Whether you love her music or not, Katy Perry wants you to know that she has your back.

 

The singer was handed the National Equality Award at this year's Human Rights Campaign gala. She took the opportunity to explain how she, too, struggled with her sexuality in a decidedly hostile environment.

 

"When I was growing up, homosexuality was synonymous with the word 'abomination' and 'hell'," Perry revealed. "So most of my unconscious adolescence, I prayed the gay away at my Jesus camps."

 

Her parents were both born-again Christians and Pentecostal pastors. She was sent to religious schools and Jesus camps. However, she said that even as a young girl she knew that "sexuality wasn't as black and white" as her community claimed.

 

"'I Kissed a Girl' and I liked it," Perry added. "Truth be told, I did more than that. But how I was I going to reconcile that with a gospel-singing girl raised in youth groups that were pro-conversion camps?"

 

"Suffice to say, it's been a long road for me, and I'm sure a long road for many of you out there," she added. "I know it doesn't always feel safe to live out who you are but, here's the thing though, I would have not chosen a different road. Priceless lessons have been learnt."

 

She ended her speech by promising "I'll never cease to be a champion, an ally, a spotlight, and a loving voice for all LGBTQ-identifying people."

 

Mad respect, girl!