Singer Sufjan Stevens' Bold Revelation: Releasing Heartfelt Album in Honor of Beloved Late Partner Evans Richardson

Sufjan Stevens and his late partner Evans Richardson. Getty Images; Courtesy of Sufjan Stevens/Instagram

Sufjan Stevens, 48, publicly revealed his membership in the LGBTQIA+ community in the footnotes of his latest album, Javelin. Taking to Instagram on Friday, October 6, he expressed his gratitude to fans for listening to the album and dedicated it to his beloved partner and best friend, Evans Richardson, who unfortunately passed away in April. Stevens fondly described Richardson as a remarkable individual, brimming with life, love, laughter, curiosity, integrity, and joy. He emphasized that Richardson was an exceedingly rare and exquisite soul—one of those once-in-a-lifetime treasures who was precious, faultless, and truly extraordinary in every aspect.

The Grammy-nominated artist had never before revealed any information about his relationship status or sexuality until he posted on social media last Friday.

A picture of Richardson, who passed away at the age of 43, relaxing on a bed, was shared along with Stevens' accompanying caption. As stated in the Dignity Memorial obituary, originally published on April 30, Evans Richardson IV was originally from St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to New York. He worked as the chief of staff at Harlem's Studio Museum for almost 11 years. This museum focuses on showcasing the artwork of African-American artists. The cause of death has not been made public.

The start of Stevens and Richardson's relationship remains uncertain, although Stevens implied their romantic connection in a note written on Friday.

"I understand that relationships can be challenging, but it is always worthwhile to invest effort and care into the ones you love, especially those rare and exceptional individuals," Stevens wrote. "If you are fortunate enough to discover that extraordinary love, cherish it, nurture it, and devote all your dedication to it, especially during difficult times. Show kindness, display strength, exercise patience, practice forgiveness, demonstrate energy, exercise wisdom, and remain true to yourself."

Sufjan Stevens Kevin Winter/Getty Images

He concluded, "Embrace each day as if it were your last, living it to the fullest with grace, respect, love, gratitude, and joy. Today is a gift from the Lord, so let us rejoice and find happiness in it." Stevens, who had recently received treatment for Guillain-Barré Syndrome, underwent the treatment before the release of Javelin.

"I am thrilled to share new music with you, but I wanted to inform you that my absence from press and promotions leading up to the release of Javelin was due to my hospitalization," he wrote on Instagram in September. "One morning last month, I woke up unable to walk. My hands, arms, and legs were numb and tingling, and I had lost all strength, mobility, and feeling. My brother took me to the emergency room, where I underwent a series of tests, including MRIs, EMGs, cat scans, X-rays, spinal taps (!), and echo-cardiograms. The neurologists diagnosed me with the autoimmune disorder Guillian-Barre Syndrome."

He further noted, "Fortunately, there is treatment available. I received immuno-hemoglobin infusions for five days, and we prayed that the disease wouldn't spread to my lungs, heart, or brain. It was a terrifying experience, but the treatment was successful."