Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs reveals she struggled to come to terms with being gay – and admits her religious mother doesn’t accept her sexuality
Studio 10 presenter Narelda Jacobs has spoken candidly about her sexuality ahead of hosting ABC’s coverage of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian arid Gras this year.
Narelda, who was raised in an ultra-religious Christian family before coming out at age 21, told The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday that she’d previously struggled to accept that she is gay.
‘I buried my sexuality so deep because of how we were brought up,’ she recalled.
‘I buried my sexuality so deep’: Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs, 45, (pictured) has admitted she previously struggled to come to terms with being gay – and revealed her religious mother still doesn’t accept her sexuality
The journalist went on to discuss her relationship with her mother, who has made it clear she doesn’t accept Narelda’s sexuality, but loves her all the same.
‘[My mother and I] have great conversations about all sorts of things, but there are certain things we just don’t talk about,’ she said.
‘I would love to be able to talk about relationship stuff with my mum, but I know that I will never be able to.’
‘There are certain things we just don’t talk about’: The journalist went on to discuss her relationship with her mother, who has made it clear she doesn’t accept Narelda’s sexuality, but loves her all the same. Pictured: Narelda’s parents
Narelsa is in a long-term relationship with her partner, filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin.
Speaking to The Weekend Australian in July last year, Narelda said that she is happy that she hasn’t been completely ostracised by her family, even though they may not fully approve of her sexuality.
‘Coming from a strict Christian family I knew my sexuality would never be accepted and that was absolutely the case,’ she explained.
Couple: Narelsa is in a long-term relationship with her partner, filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin (left)
‘The day I came out my mum said ‘We will never be able to accept this but we will always love you’. I just felt so blessed that I could still enjoy the love of my family [after coming out]’, she added.
Narelda is hosting 2021’s coverage of the Mardi Gras festivities on SBS in March.
She will be joined by co-hosts Zoë Coombs Marr, Joel Creasey and Courtney Act.
Mardi Gras crew: Narelda is hosting 2021’s coverage of the Mardi Gras festivities on SBS in March. She will be joined by co-hosts Zoë Coombs Marr (left) Joel Creasey (right), and Courtney Act (far right).