Pretty much from the start it was rumored that Jennifer Knapp was a lesbian, people claiming inside knowledge from her tours, etc.  I never doubted this, and as time went on I started to become more and more sure it was likely the truth.  Then, a few months Jennifer Knapp popped back up.  She became active on Twitter, her web site was once again active, and she announced a new record and a tour.

Then the big news, 3 days ago she announced to The Advocate, Christianity Today, and Reuters that she has been in a same-sex relationship for 8 years.  She did further qualify that this was not the reason she left music, but that her recording/touring schedule had become too draining.  After hearing this news and knowing how violently hateful and disturbingly cruel the Christian community can be to one of it’s own coming out as gay, I knew more than ever that going to her show was more important than ever.  I imagine there were quite a few ticket returns after the news broke.

The show itself was fantastic.  The opening act, Amy Courts, hinted at the what had been going on this week and expressed her sincere support of Jennifer.  The big question for me was if Derek Webb was also supportive; I went through High School listening to his Contemporary Christian music and just wasn’t sure how this was being handled within the tour.

He came through in a big way.  Here are some of the lyrics from songs on his latest album Stockholm Syndrome:

You say always treat people like you’d like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
About what you believe
Make you sound like a freak….

….If I can see what’s in your heart
By what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight
Is all it’s about
It looks like being hated
For all the wrong things
Like chasing the wind
While the pendulum swings

- What Matters More

Not surprisingly Derek’s record label felt that song would be a little too much for his Christian audience to handle and excluded it from all retail releases of the album.  It is available for free on his Web site.

Early on in his set he began to talk about his disgust and very strong negative feelings toward Fred Phelps (you know, the God Hates Fags guy that pickets pretty much everything) and played a song he wrote about Fred Phelps:

(Chorus)
Freddie, please
How could you do this to me
How could you tell me you love me when you hate me
Freddie, please

You know I love you honey
But I’ll bleed you dry with money
I’ll talk where I know you can hear
‘Cause freddie can’t you see
Brother, you’re the one who’s queer

(Chorus)

The stone’s been rolled away
And you’re picketing my grave for loving the things you hate
But why do you seek the living among the dead

(Chorus)
Freddie, please
How could you do this to me
How could you tell them you love me when you hate me
Freddie, please

So, I don’t know exactly where Derek Webb falls theologically (nor does it change my life), but I was thrilled that Jennifer Knapp was surrounded by such great people.

Jennifer didn’t directly address her coming out, but it was eluded to in passing and the situation is felt very heavily in the songs of her new album.  Her album comes out on May 11, and I strongly encourage anyone and everyone to check it out.  While you’re waiting, visit her website and listen to the previews.  She’s a very talented artist and more than deserving of our support.

I realize this post may not mean anything to the majority of you that read my blog, but to those of you who know my background, you know what this situation means to me.  Jennifer Knapp was one of a few reassuring voices during some terribly frightening times in my life; her music comforted me and gave me strength.  It is my hope that her recent courage and show of strength serve to reassure all of the terrified, confused GLBT youth in Christian homes who are out there wondering what is wrong with them.  Nothing is wrong, absolutely nothing.

I think it would be fascinating to know what percentage of blog posts around the world involve the author talking about or apologizing for how long it has been since their last post.  Usually those posts are the last posts for 8 months or so.  Considering this phenomenon, I won’t do the same.  We’ll just pretend this is my third post this week.

Looking back over my last several posts I’ve realized I like to talk about heavy stuff.  So, I’ll break with tradition and post the music video for the song I’m listening to on repeat right now:

Alright, so I do admit that I had not actually watched that video before I just found it to post.  The video is trippy, but it’s a good song.  I’ll probably hate it in a week, but for now we’ll enjoy it together.

Now that the in-blog entertainment is complete I’m supposed to ramble about what is going on in my life.  I personally feel that this sort of blog post is incredibly boring, but people keep telling me to talk about myself.

So, let’s see, the spring semester is nearing it’s end and I couldn’t be happier.  I’m in Human Biology, English 1010 (yeah, I know, don’t ask), Social Work – Intro to Agency Experience, Intro to Music (I attended the Colorado Symphony Orchestra last week, great time), and World Wide Web, Internet & Beyond (There’s nothing wrong with wanting an easy A).

I’m still a Sophomore, which is just embarrassing.  Even more embarrassing is that spell check has to correct “embarrassing” every time that I type it, including in this sentence.  Two R’s, two R’s, two R’s.

In other news, I’m moving to a new apartment at the end of the month.  How exciting is that to anyone reading this blog?  Not at all.

In other, other news, I’m looking for a job.  Anything really.  I currently get paid in styrofoam peanuts and jelly beans at my current job at Metropolitan State College of Denver.  My new landlord won’t accept either of those as payment for my rent.  So, if you know of anyone hiring, especially if it will make me rich and famous, please let me know.

There you go, that’s about as much ridiculously self-important, narcissistic posting as I can handle for one night.  See you next year.  Just kidding.  Probably.

On a further geeky note, I added some additional login options for my comments.  You can now just login with Facebook or Twitter, so you have no excuses not to leave comments.

Now, on to the good stuff.  Excuse me while I turn into a shrieking 12 year old girl…OMGSH ARE YOU WATCHING GLEE!!?!!??!1  I’ve fallen in love with this show.  The pilot was excellent, the second episode was underwhelming, but since then they’ve recovered nicely.  Jane Lynch alone made me interested in the show; I loved her on the short-lived Lovespring International and she’s just laugh out loud funny.  Jane Lynch aside, there’s a really sweet gay character and my favorite of all, a fiercely fabulous black woman.

Warning: If you’re a straight male who watches football, hunts, drives a pickup truck, or thought Sarah Palin was a good idea and/or should hold any elected office then you probably won’t like Glee.

If you haven’t watched the show yet, do it before Hulu decides to pull it down.

There’s the light stuff.  I’ll get to what’s really been going on in my life in a future post.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Aside from chain smoking, things seem to be going very well for him.  Looking forward to his album, but I’m curious to know what you all think of him and his music?  I may just be(I know I am) a sucker for an underdog story.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

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