Another feminine lesbian comes out: thank you, Chely Wright!
Wow! This is a story that continues to intrigue. Chely Wright, country singer, has announced she’s gay. So, what’s so remarkable about this coming out story?
As Chely just spoke of on the Today Show, there is still a risk in the country music world, and among it’s fans, of being ostracized. After all, she said, country music has always been associated with god, America and family.
I haven’t read Chely’s new book yet, Like Me: Confessions of a Heartland Country Singer, but it certainly seems a must read.
Chely states she got to the point of ‘having a gun in her mouth’ before coming to terms with the fact she had to get honest and tell the world her truth. She says she’s finally courageous enough to say out loud,
“Why can’t someone love god and country music AND be gay?”
Thank you Chely! It’s so cool to see someone so wholesome, feminine and, frankly – ‘straight looking’ – come out. Obviously country music is a much different ‘animal’ from pop, rock, etc. The perception of country music is much more conservative. And the other unique element here is the fact Chely is still actively performing, so she’s still at risk of having her livelihood affected by prejudice and/or discrimination.
Chely’s decision will do wonders for country music, her gay fans and even fans who have been homophobic. Perhaps now a young gay girl will believe she can both be herself and become a country music star.
Perhaps now a heart or two will change. I think something unique happens to people’s prejudices when a gay person who doesn’t ‘fit the sterotype’ comes out. It just goes to show more how ‘we’ are everywhere in every shape, type, etc. How about you? What do you think?
Certainly if anyone can melt one’s heart, Chely can… 
Perhaps major league sports (or better yet – modeling) will be next industry to have it’s first gay person come out???
Tags: coming out, country music and homophobia, country star, feminine lesbian, femme, Like Me, Like Me by Chely Wright