Shawn Mendes voices support for songwriter Teddy Geiger coming out as trans

Shawn Mendes has voiced support for his long-term collaborator and songwriter Teddy Geiger, who came out as transgender last year, saying people should “live how they want to live.”

Mendes, who is working with Geiger on his upcoming self-titled LP, was speaking to Billboard about how straight men can support the LGBTQ+ community.

“Just open your eyes and open your mind,” he said, “because, for me, going through one of my closest friends [Geiger] going through a very big transition period in her life, was incredible to watch.”

The singer then went on to discuss his experience of Geiger’s transition.

He continued: “There was a moment when I remember I referred to Teddy as she, like without thinking, and it takes time to be able to learn that, obviously.”

Teddy Geiger at the 66th Annual BMI Pop Awards earlier this month. (Leon Bennett/Getty)

“And the way she looked at me was this intense amount of joy that I swear if everybody in the world experienced one of their best friends experiencing that, there would be no questions.

“People would not be questioning it. It’s just not worth it to question it. Let somebody be and feel and live how they want to live.”

Mendes has been previously supportive of his friend coming out as transgender.

He recently told Billboard: “I’m so grateful to be going through this process with her because I’m learning so much from it.”

Singer and producer Geiger made her first industry appearance since coming out earlier this month.

Shawn Mendes performs onstage at the 2017 iHeartRadio Music Awards (Rich Polk/Getty)

Geiger made the appearance at the 66th annual BMI Music Awards where she was honoured for her co-writing work with Mendes.