Part of the song is about the belief that those who view being gay as a sin are too quick to judge. Lil Nas X also explained an an Instagram post that he wrote the song and made the video in dedication to a younger version of himself, who hadn't yet come out as gay. And "Montero (Call me By Your Name)" is meant to give others the courage to be themselves as well.

"Dear 14-year-old Montero, I wrote a song with our name in it. It's about a guy I met last summer," he wrote. "I know we promised to never come out publicly, I know we promised to never be 'that' type of gay person, I know we promised to die with the secret, but this will open doors for many other queer people to simply exist."

He continued in the post to say that he understands people will claim he is using the song and video to "push an agenda." But, to Lil Nas X, that's what he wants to do. He added, "The agenda [is] to make people stay the f--k out of other people's lives and stop dictating who they should be. Sending you love from the future."