Sophie B. Hawkins says she was ‘ahead of my time’ when she came out as ‘omnisexual’ in 1992

Sophie B. Hawkins shared in a new interview that she considers herself a forward-looking figure when it comes to her sexuality.

While talking to Peoplethe 58-year-old singer-songwriter said she was “ahead of my time” when she came out as “omnisexual” in 1992.

She claims to have coined “the phrase” — seemingly a precursor to the more common “pansexual” — when she came out.

“The words I put together and came up with are actually one of the definitions now,” she said. ‘I was a little ahead of my time there.’

She explained that she “took omni and I took sexually and put them together, and I said, ‘This represents me.'”

Defining herself: Hawkins recalled a conversation she had with a male journalist around the time she came out. “My sexuality is not based on my gender and is not defined by your gender,” she told him; seen in October 2022

The As I Lay Me Down singer recalls a conversation she had with a male journalist around the time she came out.

“My sexuality is not based on my gender and is not defined by your gender,” she told him.

Hawkins added that it was a “whole new concept” about being attracted to someone regardless of their gender.

However, she added that much of the public either didn’t understand the nuances of her omnisexuality or simply refused to believe her.

“People didn’t pick up on it and they just said, ‘Ah, you’re gay. You’re gay. You’re gay.'”

But she sounded proud now that omnisexuality is “actually a thing.”

Her coming out came at a difficult time in her career, as it was the same year as her debut album Tongues And Tails, which was released in April 1992.

The album only reached number 51 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, but Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover was a hit at number five on the Billboard 100 singles chart, while her cover of Bob Dylan’s classic I Want You reached number 20 on the Billboard 200 singles chart. graphic.

Hawkins would go on to be nominated for Best New Artist at the 1993 Grammy Awards.

Hawkins claimed at the time that her label, Sony, was “angry” about her coming out.

“I was talking about it on pop radio, on the morning shows, and people were really mad at me, but there were some people who were really grateful to me,” she recalls.

Despite her label’s perceived anger, Hawkins said she continued to express her sexuality, as well as touring with a multi-lesbian band.

‘[Sony] didn’t see that coming, and they drew a lot of support. And they got really mad at me,” she continued. ‘I had a lot of women in my band, and they were gay. I didn’t know when I heard them. But it was four gay women on stage, plus some guys.’

Surprised: However, many people did not understand or were not interested. “People didn’t pick up on it and just say, ‘Ah, you’re gay. You’re gay. You’re gay'”; seen in 1997 in LA

Forward thinking: Hawkins also defended other “transgender” and “intersex” performers at the time, whom she named amid a current wave of anti-transgender laws sweeping statehouses in Republican-controlled states; seen in 2014 in New York

Hawkins also defended other “transgender” and “intersex” performers at the time, whom she named amid a current spate of anti-transgender laws sweeping statehouses in Republican-controlled states.

“In my mind, it was time to start talking about, ‘Gender shouldn’t oppress us. Gender should liberate us. It’s a creative discussion.’ But in 1992 no one else was talking about it.’

Hawkins admitted she had doubts about the apparent increase in adoption in certain parts of the country.

“I’m excited and happy that the world is … that you can be who you are today, and you can expect support, and you should get it,” she said, before adding, “Then there’s a part from me that also says, “If the industry can benefit from it, they will. And that’s why they support everything.”