In 2012, the Jamaican reggae artist, Diana King, used Facebook to joyfully reveal her true sexuality.
“I am… woman… mother… aunt… Jamaican… American… international artiste… singer… songwriter… band leader… friend… lover… entrepreneur… goddess! among other things and yes!!!… I am a lesbian,” King wrote.
King’s post proudly proclaiming herself a lesbian resounded through the social media world, garnering 100 comments and 121 likes on Facebook.
Diana King: The girl from Jamaica
King was born and raised in Jamaica to an Indo-Jamaican mother and Afro-Jamaican father. This background explains the cultural diversity not only of her looks but of her music.
As a point of fact, the music she brought into the world has been described as a “mixture and fusion of reggae” and “a strong brew of genres seasoned with reggae.”
Her breakout song in 1995 was the hit single Shy Guy, which reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100, #2 on the UK Singles Chart and #1 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.
Her next hit was the cover of a Dionne Warwick song, I Say A Little Prayer For You.
With its reggae fusion, the song shot into prominence when it was included in the movie soundtrack for My Best Friend’s Wedding.
Diana King: Yes, I am a lesbian
In the wake of her bravery in declaring her true sexuality, King was given the Vanguard Award at the OutMusic Award in Las Vegas.
This is because King is a Jamaican artist who came out despite the intolerance of her country to the LGBT. Prior to this, there had been rumors that she was a lesbian.
“I have always been afraid to admit it openly because of the unknown of what it may cause negatively, to me, my career, my family and loved ones” she said.
“But I realized that it is not my job to make others comfortable,” she added.
Support of her coming out was well-received by fans, most of them posting positive comments on her revelation.
Love wins for Diana King
During a performance at a Dinah Shore weekend in 2013, she shared her experience of not being able to wed her girlfriend of seven years, Simone.
Because her then-girlfriend lived in Jamaica, the two couldn’t wed because of DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act).
That same year, DOMA was overturned and King and Simone became one of 24,700 bi-national, same-sex couple to marry in the US.
“We have been engaged for most of the seven years and I vowed I’d never get married until we are equal. I was married before to my son’s dad so I know first hand what we were being deprived of… NOW I can honor my word,” King said at the time.