KATSEYE Member Lara Makes Gay Coming-Out Through Fan Community – A Rarely Seen Act of Courage in the Industry

Lara, a member of HYBE’s global girl group KATSEYE, recently revealed she is queer, receiving substantial support from her fans. The 19-year-old posted a voice message on Weverse, the fan community platform owned by HYBE, on March 23 to openly discuss her feelings toward people of the same gender. In the message, Lara said, “Being a woman who likes women is truly a different experience,” adding that “many people don’t think this is real.” She further remarked, “On the other hand, some people fetishize this, which is also really annoying.” While sharing her experience, Lara encouraged her fans by saying, “I understand you because I know coming out can be really scary.” She mentioned that her Indian-American background adds “another layer” to her identity, concluding, “I’m truly grateful for the people in my life and your support. I’m proud of this part of myself and feel no shame at all.” In another message on Weverse, Lara hinted at her feelings toward multiple genders by saying she realized she was bisexual around the age of 8. KATSEYE’s fandom, Eyekons, quickly sent messages of support for Lara. On social media, reactions included comments such as “The fact that she is in the music industry alone means everything” and “Her honest talk about her sexual identity creates a truly special and safe space for everyone.” Another fan expressed joy by saying, “It’s so happy to see a queer woman of color coming out publicly in the industry; it feels like they’re not looking at me.” KATSEYE was formed through a survival program jointly organized by HYBE and Geffen Records, and the group made its debut in the summer of 2024 with its first single, “Debut.” HYBE is the parent company of major K-pop groups such as BTS, LE SSERAFIM, and SEVENTEEN. Although KATSEYE is a global girl group, it has direct connections to the K-pop industry and is active overseas as well. It is extremely rare for idols in the K-pop industry to come out publicly, and such disclosures often have a negative impact on their careers. Given that same-sex marriage and civil unions are not legally recognized in South Korea, Lara’s courageous decision represents a highly unusual case within the idol industry.