It’s funny how no matter how far we progress as a country, there will always be something that makes it hard to be your authentic self. LGBTQ+ youth are some of the bravest, and most oppressed people in our country. It’s hard to come out to anyone, and for 17-year-old music star JoJo Siwa, it was one of the hardest and most impactful decisions of her career.

On January 22, JoJo posted a photo on Twitter wearing a shirt gifted to her by her cousin. The shirt read “Best. Gay. Cousin Ever.” Fans (ranging from 3 to 15 years of age) were ecstatic that their idol finally expressed her true self. For many of her young followers, this was extremely impactful. It shows them that no matter what age, it’s good to accept and be proud of who you are. In an article by CNN, JoJo says, “Right now, what matters is that you guys know no matter who you love that’s OK, and that it’s awesome, and the world is there for you!”

But of course, there were people who attacked JoJo for coming out. Hours after the post, JoJo felt that someone was in her home. Cops surrounded her $3.4 million L.A. mansion after a swatting prank call. For those who don’t know, swatting is the false report of an emergency in someone’s house with the intent of getting the SWAT team to storm the house. Of course, this was unsuccessful, but terrifying for Siwa and her family. She says that after being evacuated, she noticed that she had forgotten her shoes, and only had a camera. In photos taken after the swatting prank, JoJo is still seen smiling. 

JoJo explains her story more on The Tonight Show, “If I lost everything that I created because of being myself and because of loving who I wanna love, I don’t want it.” She knew that this was a big risk, and she accepted the repercussions, even though they weren’t necessary. She is strong in her belief that loving who you want to love is one of the most important aspects of our freedom. No matter how you feel about her, JoJo Siwa is an inspiration to LGBTQ+ youth everywhere and will continue to be a beacon of hope for gay kids with conservative parents or trans kids who are still figuring out who they are. 

Now after all of the drama, JoJo reveals that she’s been seeing someone on her socials. The world was introduced to JoJo’s new girlfriend, named Kylie. In the post she made on Tik Tok, she put the caption, “I did it!! My human. It’s been 1 month since my best friend asked me to be her girlfriend, and it’s been the best month ever. I love you.” The comments are filled with older creators and young fans showing their love for JoJo’s love. This shows that even if there is hate in the world, love always wins. 

Everyone has a new found respect for the star who was once a meme. Now, she has one of the most triumphant coming out stories of our generation. As a creator, this has to have been one of her hardest decisions, but she knows that authenticity is the best thing you can give to your fans, and because of that, generations to come have doors open to them. Gay youth should be more comfortable, and JoJo Siwa is one of the most impactful influencers for them, showing them that no matter what happened, to be yourself is to be free.