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Chely Wright Implores Christians to Accept Their Gay Peers

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

"I was a young, gay, Christian, farm girl from Kansas with dreams of becoming a country music star. Can you wrap your head around that? I really couldn't," Chely Wright admits in 'Confessions of a Gay Christian Country Singer,' written for the religion section of the Huffington Post.

Chely's latest testimonial comes just as New York lawmakers narrowly passed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage (June 23), a gigantic step forward for the gay-rights movement. The 'Single White Female' singer, who is engaged to be married, defends her religious position as an openly-gay, practicing Christian.

"I like analogies; perhaps it's the songwriter in me, so if you'll indulge me, I'll offer this one," Chely writes. "I liken the notion that we [the LGBT community] are a Godless people to a scenario on a grade school playground. Remember when you were in third grade, when it was time to choose teams for a game of kickball during recess and all of the favored, obvious players were chosen first? This left the same players to be chosen last or to never even get a chance to kick or take the field -- essentially giving a message to that kid, 'You're never going to get to play. You're not good enough. You don't belong.'"

"Remember that happening to the same kid over and over?" she adds. "Eventually that kid would stop hoping to be chosen for either team. And eventually that kid would probably develop an aversion, perhaps even a life-long, deep loathing for the game of kickball. It's a protective mechanism that humans employ to preserve the most tender parts of their psyche. That's what it feels like for an LGBT kid in a place of worship."

Despite 25 years of self-oppression, which included a suicide attempt (as mentioned in her memoir, 'Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Singer'), Chely has come to terms with the balance of religion and sexuality in her life. She hopes her confessions inspire others to follow in her path of realization.

"LGBT people of faith are strong in numbers; we want our houses of worship back and we would like to implore those who practice such acts of religious based bigotry to realize that God is not theirs -- God is for all of us," she proudly proclaims.

Chely's big screen coming-out story, 'Wish Me Away,' recently won Best Documentary at the Los Angeles Film Festival. The singer-activist previewed the movie in April in front of a sold-out audience during the Nashville Film Festival.

"This is not my film," Chely tells The Boot. "I obviously was the subject of it and I was as complicit as I could be in giving the filmmakers insight into my life. But I didn't say, 'You should go talk to this person or that person.' I made no calls along Music Row to find out if people were willing to participate in it. But I love that they told the story without disparaging the town and the music that I love."

Click here to read Chely's 'Confessions of a Gay Christian Country Singer' article in its entirety.

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swelltoad

Chely Wright is not a bad Christian. She is a good one because she is honest and faithful. God made people gay just like he made them left handed. There is nothing wrong with being gay. The bible does not teach us to judge and hate people, only those who are sinners. Homosexuality, like heterosexuality is not a sin. Country music is the heart of America and it needs to be open and accepting to all because we are the genre that writes about the lives of Americans as they are. Chely is a proud American and Christian. Don't believe these haters that want you to believe that Christians are not compassionate. We dealt with this when certain Christians wanted you to believe that racism is okay back 30 years ago. Let's not make that same mistake again.

August 23 2011 at 4:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jem0360

Jesus never takes any place but first place in the life of His children, otherwise He ceases to be Lord. Chely consistently identifies herself in the artcle as a (1) gay (2) Christian. Right there regardless of what she thinks she believes she has disqualified her Christianity" ...all your heart, all your mind, all your strength" is required by Jesus. If you are a Christian first every other aspect of your life and identity comes under His direction. You are His disciple, (discipline) you discipline yourself according to his directives. Since Chely likes analogies here is one; the book of Romans addresses who cannot get into heaven and speaks of being effeminate, that's "acting" feminine for my team (disqualified for heaven), since God is just I would think that "acting" "butch" would disqualify the other team as well. I'm not comfortable with adults using the innocent immature spur of the moment decision making process of children to justify their own mature, calculated anti-social self-promoting, selfish, and rebellious decisions. I believe anyone can be GLBT because that spirit will attempt to seduce any and everyone. You gotta be strong and resist it.

August 22 2011 at 9:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bbomb187

Chely, you are a beautiul woman and it saddens me that you are not allowing yourself a natural heterosexual relationship and all that brings in life. This activist has convinced you that being lesbian is ok and you bought in to it. Being gay is not natural and is not the lfie God has for us. Hope you realize some day that your lifestyle will not get you to heaven.

August 22 2011 at 3:34 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to bbomb187's comment
Azrael Alexander

She's not "allowing" herself a heterosexual relationship because she isn't heterosexual. Do you really believe that one can convince another to become gay? You cannot change your sexuality, it is the same for homosexuals as it is for heterosexuals. She could force herself into a relationship with a man, but that would not be fulfilling to her just as it would not be if you forced yourself into a homosexual relationship. If sexuality was simply a choice, why would she (and scores of other LGBT people) have attempted suicide? Why would she allow the personal conflict to drive her to that much of a breaking point, if she could just turn around and erase her homosexual feelings? Can you, as a heterosexual, do that?

August 22 2011 at 10:00 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
clscherping

I know God loves Chely Wright. She is a beautiful, talented person. Still, having sex with a person of the same sex is a sin, according to the Christian Bible. Having said that, so is heterosexual sex out side of marriage, that is so easily discounted, so is lust , coveting, greed, gluttony (hello over weight America), bearing false witness (lying). These things have become acceptable not only as a way of life, but as a goal to obtain, in mainstream America. The bible says all sin is black to God. As Christians we are commanded to love one another, and "judge not....", but this does not mean we are to accept sin as acceptable to God, ANY sin. We need to examine out own lives, and remove the plank from our own eye; however, we can not allow ourselves to be deceived into accepting sin. God Bless you, Chely. I do wish you well and I will attempt to repent of my own sin before I start casting stones at you.

August 21 2011 at 9:38 PM Report abuse -3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to clscherping's comment
RockStarVocalist

The Bible does not call It sin. may I suggest you read Romans chapter one.

August 22 2011 at 1:16 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to RockStarVocalist's comment
jem0360

Did you read Romans 1? I don't think so...don't be "a snake in the grass". Be honest...if you are able to read and can comprehend what you read be fair to someone elses writings and just interpret what you have read. I am afraid you are not an honest person...if you can in fact read, otherwise please 4give me.

August 22 2011 at 10:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down
jem0360

But for more clarity read 1Corinthians 6:9, says plainly enough for anyone that the sexual sins of heterosexuals and homosexuals will disqualify them from the eternal blessings of Heaven.

August 22 2011 at 10:17 AM Report abuse rate up rate down
karen and mike

no gay is christian gods word is plain he destroyed 2 cities because of homosexuality and he frowns on it now people shouldnt try to use god to look good if youre a true christian you will believe the whole bible not just half and bein gay is an abomination

August 21 2011 at 9:18 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
fenderbassgirl01

It CLEARLY says in the Bible that same sex marriages is WRONG.

August 21 2011 at 6:40 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
hammondrld

UGH!

August 21 2011 at 6:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Larry Martinez

gay and christian dont belong in the same sentence to be christian means to die to your own wants and desires and to repent for all immorality to be holy as HE is holy, Just want bible are you reading Chely?

August 21 2011 at 6:35 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Larry Martinez's comment
unifiedft

Saying that implies you (if you are a Christian) do not sin. Is that true. Do yu not sin?

August 22 2011 at 7:06 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to unifiedft's comment
jem0360

He said in the qualification, "repent". When Christians blow it we have a lawyer, Jesus Christ. We repent, stop it, and turn around away from it, and walk towards God again.

August 22 2011 at 10:21 AM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down
anavrin2

she should claim another faith... christians are not gay

August 21 2011 at 6:31 PM Report abuse +3 rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to anavrin2's comment
jem0360

No she should repent and get her heart right with her Maker, as Christians we want her saved and in the family, traveling to Heaven with us...right?

August 22 2011 at 10:22 AM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
shirlwasher75

vomit

August 21 2011 at 6:26 PM Report abuse +1 rate up rate down Reply

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