And more breaking news, the grass outside is green.

Timmy84 said:

utopia7 said:

Don't believe Timmy, he lyin'!

SCNDLS said:

My nose ain't grown yet.

Timmy84 said:

11 September 2009

WATCH: Gospel Star Tonex Confirms Rumors and Same Sex Attraction

Anthony Charles Williams II, the Stellar Award-winning gospel singing artist, producer and minister better known by his stage name Tonex, confirms his long-rumored sexuality and admits that he "is" attracted to men. Tonex's admission on the popular The Lexi Show, a popular gospel and Christian YouTube show, is perhaps the first time a gospel singer has confirmed their homosexuality, writes Darian Aaron, the Atlanta-based blogger and gospel music fan.

"Tonex boldly opens the closet door in a way that I could never imagine anyone else in the gospel music industry having the courage to do. As a childhood victim of molestation, Tonex refuses to blame his same-sex attraction on this experience like many of his colleagues who "struggle" with homosexuality (i.e. Donnie McClurkin) and corrects the interviewer when she attempts to frame the discussion in this way. 'It wasn't a struggle. And then people like to blame the struggle on molestation. No. Just say you were attracted to men and be honest and quit blaming it on that experience', says Tonex."

Although Tonex does not come out and say he is gay, several times in the interview he emphasizes that he "is attracted" to men and that is "not a struggle". On numerous previous times, the flamboyant recording artist has denied that he was gay, most famously on the 2007 video of The Naked Truth and an infamous YouTube video where he swore and used profanity. "I take ownership for that," Tonex now admits.

Tonex also blasts the black church for its hypocrisy and its mistreatment of LGBTs: "The church has completely faggotized everybody who's gay, sends them to hell over the pulpit and the church literally screams hooray and are happy about that. And yet, we celebrate the pastor who has a clean record and a clean look, but yet he is still doing the same thing that the same gender loving people are doing."



[Edited 9/12/09 10:32am]

..wait a minute..Clifton Davis???!!??

..the "Amen/That's My Mama" Clifton Davis? I knew he was married and had kids
during those years but I thought he left his wife for his co-star Anna Marie Horsford...(or however you spell her last name).

Didn't know he was gay...(not that there's anything wrong with that).

SPYZFAN1 said:

Years ago there were rumors about him and a famous singer who made one of his songs popular as a teen.

carlcranshaw said:

All I can say is it's untrue and I know WHICH TEEN SINGER you're talking about.

Timmy84 said:

I believe Cliff is out there but not with that particular singer.

I totally respect what Tonex did. One of the hardest things you can do is come out when you in the Church. The fear of judgment is so thick, it can be crippling. I just hope other folks in the pupit who are hiding behind it will see what Tonex has done, come out and be honest with themselves and their families, let alone all of us. As you can see here, we can already tell you who the "How YOU doin's?" are already, for the most part. If these people in the Gospel community are going to walk in "spirit and in truth", then they just need to be who they are already, cause God already knows what's up.

Big ups to Tonex, from one Gay Christian Brother to another.

purplecam said:

As Marvin said, "God is our friend".

Timmy84 said:

He wasn't lyin.

Timmy84 said:

I believe Cliff is out there but not with that particular singer.

Graycap23 said:

OK. That's good to hear.

But look at the look in the singer's eye when he sings the song Clifton wrote on that record company anniversary performance from the 80's. He looks kind of sad.

It's a hustle for many and we all know that..alot of them are just people that couldnt get a break in the R&B genre and moved to gospel.

SPYZFAN1 said:

Years ago there were rumors about him and a famous singer who made one of his songs popular as a teen.

SavonOsco said:

Like who?

Adisa said:

Dave Hollister
Coko
Kelly Price

And a set of other names that escape me at the moment.

Point is, if you're a gimmick-free R&B VOCALIST, the industry is not a place to be these years.

Interesting read, but it's nothing new. James Cleveland was also gay, and Bobby Jones is still in denial.

Graycap23 said:

OK. That's good to hear.

But look at the look in the singer's eye when he sings the song Clifton wrote on that record company anniversary performance from the 80's. He looks kind of sad.

BeBe Winans now that is a shock!

Harlepolis said:

All those people got a break in R&B. What we all know is that, historically, folks cut their teeth singing gospel in the church, then go professional in the secular and R&B, and sometimes return to their original gospel roots. SavonOsco's statement to me said that there are specific people who tried to go pro in R&B, couldn't, and then tried another genre, in this case gosepel. If that's what the statement meant I am asking who s/he is talking about.
[Edited 9/14/09 19:27pm]