Sufjan Stevens comes out, dedicates new album to deceased boyfriend

Award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Sufjan Stevens has come out in an Instagram post announcing that his newly released album Javelin is dedicated to his deceased former partner, Evan Richardson, who died in April.

In a Friday Instagram post, Stevens wrote “This album is dedicated to the light of my life, my beloved partner and best friend Evans Richardson…. He was an absolute gem of a person, full of life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy. He was one of those rare and beautiful ones you find only once in a lifetime — precious, impeccable, and absolutely exceptional in every way.”

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“I know relationships can be very difficult sometimes,” Stevens continued, “but it’s always worth it to put in the hard work and care for the ones you love, especially the beautiful ones, who are few and far between. If you happen to find that kind of love, hold it close, hold it tight, savor it, tend to it, and give it everything you’ve got, especially in times of trouble. Be kind, be strong, be patient, be forgiving, be vigorous, be wise, and be yourself. Live every day as if it is your last, with fullness and grace, with reverence and love, with gratitude and joy. This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

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Sufjan Stevens’s sexuality has long been the subject of rumors among fans due to his often ambiguous lyrics. There was even once a Facebook page entitled “Is This Sufjan Stevens Song Gay Or Just About God?” with over 20,000 followers, poking fun at his fans’ speculation.

His 2017 song “Mystery of Love,” which appeared on the soundtrack for the bisexual coming-of-age romantic drama Call Me by Your Name, is an exception: With a reference to Hephaestion, the male lover of Alexander the Great, there wasn’t much ambiguity there. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song and a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Steven’s haunting 2005 song “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” discussed the serial killer’s gay sexual hookups, expressing horror at his murders and also Christian compassion for the killer’s dark, hidden secrets.

Stevens has independently released 10 studio albums. In 2021, he released a five-volume album of meditation music called Convocations in honor of his father who died in September 2020.

Last September, Stevens revealed that he was recently diagnosed that he has Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a nervous condition that causes numbness, weakness, and pain in the hands, feet, and limbs. Many people diagnosed with GBS have been able to recover through medication and physical therapy.