Betty Jensen
2010-07-31 04:34:34 UTC
http://www.etonline.com/news/2010/07/89649/
CHELY WRIGHT THANKS HOLLYWOOD FOR SUPPORT SINCE COMING OUT
Country singer Chely Wright has lived in the public eye for years with
her music career, but privately, she felt like she was "hiding." Until
recently she kept her sexual origin a secret before bravely coming out
on "The Today Show."
"I feel like my life was in black and white before coming out and now
with the help of the LGBT community, my life is now in color," she
told an assembly of students at a school safety summit.
On behalf of The Gay Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, she led
a focus group to tell adolescents about her journey to publicly
acknowledging her sexuality. "I'm in awe of these young people and
that at such young ages they have the great sense of self to stand up
and they understand who they are and they're willing to fight for it.
It's also a great testament to GLSEN and the great work that they've
done," she told ET.
"I knew that when I was four years old that I was different and I knew
by the time I was in third grade that that difference was that I'm
gay," she remembered of her childhood. The small-town girl was scared
to come out for 39 years because she thought it would jeopardize her
acceptance in the country music world, her faith, community, and
family.
Overall, she is happy with the fan's reception of her announcement.
Garnering the support of Rosie O'Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Oprah
Winfrey, Chely said with gratitude, "Hollywood has been incredible to
me." Rocker Melissa Etheridge also helped pave the way. "My coming out
was made a bit easier by her coming out well over a decade ago," Chely
said.
Chely's tale is chronicled in her memoir, Like Me: Confessions of a
Heartland Country Singer.
CHELY WRIGHT THANKS HOLLYWOOD FOR SUPPORT SINCE COMING OUT
Country singer Chely Wright has lived in the public eye for years with
her music career, but privately, she felt like she was "hiding." Until
recently she kept her sexual origin a secret before bravely coming out
on "The Today Show."
"I feel like my life was in black and white before coming out and now
with the help of the LGBT community, my life is now in color," she
told an assembly of students at a school safety summit.
On behalf of The Gay Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, she led
a focus group to tell adolescents about her journey to publicly
acknowledging her sexuality. "I'm in awe of these young people and
that at such young ages they have the great sense of self to stand up
and they understand who they are and they're willing to fight for it.
It's also a great testament to GLSEN and the great work that they've
done," she told ET.
"I knew that when I was four years old that I was different and I knew
by the time I was in third grade that that difference was that I'm
gay," she remembered of her childhood. The small-town girl was scared
to come out for 39 years because she thought it would jeopardize her
acceptance in the country music world, her faith, community, and
family.
Overall, she is happy with the fan's reception of her announcement.
Garnering the support of Rosie O'Donnell, Ellen DeGeneres, and Oprah
Winfrey, Chely said with gratitude, "Hollywood has been incredible to
me." Rocker Melissa Etheridge also helped pave the way. "My coming out
was made a bit easier by her coming out well over a decade ago," Chely
said.
Chely's tale is chronicled in her memoir, Like Me: Confessions of a
Heartland Country Singer.