Who's gay in Gospel music?

I watch the Gaither Reunion shows from time to time and I have to say there seem to be a number of flamers in the gospel world. Mark Lowry, for one. Who else?

• that queen who used to do Searching for the City with Vestal Goodman for sure.

  mhb

• Cynthia Clawson isn't gay but she's very gay positive, apparently. She's taken a lot of heat from the more conservative fundamentalist elements of the gospel world but she's sticking to her guns. Beautiful voice, too. Interesting that Bill Gaither chooses to include and feature her all the time. Vestal Goodman also loved the gays, apparently. She's seemed like a big-hearted loving sort of woman who truly loved everyone.

• Not quite gospel, but what about Mchael Tate? He pinged big time when he was in DC Talk. So did TobyMac for that matter. Wish both would be gay.

• That guy who hosts the gospel show on BET sure seems gay.

• Kirk Talley. He admitted to sending out nude pics a few years ago because he was about to be blackmailed. Pretty much ruined his career in gospel music. But now he has be 'restored' supposedly.

  http://gcmwatch.wordpress.com/2008/03/06/gcm-watch-to-gospel-singer-kirk-talley-repent-and-choose/

• Don't look at me!

  Donnie%20McClurkin

• STFU R2. You didn't know Vestal Goodman. Why do you say shit like that. Hap was a big ole 'mo. She was nothing but a beard with a bee hive.

  mhb

• He's not really necessarily Gospel but everyone knew that Luther Vandross was gay albeit closeted.

• bump

• Reba Rambo-McGuire, a Dove Award winner and daughter of the late Dottie Rambo, co-pastors a gay-friendly church in Nashville with her husband, Dony. Like Cynthia Clawson, they've have taken a lot of heat among fundies.

• [quote]they've have Preemptive "oh, dear" ...

  R10

• David Phelps always seemed gay to me, especially with that "big black lady" voice of his. but he and his wife have, like, eight kids or something. Not that that proves anything.

• Do Jason and DeMarco count?

• Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I give you .... CARMAN!

  http://www.carman.org/home.php

• What about Dino, the Liberace of Christian music?

  http://www.dinoplayspiano.com

• Pure gold R14

• Openly gay gospel singer/writer Shawn Thomas.

  http://www.shawnthomasonline.com/

  Rambo

• There are three gay Winans that I know of. LaShun Pace quietly has a lady lover on occasion and is a closeted BI. I wish she would leave the flock, come out, and be a crossover artist because she has a great voice. I am linking to one of her songs.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DXfy95cgwAhM

  Semi%20Retired%20Session%20Musician

• No more sheets!

  Juanita%20Bynum%20the%20non-lesbian%21

• Carmen is a C-U-N-T!!! While in college I worked at Magic Mountain and he would always perform concerts there during the summer. Actually the only concerts we could have there were shitty gospel shows since the TLC riot a few seasons earlier. Anyways, this asshole demanded everything under the sun. Air conditioned limo to drive him around the back of the park (everyone else used vans), no one was to dare speak to him, no other music could be heard within a certain distance of his presence, etc... Here's the kicker though...the only food he demanded was... fresh baked cookies from our lot cafeteria! Actually now that I think about it, we could only book two acts in the park...gospel shit and WEIRD AL YANKOVIC. Somehow he was deemed "safe." Al was the polar opposite of Carmen. No frills, no outrageous demands (except one case of bottled water, no brand preference) and just an all around nice guy. I got to escort him around the park and when we rode in the van we would make up crazy lyrics to songs that came on. DO YOU KNOW HOW FUCKING COOL THAT WAS???

• Who isn't?

• The Clark Sisters have a big gay following. Have they ever said anything about teh gay?

• R22 The Clark Sisters are COGIC and Michelle Bachmann is more LGBT tolerant than the Church of God in Christ. But, Karen Clark Sheard has actually performed at Gay Clubs and has publicly spoken of having gay pals, and somebody affiliated with COGIC eventually had to. Baby steps. COGIC. Baby steps. I always have thought that Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark was the gospel equivalent of Stevie Wonder. There is nothing she cannot do musically, really. Quite the talent.

• [quote]STFU [R2]. You didn't know Vestal Goodman. Why do you say shit like that. Hap was a big ole 'mo. She was nothing but a beard with a bee hive. Her husband's name was Howard. On what planet has anyone ever called him "Hap" Goodman?? Or, in a fit of trying to be relevant, are you googling and confusing the name of their family group (The Happy Goodmans) with someone's actual name?

• I agree, Twinkie is a genius, and so was her mother. I remember the Unsung episode about the Clarks where the COGIC leaders, after the triumphant Grammy appearance, forbade Mattie Moss-Clark from performing outside the church with her daughters again. I'm sure they were jealous that it was women who put the COGIC on the map with their musical genius.

• My all-time favorite reformed christian singer - RAY BOLTZ!! He was a huge christian singer, came out in his 50s, and has the most wonderful album out with songs he wrote after coming out. If you've ever watched Mark Lowry's web videos, he toured with one guy that was over the top (ala Paul Lynde). Can't remember his name, but he made me cringe (because he was a buffoon). Mark Lowry. Stan Whitmire (brilliant gospel pianist) is probably gay (toured with Lowry). Roy Webb (piano player for Ernie Haase) was rumored to have been fired because he was gay. I went to a Gaither concert and was cruised by Ryan Seaton who was also fired by Ernie a year or so later. Michael Hopper. Kirk Talley (they did a GQ article on him). THese guys have great talent - but I have to say it's time they stop supporting the industry that doesn't support them. Gaither and Lowry were "crucified" for taking a picture with the lesbian who wrote one of the most popular christian songs of the 70s. They capitulated and issued statements acknowledging homosexuality as a sin. I used to find comfort in southern gospel - until one day I realized how depressing it is. It's all "I am not worthy" and "I am nothing" and "my life is filled with shame". Seriously sad shit. Their concerts are nothing but sales events. The singers all run up to their tables before and after the concert to sell their CDs, their T-shirts, and their autographs. They make money off of people's fear and superstition. I read Dawkins' book, THe God Delusion, and have been an extremely happy atheist ever since.

• They're singing gospel....duh, none of them are gay.

• [quote]He's not really necessarily Gospel but everyone knew that Luther Vandross was gay albeit closeted. Then, we might as well do a general "who's gay?" thread. Just keep on topic, it's not that hard.

• The Clark Sisters are pretty much gay legends at this point, and deservedly so! I love Karen Clark. Even though I have tried to hate Donnie McClurkin, I can't. His childhood was so fucked up, and he would have no life if it wasn't for the church. I would like to think the artists that work with him are supportive of the gay community. I also heard Byron Cage was gay, and that he gave it to any downlow man that wanted it at Eddie Long's church in ATL. He left New Birth many years before it was in the headlines.

• Guy Penrod has, like, ten kids, and he's never pinged to me, but with the long hair and killer looks, it'd be cool if he was "family"

  http://www.southerngospeltimes.com/images/artist_img/guy-penrod.png

  Sidewinder

• Ryan Seaton = MARY!

  http://www.ssqfan.com/images/SSQ/RyanSeatonPic.jpg

• Ryan Seaton is sex on a stick. He's married with kids but I don't care. I'd raise those children as my own if he wanted to move in with me.

• Dennis Jernigan self-identifies as ex-gay and is married with nine kids. I wonder who he's trying to convince.

• Clara Ward had female lovers. Rev. James Cleveland died from AIDS-related complications, but they covered it up. I was in boot camp with a guy who said that Rev. Cleveland hit on him.

• Guy Penrod doesn't look that great in person. No muscle tone and a pear shaped body. For a while, the Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haase Signature Sound had the sexiest guys in southern gospel. Marshall Hall, Wes Hampton (yummy and pings like crazy), Doug Anderson, Ryan Seaton...very enjoyable to watch. Ernie Haase kinda' gives off the gay vibe, too - and from the concerts I've seen him in - he has a rather large "church member." David Phelps is not very good looking - but man that voice is seriously one of the most amazing ever.

• I read Shirley Caeser was a closet lesbian.

  http://www.lipstickalley.com/f158/any-gospel-tea-part-i-299774/index14.html

  Southern%20Boy%20

• [quote]When I went to Shirley's church last year and felt no anointing. Of course, I had read before hand about her on LSA , so I just needed confirmation of what I already knew. I dislike pimps like her. LOL! Pastor Shirley likes the snatch?! Ive heard those Cece Winans rumors for years.

• You know I did hear that about Shirley Caeser. Are there any male gospel singers who aren't gay? The gays gave birth to gospel music. I went to church for the first time in forever this past Easter and I could count the number of straight men on one hand ( and I wasn't even all that sure about them).

  The%20straightest%20choir%20director%20you%27ve%20ever%20met

• bump

• R24, Howard Goodman's nickname was indeed "Happy," and it's a safe bet he was called "Hap" a few times. So don't be so snippy. BTW, I happen to agree with you, otherwise, and I have loved Vestal ever since I saw her live at the Dewey, Oklahoma, football stadium when I was a baby gay in the 8th grade about 1967.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Happy_Goodman_Family

  Mama%20sang%20tenor

• R1 -- You mean this guy, Johnny Cook, singing with Vestel Goodman on "Lookin' For a City"? I think he's tremendous!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Drf8f32cDAXA

  Rev.%20James%20Cleveland

• Wes Hampton is a cutie, R35.

  http://www.weshampton.com/images/header-pic4.jpg

• I loved this song back in the day -- too bad they're anti-gay.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DV7eZD3TKn_M

  MARY%21%20MARY%21

• Are they really anti gay r43? They have a new reality show coming, I guess we'll find out.

• ALL OF THEM.

• Isn't the Gospel World like the largest closet this side of the college of Cardinals?

• Mary Mary gave an interview in [italic]Vibe[/italic] where they compared gays with whores and murderers. The President got some heat in 2007 for having them campaign for him along with Donnie McClurkin.

  http://www.gaypasg.org/gaypasg/pressclippings/2007/Nov/Obama%27s%20Pitch%20to%20South%20Carolina%27s%20Black%20Churches%20Affronts%20Gay%20Groups.htm

• Didn't some of the Winans record some stupid anti-gay song several years ago?

• Cece Winans has always given me a lesbian vibe. I think she and Whitney did the do. Vickie Winans seems like she would be supportive of gays.

• [quote]Didn't some of the Winans record some stupid anti-gay song several years ago? "It Ain't Natural"

• None of these people are gay.

  Anonymous

• R29, please elaborate on Donnie McClurkin's upbringing. Perhaps then I can develop some compassion for the self loathing hypocrite.

• Don't worry Majic Mountain, Carman or Carmen is Queen and Vestal was a man! What a great cast for the next Victor/Victoria!

  Ned the Ringmaster

• seems there are a lot of very JEALOUS people on here. If the singers or good and have a followin they have to be gay...Roy Webb and Ryan Seaton or not gay nor is David Phelps or Guy Pennrod. Where do you get your information unless you have been GAY with them? think on that

  unknow

• R54 - You are on a gay message board. Think on THAT you ignorant, uneducated, homophobic cunt.

• Blind Item of sorts for y'all. The member of the Winans family who lives over in Forrest Hills, TN is not as straight as some folks might think by any remote means at all. Two hints. The first one is that I will link to the Winans Family Wiki to be nice. The second one is that I am making reference to a lady.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winans_family

  Forrest%20Hills%2C%20TN%20

• Tom Netherton (Lawrence Welk Show) always preferred to sing Gospel music in his concerts. He pings off the charts.

• R56 A lot of folks have been saying the same thing about Cece Winans for years...any other info on her and her dipping into the lady pond??? i have been following her music and preaching and she talks about homosexuality ALOT. Maybe that is her subconcious talking.

  anon

• [quote]Tom Netherton (Lawrence Welk Show) always preferred to sing Gospel music in his concerts. He pings off the charts. Boy, is that an understatement.

  http://www.croznet.com/tomnetherton/images/center2.jpg

• There are so many queens in Southern Gospel it isn't funny. I know thsi thread is kinda dead but ever hear about NQC/National Quartet Convention(or National Queer Convention as my bf and I like to call it.? There are guys that plan a vacation to pick up dick there. Email me any interested parties to brangdonfied@aol.com. I'd love to call a few kettles black.

• So sad. Prove that the bible is true that in the last days people will be more preoccupied with satisfying their own cravings than walking in obedience to God. THE BIBLE IS TRUE. The true church is the only last bastion of truth in this world. Read me correctly, I said "the true church."

  Magnolia55

• Well my friend, pardon my English, "It ain't natural." It's very unnatural. Wasn't made to fit. Can't procreate. Seems simple to me, but so profound.

  Magnolia55

• This entire discussion is absurd. You're nothing but a gossiping bunch of pitiful big-mouths.

• What's the word on Jessy Dixon, other than, "he's dead?"

• [quote]This entire discussion is absurd. You're nothing but a gossiping bunch of pitiful big-mouths. Yes, well, that's what people generally do on a GAY GOSSIP SITE, you fucking moron.

• [quote] Wasn't made to fit. Oh, it fits, baby. It fits juuuust fine. Bend over and I'll show you.

• Don't forget David Maddux! He is the principal arranger for First Call, and former lead guitarist for Sandi Patty! He has been with his partner for 20 years.

• [quote]Cece Winans has always given me a lesbian vibe. I think she and Whitney did the do. Yeah I always got the impression that CeCe and Whitney were friends with benefits. Not technically gospel, but any rumors about Patti LaBelle?

• r

• Hunky long-haired Guy Penrod's gotta wife and a passel of kids, but with those looks and that last name...

  http://breathecast.christianpost.com/files/news/20100608_1_guy.jpg

• mike tait isn't just hasn't married yet. he's dated several girls. toby of course married. kids. etc. kirk talley was/is who knows. the blonde guy from the group who sings testify to love is. jennifer knapp is all i have for now carmen has never been married and i wonder when/if he will come out. . .

  http://www.reverbnation.com/tateellison

  Tate

• First of all Gay mean s happy! The Bible term is Sodomite; and Mark Lowry is a born again Christian that loves the Lord. Shame on you!

• That is one prodigious beehive that Sister Vestal is sporting at R41.

• [quote]There are three gay Winans that I know of. That's interesting, because I know some people who got asked to leave a funeral for a coworker at Perfecting Church in Detroit. The deceased was a gay man who left his wife and kids for his lover. The family bizarrely assumed that the coworkers were part of his sinful "lifestyle" and told them they weren't welcome there. Anthony Heilbut's The Fan Who Knew Too Much is worth the cover price for the chapter on gays in the Pentecostal church. Fascinating.

• Heilburt would have replied here "who isn't?".

• Jenny Followell

• John Wesley Shipp His father is a minster and his sister is a gospel singer. He also sings gospel and even did gospel duets with Cissy Houston

• As soon as I saw the title on this thread, I thought of Tom Netherton.

• I understand Bishop Yvette Flunder of San Francisco is a lesbian. I don't know much about her. She is a great gospel singer. She sings with Chanticleer on their Gospel CD "How Sweet the Sound". Her take on "There is a Balm in Gilead", an old spiritual is one of my favorite performances. I listen to it over and over. I am not a Christian, just like gospel. Jessye Norman and Kathleen Battle did a gospel CD that I also listen to frequently.

• Wow, this has been an interesting thread to read. Who knew? Guess I wish more would come out but it took me a long time to feel comfortable in my own skin...and I don't have a Gospel career to worry about. It does make me listen to these songs with a new understanding and frankly for all those who are out...I want to go buy their CD to show support.

  Mex49

• this is a stupid website and whoever made this is gay themself

• [R81] Gosh, it was a great website until you came along. WTF are you doing here?

• Before you jump on someone's post here, no one is saying that just because someone may or may not be gay that it means their heart wasn't in the music. All that is being said or speculated was whether or not that person is gay. The important thing is not their sexuality - the important thing is if the message they are singing is coming from the heart. I frankly don't care with whom they go to bed. Will God punish me for loving - or you for hating?

  Drummer

• I have heard that Yvette Flunder of the Oakland area is gay. She is a gospel singer and preacher. Here is her singing "There is a Balm in Gilleand" with the male vocal group Chanticlear. She sings other songs on one of Chanticlears albums.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DHZNIAXz3KKU

• [quote]Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I give you .... CARMAN! I'd tap that.

• I cast my vote for Tom Netherton, too.

• Amy Grant?

  Vince%20Gill