An open secret about the African American church in the US is the role LGBT musicians have in the institution’s music.
In 1971, Anthony Heilbut wrote a comprehensive study called The Gospel Sound. In its first edition, he kept knowledge of the personal lives of gospel performers quiet (one sentence was focused on sexuality). Now, as reported by the New York Times, the scholar’s new work details the contributions of LGBT singers to church music. Heilbut also chastises black Christians for standing firmly against marriage equality while depending on the work of gay musicians.
The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times – 25th Anniversary Edition
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- On Religion: Gospel Music Book Challenges Black Homophobia (nytimes.com)
- Essay: ‘I love the black church, but the black church doesn’t love me’ (thegrio.com)
- Are Black Churches Hypocritical on Gay Marriage? (theroot.com)
- Is the black church guilty of spiritual hypocrisy in same-sex marriage debate? (religion.blogs.cnn.com)
