Martina McBride has taken what many might consider a bold step forward for a mainstream country artist. She's given her first-ever interview to Out.com, an online publication directed mainly at the gay community."Honestly, I just have to do what's right for me, and what I would tell people is what I believe, which is that tolerance is very important," McBride answers when asked if she'd ever encourage her fans to be tolerant of gays. "I have three daughters, and that's what I teach them. I think we should all be tolerant of each other and embrace each others' strengths and differences and uniqueness and beauty."
McBride is well aware of the potential backlash from her more conservative fans. In fact, they're already filling up the message boards with angry comments about the Out.com article:
"The Almighty GOD created Adam & Eve and not Adam & Steve," writes Matthew Mason.
"She (along with all other parents) MUST teach their children that turning gay is a CHOICE and is not acceptable in today's society," writes another reader.
Others are singing McBride's praises for coming out as a supporter of the gay community:
"Way to go Martina. You join Garth and the Dixie Chicks in being another smart, intelligent, open country star! Not every country fan or performer is some rude, ignorant redneck!" writes Mark.
"Country music needs to drop its homophobia. Thanks for the help. You are a class act," another reader comments.
Growing up in a small Kansas town, McBride says she didn't know any gay people when she was young, yet she always believed the lessons her parents taught her about caring for others. She also reveals that her intense interest in music made her something of an outsider herself.
"In any small town, sports are really important to the high school, and I wasn't very good at sports," she says. "I was always into music. And none of my friends were really into music the same way I was. So it was just different. It was really not very well understood by most of my friends. They didn't tease me about it -- they just didn't really relate. I wasn't necessarily an outcast, but I never really felt like I fit in."
McBride, whose current single, 'Ride,' is being remixed for play in dance clubs, also shares some of her personal style secrets, which could come in handy for drag queens who aspire to perform as Martina in their act. And it all starts with the hair.
"The bigger the better with the hair," she says. "Make it look big -- you know, flowing like a lion, kind of awesome rock star hair. And clothes wise? I always wear heels on stage, even if they're boots. I've never been into flats. I don't know, it just makes me feel ... sexier."
Martina McBride's latest album, 'Shine,' will be released on March 24.
Reader Comments(1 of 36)
Juliannaat 3-17-2009
What a great story - very refreshing! Her daughters will grow up to be well-rounded, caring women, thanks to their mom.
Robertat 3-18-2009
One question... What would Jesus do? Do you think he would go around scorning, damning, and preaching HATE to others that disagreed with him? I think we all know the answer. This current culture of so many so-called noble "Christians" are well overdue for a huge piece humble pie. We need to represent and honor Jesus Christ by living in his essence, not by embarrassing him with hypocracy!!! Read more than two selected pages of the bible and you will see that to judge is just as much of a sin against the almighty as any other. We don't get to pick and choose when we want to be Christian to to embelish our own ignorant egos!!! Jesus loves EVERYONE!!! We need to remember that!!! If we don't wish to then we will eventually realize that we are ALL on just as much on the path to hell as any other!!! I am so sick of people using the Bible to spread HATE throughout the planet!!! Who are the REAL terrorists in America? They aren't breaching our borders, they already live and breath among us!!!
Pamat 3-18-2009
You go girl! Martina is definitely right on. TOLERANCE is a beautiful word. Martina is obviously very well educated as most tolerant people are. Live and let live.
rfyockat 3-18-2009
Another country star asserting her freedom of speech. Let us hope that the "supposedly" freedom loving country fans don't allow the radio stations to do to her what they did to the Dixie Chicks.
Shanonat 3-18-2009
I agree Julianna. It's refreshing to hear an intelligent person speak about a topic that so many are just plain ignorant about. Homosexuality is not a choice, but no matter how much scientific evidence is presented to prove that, there will ALWAYS be the institution of religion telling people that being gay is a choice, and that it's wrong. I am not a country music fan, but I have now found respect for Martina.
Kayat 3-18-2009
Shanon? I would like you to show the "scientific proof" that homosexuality is not chosen.
rdntsky333at 3-19-2009
Kay, there is scientific evidence linking male sexual orientation to a mutation on the X chromosome. I know this because I helped find it. If you want to read the article it is in the journal Human Genetics (2005) Volume 116, No. 4 p. 272. Although seeing as you're even arguing the scientific proof, you're probably not going to believe it (or understand it for that matter).
caughtnthequietat 3-19-2009
Just one more reason for me to just LOVE Martina McBride...not that I didn't have plenty of reasons to love her...her music is awesome...but this just puts forth what a truly beautiful human being she is.
anster32at 3-19-2009
Oh Robert! You are so lost. It is sad. One is called to hate the sin, not the sinner. It appears to me that you are the one being selective about the bible. It clearly states that homosexuality is an abomination to God. However, it also commands us to love one another as He has loved us. Therefore, I can love the homosexual, but not his or her homosexuality. Yes, that can be done. Is there anyone in your life, that you love, but has disappointed you or done something you didn't like? Did you stop loving them? Chances are, you didn't. Same concept. Homosexuality, is not natural. It is not normal and it is habitual sin.
You ask what would Jesus do? He would love them inspite of. However, He would tell them the truth about their habitual sin and where it leads, which is what you see His actions to be throughout the bible when confronted with sin. I can love the person, but I don't and won't accept their lifestyle as normal and will NOT teach my children that it is normal.
mvacdudeat 3-19-2009
i think more people should study the whole bible and not just pick and choose! if one believes in God then one must believe in the whole bible as it is the source of knowledge of God. if not, then there is no need to believe in God at all. it isn't open for human debated! you are just a pisser in the wind! God is absolute righteousness and morality with no toleration of the opposite! But, that is why salvation is free w/o prejudice 4 all! love the sinner, hate the sin! i pray 4 the worlds salvation, if not saved they are condemned already!
oceanbubble88at 3-22-2009
How does teaching your children to be open and accepting to gays make them well-rounded, caring women? It doesn't! It teaches them that it's okay to go against what God commands. God says marriage is between one man and one women, not two men or two women. Instead she should be teaching them that they can love the person, yet not agree with the actions or life choices that they have made.
HPJokerat 3-23-2009
oceanbubble88-
the bible is a sack of crap and anyone with any common knowledge should know that.
btw WAY TO GO MARTINA! I'm proud of you!
Davidat 3-23-2009
Julianna,
I completely agree. Parents need to teach their children to be tolerant and openminded about issues such as homosexuality.
It is true that there is scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice based on a specific sequence of genetics on the X chromosome passed on by the mother. A pet theory of mine is that homosexuality resulted as an evolutionary response to overpopulation.
As for the Bible, God never actually says that homosexuality is wrong. The Bible was written by man, and man is inherently flawed and subject to their own morals and opinions. The Bible may have been divinely inspired, but inspiration can take on a completely different form, particularly when written in times of political and/or ethical turmoil and when it is translated so many times that it is hard to distinguish between the original document and flaws in translation. Another point to look at is the quote that is used so fervently against homosexuality ("If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them." Leviticus 20:13) is in the same text as other outdated religious laws such as:
Don't let cattle graze with other kinds of Cattle (Leviticus 19:19)
Don't have a variety of crops on the same field. (Leviticus 19:19)
Don't wear clothes made of more than one fabric (Leviticus 19:19)
Don't cut your hair nor shave. (Leviticus 19:27)
Any person who curseth his mother or father, must be killed. (Leviticus 20:9)
If a man cheats on his wife, or vise versa, both the man and the woman must die. (Leviticus 20:10).
If a man has sex with a woman on her period, they are both to be "cut off from their people" (Leviticus 20:18)
Psychics, wizards, and so on are to be stoned to death. (Leviticus 20:27)
If a priest's daughter is a whore, she is to be burnt at the stake. (Leviticus 21:9)
People who have flat noses, or is blind or lame, cannot go to an altar of God (Leviticus 21:17-18)
Anyone who curses or blasphemes God, should be stoned to death by the community. (Leviticus 24:14-16)
Anyone who dreams or prophesizes anything that is against God, or anyone who tries to turn you from God, is to be put to death. (Deuteronomy 13:5)
If anyone, even your own family suggests worshipping another God, kill them. (Deuteronomy 13:6-10)
If you find out a city worships a different god, destroy the city and kill all of it's inhabitants... even the animals. (Deuteronomy 13:12-15)
Kill anyone with a different religion. (Deuteronomy 17:2-7)
Dietary laws in the Bible also forbid the consumption of pork and shellfish, and I for one am not willing to give up either.
I agree that everyone is entitled to their religious beliefs, but it is hypocrisy to believe is one aspect of a religion and to completely disregard others.
ericadarlingat 3-24-2009
I'm a firm believer in hating the sin, not the sinner. Just because I believe homosexuality is a sin, doesn't mean I have to tell them they are going to hell. Jesus himself hung out with who? Tax collectors, adulterers, liars...etc. I will definitely tell people what I believe, but I love all people. That doesn't mean I have to love what they do.
whinymuslimsat 3-17-2009
get back in the closet!