may look different, but it’s part of the human condition we all face. If you think your way is the only way and everything is black and white, I think that it’s dangerous…And sort of ignorant. There is a much bigger picture, filled with different people and different ways of thinking. Turning that into a positive instead of a negative is something, hopefully, we’ll all learn at some point. The internet has so completely changed the conversation process. It’s great that everyone has a voice, but it’s often to the exclusion of listening to other points of view. It’s why telling our stories is still so important…As you said, it illustrates our similarities and our differences. I agree and as I’ve shared my story I’ve discovered
there is not only a degree of acceptance, both collectively and individually, there is a sense of taking a step forward in life and just progressing. For me personally, it’s so great to be a part
of a community and to meet people who are similar in interest and who have had experi- ences like I’ve had. For me too, I just needed to be honest with people. I didn’t really set out to be an advocate or an activist, ultimately I just wanted to get cool with myself, if you will. Then, because of being a public figure, it was about being honest with audiences. Even though none of us necessarily intend to be an advocate, being out does go a long way towards advocating by default. I think it was a good thing for me and hope-
fully, good for others. I’ve heard from a lot of people over the last month and a half, folks who have shared on social media and through emails, their stories. If they felt I was a part of some good step forward, I’ve loved hearing from them and that it has made a positive difference. It’s such a different world now, compared to where we were, say when I was a kid in the ‘60s. We are integrated in society in ways that I couldn’t have even imagined back then. Absolutely. We have so much representation
now. We have media personalities, heck, we’re on Tylenol commercials. (Laughs) We’re showing up in lots of places that we never have before and that’s true of country music, as well. Who would have thought? Beyond wanting to be honest, I did feel a bit
of a calling to do this. I didn’t want to live in the shadows. I’ve tried to be a good person and a man of integrity and when you want to live that way, having this thing that I covered up for so long, well, there is no way to live in peace. It’s impossible to follow a life of honesty if you are not completely truthful and transparent, with something that is so integral as being gay was and is to me.
I interviewed Ty Herndon two years ago and
Chely Wright back in 2011 and it’s amazing how much has changed in the country world, even in that short amount of time. Have you
found that to be true in your experience? Completely. It’s been tremendous over
the last few years, seeing people within the industry either come out and the changes in the willingness to accept that’s happened with
them. Even still, pushing that send button wasn’t an easy thing, I had fear the moment I posted that message. Even though the industry and Nashville is pretty accepting, there was still an unknown with a great number of the people who listen to country and the greater audiences who watch and hear me. I still had a fear about how they, the people I
don’t know would react. But, I have to say, in the couple of months since then, the response has been so incredibly positive. You can see that from those who commented or posted on social media, or the people who emailed and called. Literally, maybe 20 people had negative reactions, versus thousands of positive. That’s because of the progress we’ve made
and partially because in 2017 we’re living in a different time then we were even five years ago. It helps too, that people like Carrie Underwood and Toby Keith said nice things the moment I came out and Tweeted about
it...As did others. Understanding, wisdom and acceptance, it’s not always an easy thing to come by in this world. Like I said, I felt a little bit of a calling to speak
up, because I did feel like there might be kids out there in small towns and living down a dirt road, who are alone and feel a little different, be it gay or whatever else. I felt maybe if people knew who I was, that I could possibly affect them. Just to know that it’s not weird to be a little different and that they are pretty normal. It kind of goes back to that social media thing
a little too. It works both ways, as much as we want to be understood, it’s just as important to understand those we might disagree with. It gets lost in this web of judgement constant-
ly, be it from someone’s photo on Instagram, or Tweeting a smart-aleck remark, we often judge too quickly. We are all human and filled with emotions that we don’t always understand, because we’re complicated creatures. To have a little more love, patience and understanding for each other is just a much better way to live.
APRIL 2017
APRIL 2017 | | RAGE monthly
monthly
35
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