Sam Smith is a non-binary British singer-songwriter who has crooned many chart-topping albums that earned them multiple accolades since their first album The Lonely Hour.
Smith entertained the attendees of a ceremony on the White House South Lawn with a soulful rendition of “Stay With Me.” The crowd had gathered to celebrate the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act that protects the rights of same-sex and interracial couples. Sam Smith expressed their happiness in changing the lyrics of the song from, ‘this ain’t love, it’s clear to see’ to ‘this is love, it’s clear to see’ to mark the historic occasion.
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Let’s learn more about the 30-year-old sweet-sounding singer whose tattoo addiction has had them inked more than 35 times.
Sam Smith at a glance
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- Name: Samuel Fredrick Smith
- Birthdate: May 19, 1992
- Birthplace: London, England
- Gender: Non-binary
- Pronouns: they/them
- Height: 1.88 m
- Relationship status: Single
- Nationality: British
- Instagram: @samsmith
- Twitter: @samsmith
- Website: Sam Smith
Sam’s soulful singing career
Smith forayed into the music industry with Disclosure’s single “Latch” in 2012 which won them accolades in the UK. In 2014, their first studio album, The Lonely Hour won four Grammy Awards with multiple chart-topping numbers. With a multi-octave voice with a lovely falsetto, Smith’s soulful singing was evidenced in the “Writing’s on the Wall” song in the Spectre movie, also written by Smith. They received a Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song.
The second album, The Thrill of It All (2017) and the subsequent album, Love Goes (2020) were successful, each having record-breaking tracks. Recently, Smith and Kim Petras released “Unholy” (2022), a breakthrough single to top at number 1 in the US, which is a part of their forthcoming album Gloria (2023).
Sam Smith is non-binary
In 2014, during the debut of their first album, Smith came out as gay and announced their then relationship with actor Jonathan Zeizel. In 2017, Smith came out as non-binary, eschewing male/female boxes. But they had refrained from taking up any labels and still identified as gay.
In 2019, Smith posted their new pronouns as they/them on Instagram to embrace their identity “inside and out.”
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Smith has said that coming out as non-binary has lifted a weight off but battling disparaging comments/ questions from haters is an ongoing battle.
Struggling with body image issues
Sam Smith’s history is a storied one. They’ve opened up about undergoing liposuction surgery at the age of twelve but added they put on the weight back within two weeks. Smith has talked about their long struggle with body image since childhood, being bullied for their appearance, avoiding swimming classes, and starving before photo shoots.
But in 2019, they posted a proud bare-chest photo on Instagram to allow them to fight back the body trauma and move on to being comfortable in their own skin.
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Trolls jumped at the opportunity to viciously fat-shaming the superstar singer’s appearance at the Capital Radio Jingle Bell Ball in London. We love them for standing their ground, which gives us all the courage to be ourselves publicly.
I see a lot of people trashing Sam Smith for wearing this fab jumpsuit but praising Harry Styles for wearing basically the same thing. Gross. pic.twitter.com/KjOYxrDQOz
— Yann (parody) (@yannhatchuel) December 11, 2022
(Dis)belief in god
Born in a Catholic family and having gone to a Catholic school, Sam Smith’s relationship with god comes up time and again. Smith recalled that they stood up to their school for opposing the practice of homosexuality.
“I am proof that it’s genetic. It has to be because it wasn’t a choice,” he declared. In their debut album, The Lonely Hour (2014), the song video of one of the tracks, “Lay me Down” featured a same-sex wedding in a Catholic Church.
Smith has produced songs like “Him” and “Pray” in their The Thrill of It All album that dabbles with religious themes. While they mention they have turned their back on religion in “Pray,” they add that they will continue to pray for establishing a personal relationship with god. In “Him,”,this sentiment grows stronger: “Don’t you try and tell me that god doesn’t care for us. It is him I love, it is him I love.”
But they end the song in a powerful line reiterating that they are unapologetic about their sexual identity before “god”.
Closing Thoughts
Sam Smith’s distinguished singing career has been a symbol of queer excellence. Their use of powerful songwriting as a weapon to reflect their true self has been inspirational to their fans struggling with identities that are out of the mainstream.
Such representation encourages future talents to shed inhibitions and claim their place on the world stage.
Subscribe to the Queerty Newsletter to be updated about Sam Smith’s future works and keep abreast of the latest issues that are relevant to the LGBTQ+ community.
Diplomat
Wow that rendition of Unholy was great. Loved the outfit. His interview with CBS was very enlightening, though he didn’t say what non binary means when asked, but how it was tough to be it. All in all he’s just a great guy going the distance the best he can. I will keep watching him as he grows further and further into his stardom. Go Sam!
jackscott
I like the song Unholy. However, Sam is just a messy person.
GameBoy
Define messy?
LumpyPillows
Sam seem quite happy. Ill focus on that.
Den
So then, you are a “neat” person? What exactly does that mean? Did you ever learn how to think, or do you just react as a toddler might?
GameBoy
Love them or hate them, they’re iconic and I don’t care what anyone says, it’s not easy staying consistent in both albums & singles, when majority of your image has been negative since your debut, and that’s honestly shows the organic success of Sam’s career…
bachy
I got hooked on Sam Smith listening to their megahits “Dancing with a Stranger,” “Diamonds” and his cover of Donna Summer’s “I Feel Love.”
dbmcvey
On SNL I wasn’t sure what they’re doing, but it was fascinating.
LumpyPillows
I was also confused, but entertained. It was weird, which is good.
humble charlie
on snl he reminded me of marlene dietrich dressed in a gorilla in the movie “Blonde Venus”
Diplomat
In Sam’s interview with CBS he lamented how hard it is being nonbinary with all the negativity from people. I do wish he’d talk about it head on and address the they them to singular issue and why he chooses to impose such an unpopular notion on the general public. Of course it’s going to be tough to deal with such a slap in the face to the American language.
Americans overwhelmingly oppose surgically and/or medicinally altered men semi-appearing as women to participate on women’s sports teams, as much as they oppose the they/them into singular facit pushed by non binary people. This isn’t just an R issue, it’s a full scale anti American issue with D and Rs alike.
Hopefully one day the NBs with some courage address this issue as to why they seem to shoot themselves in the foot with this overwhelmingly unpopular issue they’ve pushed on the American public and the public in other countries. It seems they are hiding under the bed on this matter. As Glenda said “come out come out wherever you are”. And that means you too Sam.
LumpyPillows
I find it to be a distraction from Sam’s career. I refuse to indulge they/them or other alternative pronouns. I do like Sam’s music.
bachy
Human beings have forever exhibited a mix of masculine and feminine traits. The blend is what makes one unique, an individual. But we’ve always called ourselves male/he and female/she based on our bodies. Not clear why it’s all of a sudden necessary to impose clumsy new pronouns to broadcast what are fleeting and ambiguous personality traits. Imposing this kind of fussy self-labeling on a disinterested public is absurd at best, unhinged at worst.
LumpyPillows
In many ways it is just over sharing. It has nothing to do with gender and everything about feelings, fashion and attention-seeking. It is capricious and ostentatious, and ultimately insulting. For the young, it is a way of fitting in. “Well, my pronouns are…”.
In Sam’s case I think it is about compensating for not fitting the buff stereotype. Sam clearly is a gay man – alternative pronouns change none of that.
Alternative pronouns are destined for the garbage heap along with Pet Rocks and leg warmers. They, based on the sheer number of alternative pronouns and the associated incompressibility, is a guaranteed clue to their eminent demise. Just like the nebulous use of the word queer – a meaningless affectation that has gone from slur to affront.
Den
“This isn’t just an R issue, it’s a full scale anti American issue with D and Rs alike.”
Got any actual statistics to support that, nimrod? Or do you just lap up the republican fear and hate porn like a kitten when they place the bowl in front of you?
Not too long ago being out as gay or lesbian was thought of as us “choosing to impose such an unpopular notion on the general public.” I suppose you might have reacted to it in exactly the same way were you an adult when the gay liberation movement first emerged.
I don’t claim to understand what being “non-binary” actually is, but it seems idiotic to consider someone else’s identity to be a slap in your face. Maybe you prefer they kill themselves, or accept your tiny minded definition of them so you can avoid thinking about it? The self absorbed and backwards have little to offer to society and are an impediment to any kind of social progress.
Diplomat
“Alternative pronouns are destined for the garbage heap along with Pet Rocks and leg warmers.” Hell to the ya on that one. Trans and NBs sure know how to have their boomerangs fly right back and hit them in the face. Too bad it also hits the LGB community so harshly.
Den
“Alternative pronouns are destined for the garbage heap along with Pet Rocks and leg warmers.”
They and them have been used as pronouns in cases where gender is unknown since the 15th or 16th century, and is still used that way today. It is a small stretch to use it as a way to indicate people who are (for whatever reason) uncomfortable with more typical gendered pronouns. I do not understand what a non-binary person is generally, as masculinity/femininity is a continuum that exists separately from whether one is a man or a woman (cis or trans). And with a beard, and generally men’s garments Sam presents overwhelmingly as a man, not even visually androgenous. BUT I question those who cannot muster the tiny effort to respect the desires of others regarding references to their persons.
Den
“Alternative pronouns are destined for the garbage heap along with Pet Rocks and leg warmers.”
For the record, cyclists, dancers, runners, and many others wear leg warmers. They have not gone anywhere. I have both wool and lycra ones to use when a ride starts with temperatures under 60.
Den
“Trans and NBs sure know how to have their boomerangs fly right back and hit them in the face.”
They are not throwing boomerangs any more than my peers were in the 60’s at the start of the gay liberation movement. Actually it is more accurate to say that the fear and hate driven right, as well as a small, small minded, group of others (that includes LGB people as you demonstrate) are picking up rocks to throw at them. Obviously you folks find it easier and more satisfying to do that than to invest a small amount of intellectual capacity in understanding their lives, struggles, feelings and so on.
Diplomat
Den,
You need to read my posts. I have nothing against someone being NB. But i do have issues when they try to twist the english language into a psychotic pretzel most can’t stand.
Den
Bull. You are claiming to have no truck with non-binary people but cannot stand the thought of making the tiny change in the way “they” and “them” have been used for 500 years. That speaks volumes about your intellectual weaknesses and distaste for any difference in “lifestyle”. Your nature is antithetical to your foolishly chosen name.
It is SO effing easy to give people a tiny bit of respect…grant them a bit of humanity, and yet you cannot bear the thought of it and project that inability on others when in reality it is no big deal. If most major publications and most non-regressive, non-asshole websites, most governmental institutions and so on can make that adjustment, so can you unless your self absorption is simply too overwhelming.
Diplomat
Den
Look dumb ass. They them have been used
when gender is not known. The gender is known with non binary people. Sam is a man not a they. Go back to grammar school and quit bothering intelligent people with your unfounded garbage.
Den
So sad to see someone who is too dull to understand that language evolves over time, and too mean spirited to grant others any respect if they deviate from your little tiny circumscribed worldview. Why are all you right wingers such misanthropes? Is it really that hard to have respect for other people? Is it really that hard to be human?
Bet you’re saving up your pennies to donate to the DeSantis campaign when he announces his presidential run.
LumpyPillows
Den, you need a better hobby. There are real uses for they and them when gender is not known or a more expansive meaning is intended. It is pompous for someone to insist they should be referred to as they/them, or worse, the 100 other made up pronouns. You defend they/them and then you are on the slippery slope with the other 100 nonsense pronouns that are simply impossible.
No, you do not get to force me to use them. No, I don’t care if your feelings are hurt, because you have no consideration for mine. Yes, I know everyone using these pronouns are doing so for attention and to make a social statement. No, I do not approve. It hurts LGBT people. Yes, including T.
LumpyPillows
P.S. Den, you really think leg warmers were the relevant part of the argument? To be fair, I’m sure I saw them on a model in the latest Gucci show. Snicker.
Also, comparing this non-binary nonsense to the battles we fought in the 60’s for LGBT rights is insulting. Not sure how your brain works, but I know I don’t want to.
Gabby
He’s so great.
Kangol2
They were fantastic on SNL, especially that first song!
Diplomat
Drew Barrymore whom I love, interviewed Sam on her show yesterday and used the correct proper descriptive he/him pronouns when talking about him. Good on her. He was a pleasure to watch.
LumpyPillows
Sam will change his mind. They all do. It is a matter of time. Perhaps he already has if Drew used he/him. Non-binary is a joke. It is a fad. It is fashion. It is social rebellion. It is not real. It is not important. But some people seem to be easily fooled.
Diplomat
One can only hope the irrational nails on chalk board NB they/them farce goes the way of the Chia Pet. And that their lemmings wake up to the reality that they could have used another more fitting word.
Diplomat
With approximately 171k words in the english language, you think they could be smart enough to land on a word that we could all live with.