighs provides a strength and resilience in me that only other women can feel, that my body curves in ways that allow me to create life within me, that my entire life is filled with adversity and doubt and people questioning my intelligence and my artistic potential and my expression of myself and my virtue and honor because I am too much woman. I am proud that I get to prove them all wrong. I am proud that I have to work even harder for it. I was raised to feel that I can do ANYTHING, and I will always believe that. I am proud to feel the whole spectrum of my feelings and I will gladly take the label of "bitch" and "problematic" for speaking my mind the same way any man would be admired and respected for doing. But, I will also extend the fullest hand of compassion and empathy for anyone labeling me as such.

Even though Lauren's status could subject her to some oppression under Donald's White House, Lauren also recognizes that the threat isn't as immediate for her as it is for others. That's why she pledged to fight for all people, not just for herself, which is so SO important.

I also know that in my struggle of being a woman I am so very privileged. I was born with a lighter complexion and green eyes (thanks genetics) so from that narrow-minded perspective, I'm white. I have experienced the privilege those genes have granted me, and I am grateful and will continue to speak on behalf of the women around the world and in our very own country who do not experience a fraction of that respect because of the color of their skin or what they choose to wear, or how their hair looks, or how much makeup they have on or any other absurdity that we women are reduced to.

When you're fighting oppression, you can't leave anyone behind. Feminism is notorious for considering the needs of only white, middle class women, while stepping on the backs of the black, LGBTQ pioneers who paved the way. As Jan. 20 approaches, it's absolutely essential to recognize your privilege and know the threats you're not vulnerable to, as much as the ones you are, so you can know where to help.

Trump has already given us a strong idea of what's to come through his campaign promises.

He's promised to deport millions, to ban Muslims, to appoint a pro-life Supreme Court judge who could help overturn Roe vs. Wade, to "punish" women who have abortions, and to severely limit the freedom of the press so when he does those things he promised to none of us will know it's coming. Lauren wants to take steps to make sure she is protected if Trump follows through on the promises he made.

We're so proud of Lauren for coming out about her sexuality, and for using this moment to educate people about protecting their rights.

Head over to Billboard and check out the full letter. It's worth the read.

Related:  How to Come Out to Your Friends