Just ran across this article on NPR.org that goes into some depth about how difficult it is for queer Christian musicians to balance their sexuality and the belief that many of their audience members have that any deviation from their "Biblical" heterosexual norm is sinful. It caught my eye because one of the artists mentioned, Jennifer Knapp (whose voice is truly memorable), was a favorite of a friend of mine -- back when I was still a Christian and out nearly to myself nor anyone else as queer. I remember asking her when Knapp did come out how it affected my friend's judgment of her music, and her response was essentially that, unfortunately, Knapp was going to have to drop out of my friend's playlists.
I'm glad to see Knapp, at least, has returned to singing -- as the article says, as a folk rock performer. It's disheartening, to say the absolute least, to see talented and well-meaning people have their careers and livelihoods destroyed by bigotry; or, on the opposite side of the coin, to feel unable to be open with themselves, friends, loved ones, and audience members about who they really are.
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