Ray Boltz and Rob Halford Shared a Secret
He also has a wife of 33 years - although he is now divorced - and four children. Ray Boltz hid his sexuality from all, and Celebgalz report that he did not actually come to terms with his sexual orientation until about 2004 when he decided to tell his family.
In the meantime, the secrecy was eating him alive inside.
Rob Halford is the lead singer of the band Judas Priest, one of the three truly great bands in the heavy metal genre. His vocal abilities have made Priest songs easy to discern in the din of other music, and the group owes it fame and fortune in large part to the stage persona of Rob Halford.
Unlike Ray Boltz, Rob Halford is a worldwide renowned musician and it took predictable courage for him to come out 10 years ago in 1998 and announce that he, too, is gay. Of course, in retrospect we can all acknowledge that we had an inkling of this well before then, but still, the step was one of uncertainty.
Comparing and contrasting Ray Boltz and Rob Halford forces me, as a Christian, to draw some uncomfortable parallels. For example, in the German heavy metal circles being gay was not something that would have gone over well. I can only imagine that other groups were just as unwelcoming of homosexuality in a genre that thrives on the male to female, testosterone dripping, suggestive lyrics singing heavy metalists.
On the other hand, many Christians in the United States have been inspired by the music of Ray Boltz, and yet it is fair to say that a good number of these very same Christians would never have purchased even one album, had they known that Boltz was gay. In Christian circles it is understood that the artists should not have a hint of sexual immorality attached to them, and gayness is considered such immorality.
Both musicians faced huge risks with this revelation, but only one singer's career has the chance of being over.
What makes this a truly sad testament, however, is the fact that Rob Halford was more comfortable announcing to the world of heavy metal that he was gay, than Ray Boltz felt in coming out to those charged with following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. What is this saying about the followers of Jesus?
Sources:
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2008/9-12/arts/feature/13258.cfm
http://celebgalz.com/ray-boltz-ray-boltz-confesses-he-is-gay/
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36 Comments
Post a CommentI am a Christian and I DO NOT condemn Ray or Rob.
Yes, homosexuality is spoken against in the Bible, and so is lying etc.. I don't recall hearing Jesus say, some sins are ok, but others are not. All sin is unacceptable to a holy God. That is why we need his love, Mercy and Grace. If we as Christians learned to love like God, the world wodl truly be a better place. I am guilty of many sins even after 2o years of being a Christian. I hope and Pray God is more merciful that some of those claiming this Loving god as the one who FORGAVE THEIR SINS!!! Or have we forgotten we still need his forgiveness on a daily basis? Do I encourage sinful behavior? Absolutely not, but I understand we need to edify and encourage one another to live righteously in this world. Need I Go on!!?? Didn't think so. Peace Out!!
I'm a Christian and Judas Priest is my favorite band! Rob Halford is the only gay person I respect ever. I think the others are weird unless they prove themselves cool. Rob Halford is cool for being in a great heavy metal band
To the writer of this blog. We are christians and believe the bible. We love each person but, we do not so its ok to commit adultry or be selfish. Think of how selfish this is to his wife and children. Not that he is gay, but that he was married and did not take his committment seriously. I will never ever buy any of his products and threw away they few items that I did own of his. I do believe in forgiveness. But, forgiveness admits he was unfaithful to his wife and family. Not again that he was gay. Either way he was selfish and self centered. When, I make a committment to another person Im giving this person my word. Its very easy to be like the world. Dont tell us to rewrite the bible. The bible says we love one another. I love the murderer, I hate their sin they have committed. We, love but we do not say this is OK. Because it is not!!!
My you Christians are an intolerant lot.
wow wow wowww..this shocks me..it isn't that he's GAY..he should have declared that yeaaars ago..it's the "lie"..my stepdaughter is gay..i'm not against gays...before they are gay they are human and it's their ONE-ON-ONE to Jesus...but for him to LIE about it doesn't sit well with me at ALL..I doubt I'd buy his music anymore because all of his words are LIES..again NOT because he's gay..but because he lied and hid...truly a shocker because I had a great deal of respect for him and he was my favorite Christian artist...however, there "IS" forgiveness in Jesus so? that's something i'll discuss with the Lord and work on..sorta hurts though :(((
I think Zach you mean Pat Robertson. Pat Richardson played the mom on "Home Improvement." For my money I'd follow Pat Richardson over Pat Robertson any day. I'm not sure God smiles down on men who believe themselves to be entitled to your money because they are superior to us mere mortals.
Nothing has changed. Eve said 'the devil made me do it' and Adam said 'the woman..........who YOU gave me' Correct me if I'm wrong but did God say 'your right, that's the way I made you so let's just forget this all happened, MY bad.'
I agree, but what specific examples can you give of Jesus breeding hate?
I'm curious? What 'legitimate' reason do you have that thousands of historians (atheist and christian) seem to know absolutely? I'm guessing that if you don't have any 'legitimate' reason that Jesus never existed you must be taking that on 'faith?' Your definition of 'faith', which is not the Biblical definition cuts both ways. What detailed evidence do you have that Jesus never existed?
Christians who condemn homosexuality really should study up on the social contexts of the rules they lift from the Bible.
Take 1 Cor 11:14, for example - in context, the prohibition against long hair made sense because of what long hair signified in that society at that time. The context has changed and that significance is gone, so we mostly ignore that rule. Similarly, the incidental mention of "homosexual offenders" in 1 Cor 6:9 makes perfect sense in light of how homosexuality was perceived and practised in that society at that time (notably by the Greeks). Regardless of official dogmas, this verse has precious little relevance to the question of homosexuality as practised in a committed monogamous relationship today.