Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs reveals she grew up being told ‘gays were going to hell’

Studio 10 host Narelda Jacobs reveals she grew up being told ‘gays were going to hell’ but has come to accept her sexuality – as she prepares to co-host the Sydney Mardi Gras

Narelda Jacobs has revealed that was brought up being told gay was wrong – and that she’d go to hell for her sexuality. 

Speaking to The Australian on Saturday, the Studio 10 presenter, 45, revealed that she wanted her daughter to have a very different childhood than the one she had. 

‘I wanted Jade to grow up with an open mind; I didn’t, because of our very Christian upbringing. We thought gays were going to hell,’ she told the paper. 

 Upbringing: Narelda Jacobs (pictured) has revealed that was brought up being told gay was wrong – and that she’d go to hell for her sexuality. Speaking to The Australian on Saturday, the Studio 10 presenter, 45, revealed that she wanted her daughter to have a different childhood

The TV star will be co-hosting the broadcast of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, which is held at the Sydney Cricket Ground this year.  

‘It’ll be great. We always call it Gay Christmas but this year it’s going to be like the Queer Olympics,’ she said. 

‘It’ll have an opening ceremony feel to it. And who doesn’t want to perform in a stadium?’ 

Different strokes: 'I wanted Jade to grow up with an open mind; I didn't, because of our very Christian upbringing. We thought gays were going to hell,' she told the paper. Pictured with  with her partner, filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin

Different strokes: ‘I wanted Jade to grow up with an open mind; I didn’t, because of our very Christian upbringing. We thought gays were going to hell,’ she told the paper. Pictured with  with her partner, filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin

Narelda, who was raised in an ultra-religious Christian family before coming out at age 21, recently 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.  

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. 

Family: The journalist in the past has discussed her relationship with her mother, who has made it clear she doesn't accept Narelda's sexuality, but loves her all the same

Family: The journalist in the past has discussed 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.’ 

Narelsa is in a long-term relationship with her partner, filmmaker Stevie Cruz-Martin. 

Family: '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 said . Pictured with Stevie Cruz-Martin

Family: ‘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 said . Pictured with 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. 

‘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. 

Mardi Gras hosts: 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)

Mardi Gras hosts: 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)