You probably remember David Archuleta as that kid. The 16-year-old with the wide, nervous smile who sang his way to the American Idol finale in 2008. He was the quintessential "boy next door." Squeaky clean, deeply religious, and the crush of every teenage girl in America. But for over a decade, that image was a heavy, suffocating weight.
When people ask, "is David Archuleta gay?" today, the answer isn't just a simple yes or no—it’s a massive, multi-year journey of unlearning everything he was ever taught.
Honestly, the "Crush" singer didn't even have a word for what he was feeling back then. He spent years trying to pray it away. He got engaged to three different women, desperately hoping that if he just "did the right thing," God would change his heart. Spoilers: it didn’t work.
The 2021 Instagram Post That Changed Everything
In June 2021, the world finally got the truth. David didn't release a sleek PR statement. He didn't do a massive televised sit-down first. He just posted a long, vulnerable message on Instagram.
He came out as queer.
He didn't use the word "gay" initially. He talked about "same-sex attraction" and mentioned he felt a bit of everything: gay, bisexual, asexual. It was messy because he was still figuring it out in real-time. He told his followers that he had been open with his family about these feelings since 2014, but living it publicly was a different beast entirely.
Leaving the Mormon Church Behind
For David, sexuality and faith were a tangled knot. Growing up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), he was taught that his feelings were a "challenge" to overcome. He’s been very vocal lately about how that mindset nearly broke him.
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In recent interviews, like his 2024 sit-down on The Zach Sang Show, he admitted to having suicidal thoughts during those years. He truly believed it was "better to not exist than to be gay." That’s heavy stuff for a pop star who was once the face of wholesome Disney-adjacent music.
By 2022, he decided he couldn't do it anymore. He left the church.
It wasn't a snap decision. He tried to make it work. He met with church leaders who told him to just "not get married" to men. He realized they saw marriage as just sex, while he saw it as a partnership—a life shared. The disconnect was too big to bridge.
The "Hell Together" Movement
One of the most moving parts of this story involves his mother, Lupe Marie. If you haven't heard his 2024 single "Hell Together," go listen to it.
When David told his mom he was leaving the church, he expected her to be devastated. Instead, she sent him a message that changed his life. She told him she was stepping away too. Her reasoning? "If you're going to hell, then we're going to hell together."
That’s a level of support most queer kids from religious backgrounds only dream of.
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Relationships and the "Gay Puberty" Phase
Since coming out, David has been pretty candid about what he calls his "gay puberty." He’s 35 now (it's 2026, let's not forget), but in many ways, he's just now experiencing the dating life most people have at 19.
He’s exploring. He’s going to clubs. He’s even talked about trying things like mushrooms and Molly at festivals—basically making up for a decade of repression.
So, what is he exactly?
- He mostly dates men now.
- He identifies as queer.
- He’s mentioned being "open to meeting girls" if it feels right, but admits dating men is "easier" because they are more forward.
Basically, he’s in his "lover boy flirty era." He’s not rushing to the altar this time. After three failed engagements with women, he’s finally taking his time to see what a real, honest connection feels like.
The New Memoir: Devout
If you want the deep, gritty details, his memoir Devout: How I Lost My Faith to Find Myself is the place to go. Released in early 2026, it covers everything from his domineering father controlling his American Idol days to the panic attacks he suffered while trying to force himself to be straight.
It's a raw look at how much energy it takes to hide who you are. He talks about the "business-like" nature of his past relationships with women—how he felt like an actor playing a role.
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What You Can Learn from David’s Journey
If you're looking for a takeaway from all this celebrity news, it’s probably about the cost of honesty. David lost a huge chunk of his original fan base. He lost his religious community. He lost the "safe" image he’d built for 15 years.
But he gained his life back.
He’s no longer the "deer in the headlights" kid from 2008. He’s a guy who writes songs about "Earthly Delights" and doesn't apologize for it.
How to Support Someone in a Similar Situation
David's story isn't just about fame; it’s a blueprint for how to handle a faith-based identity crisis. If you or someone you know is navigating this:
- Prioritize mental health: David credits therapy with saving his life. If the "praying it away" isn't working, a secular therapist can provide a safe space to breathe.
- Find your "Hell Together" crew: You don't need a whole church's approval; you just need a few people who will stand by you regardless of the "afterlife" consequences.
- Accept the nuance: Like David, you don't have to have a perfect label on day one. It’s okay to be "unsure," then "queer," then "gay," or whatever fits.
If you want to keep up with his latest music or see the tour dates for the Devout book tour, check out his official social media. He’s much more active—and much happier—than he ever was in the 2010s.
Read his new memoir Devout to get the full story on his exit from the LDS church and his transition into the LGBTQ+ community.