Here’s How To Talk To Your Kids About Gay Country Musicians

Yesterday unofficially became country music’s coming out day when we heard from not one but two twangtastic artists about their same-sex secret lives. And while in full disclosure we hadn’t ever heard of either Billy Gilman or Ty Herdon before, the news was still good.

Kudos to YouTube channel Heck Benderfor putting out an intelligent response so quickly.

In their latest clip, a father talks to his son about the gay singers.

Dad: “Some people think that Southern tradition, freedom and country music is being threatened by people coming out as being gay or criticizing the president — unless of course it’s Obama.”

Son: “But isn’t country music a representation of Southern rebellion? And isn’t coming out as a gay country artist one of the biggest acts of rebellion you can do in that field? And isn’t it a great act of Southern rebellion by criticizing your representation and hasn’t the South always been about individual freedom? And isn’t a great act of individual freedom loving whoever you want to love?

Country Star Billy Gilman Comes Out, Says Ty Herndon Inspired Him

Let it be known that November 20 will from here on be known as country music’s official coming out day. Hot on the heels of Nashville superstar Ty Herndon’s public acknowledgment that he’s a happily-partnered gay man, country performer Billy Gilman has been inspired to do the same. Gilman, 26, first garnered attention as the youngest person to score a top 40 country hit (he was 12 at the time) with the single “One Voice,” has followed Herndon’s lead and posted a video online in which he acknowledges he’s a gay man with a partner of five months.

Gilman tells viewers that it was “difficult for me to make this video not because I’m ashamed of being a gay male artist or a gay artist or a gay person. But it’s pretty silly to know that I’m ashamed of doing this knowing that because I’m in an genre and industry that is ashamed of me for being me. That said, I want to say that all of the country artists that literally I grew up with – Keith Urban, Vince, Lee Ann Rhimes and all of these wonderful friends of mine have been nothing but supportive. Not that they knew but they’ve just been such wonderful people.”

With the C&W floodgates now wide open, who do you think will come out next?

Watch Gilman’s video below.

A Pro-Gay, Sex Positive Anthem Won Country Music’s “Song Of The Year”

We know how much you all love country music since Steve Grand came on the scene. Can’t get enough of the stuff, ourselves. There’s…that one band. Oh and the Dixie Chicks, love them. Um, Dolly?

So maybe we don’t know (or want to know) the first thing about the genre, but we can all agree that Kacey Musgrave winning “Country Song of the Year” at this year’s Country Music Awards is a great thing.

Why? Because the song — “Follow Your Arrow” — is a totally pro-gay, let your freak flag fly kind of anthem, and if that’s where country music is headed, things are going in the right direction.

As Kacey’s wisdom tells us:

“Damned if you do and damned if you don’t, so you might as well do whatever you want…Kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls if that’s something you’re into.”

When she was asked about whether country music should embrace LGBT issues, she responded:

“It never happens and I’m sick of it. It’s ridiculous. Whether or not you agree with gay marriage or the fact that people don’t choose to be gay, we share the same emotions, needs and wants. I just think that everyone should be included in that. It’s definitely time.”

Here’s the video for “Follow Your Arrow”: