At this year’s World Pride Music Festival in Washington, D.C., amidst a powerhouse lineup featuring Doechii, Cynthia Erivo, and David Archuleta, one performance stood out—not just for its vocals, but for its vulnerability. R&B star Khalid, who just months ago publicly came out, delivered a tearful, unforgettable set that resonated far beyond the National Mall.
@kirstieandchristine @Khalid had us sobbing as he talked about feeling loved, seen, and accepted by the LGBTQ+ community at @WORLD PRIDE DC 📍@CapitalPrideDC @Visit Washington, DC #worldpride #only1dc #pridemonth #khalid
The 27-year-old artist from El Paso, Texas, known for breakout hits like “Location” and “Young Dumb & Broke,” made his Pride debut Sunday with the kind of emotional honesty that doesn’t need auto-tune. “These are happy tears … I want to thank you guys so much. For supporting me. It means the world to me. It makes me so happy. I feel like I’m home here on this stage,” he told the crowd, visibly moved. And then, smiling through tears: “I didn’t know I was going to cry.”
To fully understand why Khalid’s appearance struck such a chord, you have to rewind to last November. After an ex-lover outed him on social media, Khalid didn’t spiral, cancel tours, or issue a polished press release. He logged into Twitter (yes, still not calling it that), dropped a rainbow emoji, and deadpanned: “There yall go. next topic please lol.” Then, in a follow-up, came the heart of it all: “I got outted and the world still continues to turn. Let’s get this straight (lmao) I am not ashamed of my sexuality! In reality it ain’t nobodies business! But I am okay with me 🖤 love yall.”
It was raw, defiant, and real—a masterclass in reclaiming the narrative.
And that authenticity hasn’t wavered. In an interview with Billboard earlier this month, Khalid reflected on the strange relief that came with stepping into the light. “I had a moment where I walked out and I looked into the crowd, and I’m singing these songs that — I was obviously gay when I wrote them, but the world may not have known. Everybody is singing them the same way they were before I was outed!” he said.
“Finding that freedom comes from knowing I can just be myself and still be embraced and appreciated,” he continued. “That doesn’t change because the world finds out I’m gay. Because I don’t change because the world finds out I’m gay.”
It’s not lost on fans—or anyone with a pulse—how significant this moment is. Khalid didn’t just come out; he came into focus. His Pride performance was more than a celebration—it was a reclamation, a gentle but firm reminder that queer joy doesn’t need to apologize for its volume or its tears.
RELATED: Jonathan Groff Climbs Keanu Reeves at the Tonys
And, fittingly, the music hasn’t missed a beat. His latest album Sincere dropped last August. Whether he’s crooning about love, heartbreak, or finding his place in the world, the voice remains unmistakably his—rich, vulnerable, and now, even freer.
At a festival built to affirm love in all its forms, Khalid didn’t just perform—he arrived. And for the queer community watching, singing along, and maybe shedding a few happy tears of their own, that arrival means more than words can say.
Source: Billboard