Dolly Parton Says She Loves and Does ‘Not Judge’ the LGBTQ+ Community: ‘How We Are Is Who We Are’

Dolly Parton, the legendary “9 to 5” superstar, is once again using her influential voice to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Parton addressed the anti-transgender bills passed in Tennessee earlier this year, emphasizing her belief in treating everyone with respect and dignity.

“I try not to get into the politics of everything. I try to get into the human element of it,” Parton stated. Her words resonate deeply, highlighting her focus on the human aspect rather than the political controversies surrounding transgender rights and the broader LGBTQ+ community.

Parton’s inclusive outlook is personal. “I have some of everybody in my own immediate family and in my circle of employees,” she shared. “I’ve got transgender people. I’ve got gays. I’ve got lesbians. I’ve got drunks. I’ve got drug addicts — all within my own family. I know and love them all, and I do not judge.”

Her compassionate stance comes from witnessing the struggles and heartbreak within the LGBTQ+ community firsthand. “I see how broken-hearted they get over certain things and understand how real they are. I know how important this is to them. That’s who they are,” she continued. “They cannot help that any more than I can help being Dolly Parton, you know, the way people know me.”

For Parton, judgment is reserved for a higher power. “If there’s something to be judged, that is God’s business. But we are all God’s children and how we are is who we are,” she concluded.

While Dolly Parton typically avoids political discourse, her support for the LGBTQ+ community is unwavering and long-standing. In a 2016 interview with Pride Source, she discussed her role in helping loved ones through the coming out process. “I’ve had many people through the years who I have helped to feel good about themselves. I say, ‘You need to let people know who you are and you need to come on out. You don’t need to live your life in darkness – what’s the point in that? You’re never gonna be happy; you’re gonna be sick. You’re not gonna be healthy if you try to suppress your feelings and who you are.’”

Her support extends beyond her personal circle, acknowledging her substantial LGBTQ+ fanbase. “I have a huge gay and lesbian following and I’m proud of ’em, I love ’em and I think everybody should be themselves and be allowed to be themselves whoever they are, whatever they are,” she said.

Parton has gained a deeper understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience through her relationships. “I certainly know that the gay people I know are the most sensitive and most caring of all. I think they go through so much that they have to live with their feelings on their sleeve,” she observed. This sensitivity and caring nature have impacted her perspective, teaching her valuable lessons about empathy and resilience.

“They’ve had to go through so much that I think they’re very emotional and tenderhearted and more open to feelings, so I’ve just learned the same things I try to learn from everybody. I know they’re good people and I’ve tried to learn from that as well. Most of the gays I know just want to make the world a more beautiful place like I do.”

Dolly Parton’s words and actions continue to reflect her core belief in love, acceptance, and the beauty of diversity. In a world often divided by politics and prejudice, her message of universal kindness and understanding serves as a beacon of hope and humanity.