Dove Cameron Opens Up About Being Queer Amid Anti-LGBTQ Legislation: ‘It’s a Very, Very Scary Time Right Now’
variety.comMarc Malkin Senior Film Awards, Events & Lifestyle Editor Dove Cameron first rose to fame for her work playing the title roles on the Disney Channel’s “Liv and Maddie” followed by her starring role in the “Descendants” franchise.
Now 27, she returns for the second season of “Schmigadoon!” as Jenny Banks, a character based on Sally Bowles from “Cabaret.” The sophomore season of the Apple series, titled “Schmicago!,” is inspired by Broadway musicals of the 1960 and ‘70s. “It was transformative, an education awakening for so many of us,” Cameron says of the legacy of “Cabaret” on this week’s episode of the “Just for Variety” podcast. “Especially, I’m sure you can relate, but growing up as a queer person and seeing queer representation in an environment that was also so sexually liberated — those two things coupled together were really healing and necessary to see growing up for me to become the person that I am.
I know for so many other people, they feel the same.” I caught up with Cameron over Zoom video from her part-time home in New York City.
We talked about why her record label agreed to film a second music video for “Breakfast,” going public about her mental health issues and her message to LGBTQ youth as anti-queer bills continue to find momentum in state legislatures.
