Gay Christian Gospel artists? There are plenty. It has been said that there are a lot of closeted gay people in Christian and black Gospel music, and it’s rare for any of them to come out because it could mean career suicide. After all, the main thing American Christians are known for these days is their “disdain” for homosexuals. Interestingly, Marsha Stevens, the mother of contemporary Christian music who got her start in the early 1970s, is a lesbian and runs Born Again Lesbian Music (BALM). Wow. Most people today don’t know who Stevens is, but if they were into Christian and Gospel music in the 1990s, they know of three major artists who’ve since come out of the closet: Jennifer Knapp, Ray Boltz, and Tonex, now “re-branded” as “B-Slade.” Below you’ll see Knapp’s interview on Larry King Live, followed by a music video from Ray Boltz showing lots of same-sex kissing, and then an interview with Tonex, sporting a look that would definitely raise eyebrows in most places. Nowadays, these artists are beloved by gay fans, both Christian and secular, and not as beloved by “mainstream” churches who used to invite them in to play music and talk to their audiences. Did you “used to” listen to these artists but now do not? Do you think they can be both gay and Christian? Leave your comments.
Jennifer Knapp
Ray Boltz
Tonex
