Brandy Norwood Will ‘Never Stop’ Fighting For LGBTQ Equality

Brandy chats with The Advocate Magazine.

Full article available here.

On her LGBTQ allyship over the years, the star says she will “never stop” fighting for equality.

“I feel like love is the most important magic that we have in life, and wherever there’s love, that’s where I want to be,” she says. “I feel like it’s important for everybody to feel loved and everybody to feel like they are accepted and they have a family of people, that we can all come together and be one person.  I feel so positive about that. I’m thankful for that. I’m thankful for the love that we all can share together.” 

Brandy also touched on the growing visibility of LGBTQ artists in hip-hop and R&B music, like Lil Nas X, Young M.A., and Taylor Bennett (Chance the Rapper’s younger brother).  

“I feel like this is a great time to be yourself and to be accepted,” she says when asked if we were experiencing a tipping point in queer visibility within hip-hop music. “I just love that we’re all celebrating in that.” 

Arguably, one of Brandy’s most famous roles was in ABC’s Cinderella as the titular role, which she played opposite Whitney Houston. While reminiscing, she couldn’t help but find gratitude in all of it. 

“I felt like I was Cinderella,” she says. “I felt like my dreams as me were coming true right before my eyes. I spent most of my childhood wanting to be a star and wanting to be a singer, but the other part of it was wanting to meet Whitney Houston. I just wanted to meet her, but I never thought in a [million] years that I would be in a studio with her.” 

These days, Brandy is well aware of her legacy and understands the importance of where it carried this generation’s young artists. 

“I love being somewhat of an example to some of the artists that have really shown me love and respect, and it makes me feel that everything I’ve done and everything I’m doing, it serves a higher purpose than just coming out with music and topping the charts or winning awards,” she says. “It’s a deeper meaning as to the work I do, and I love that. I want to stay true to that because you never know who’s watching. You never know who you’re inspiring to become that next thing, or [if] someone’s dreams can come true because they’re watching you. I always want to be mindful.” 

Watch the full interview above.