It’s reasonably safe to say that country music hasn’t been friendly to the gay community (are you listening Big & Rich?), perhaps based in the geographic, religious and conservative roots of the genre. While not homophobic in the same sense as some rap or reggae music as evidenced in those genre’s lyrics, there is an element of homophobia with regards to the people who make and buy country music. The genre does not welcome or encourage gay artists, nor gay fans.

There are always notable exceptions. Dolly Parton. Emmylou Harris. Lee Ann Womack. The Dixie Chicks of course… And, yes, even Willie Nelson. But they are few and far between. Country music artists who are gay or gay-friendly must keep it to themselves, or risk taking a hit to their fan base and their bottom line.

Popular country music band Rascal Flatts may take such a hit thanks to an interview about their newest single “Love Who You Love” off their new CD Unstoppable.

“We actually have some gay people that work with us, and we have a lot of friends that are gay, too, and I know that this song has inspired them,” said singer Gary LeVox during an interview at CMT earlier this month. “I know that coming out was tough on their parents and on them and the whole entire family. For a long time, some of them didn’t get to hear ‘I love you’ from their dads or be accepted in that way. … It’s helped a lot of our friends.”

“That’s what’s cool about our music,” says guitarist Joe Don Rooney. “You can interpret (it like) that. If you get that — it’s perfect. If you are someone who’s gay or someone who’s straight, you still feel something from the song, and that’s what we want.”

“We don’t judge anybody’s lives,” says bassist Jay DeMarcus.

As a cynic, I always question the motives behind statements like these as simply trying to sell more records as opposed to genuine sentiment. I cringe every time I hear “we have a lot of gay friends.” But despite all that I will give them the benefit of the doubt, despite our political differences (art should always transcend politics). Rascal Flatts is taking a chance in this interview, and that has to count for something.

If country music is to turn the gay corner, it must do so gradually as not to alarm or antagonize its fans. We all remember what happened to the Dixie Chicks when they spoke out against President Bush. It nearly ended their career, and they are still taking flack for it. Perhaps a gentle nudging over time will lead to a little more tolerance, or better yet, acceptance.

Now, a bit about me and country music…

Growing up with parents from the south, I had little choice but to listen to the likes of George Jones, Tammy Wynette, Merle Haggard and Loretta Lynn.

But as I entered my teens, country music become totally uncool, totally. I complained regularly to my mother that most country music was about drinking, cheating, and D-I-V-O-R-C-E. and that I could no longer be bothered with it. I began to discover rock music, listening to the Eagles, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, and later — this will be a surprise — ABBA, Duran Duran and Olivia Newton-John.

I had all but abandoned country music until my late 30s, but thanks to iTunes I began to revisit all those artists that I had so loathed growing up. Partly out of a sense of nostalgia, but mostly out of dearth of current music to which I could connect with. I began to listen to Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Tanya Tucker and Anne Murray among others. I found I loved the music, perhaps because to varying degrees they were outsiders, or because the music for me exhibits a gay sensibility. It would be nice to have more artists like them to carry the torch.

The country music business should encourage gay artists and fans. There’s a lot of talent out there and a loyal fan base looking for someone to follow and love.

Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black on Oprah’s Live Fridays show discusses his Oscar win and his memorable speech.

A break from our regularly scheduled programming. This amazing exhibit called Multiverse is on display through 2009 at the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. The visuals remind me of the warp speed affect in Star Trek, and is never the same twice. Cool stuff. Any chance of this exhibit heading west?

Watch…

Ted Behr of Movieguide.org, a Christian movie review site didn’t have much love for the Oscars this year…

The Academy Awards showed its support for sexual perversions last night at its annual Oscar ceremony.

The Oscar audience applauded madly when Penn, who won Best Actor for his portrayal of murdered homosexual activist Harvey Milk in the movie MILK, angrily chastised voters in California, including 70% of black voters, for having the gall in last November’s elections to support the real definition of marriage.

In a mean-spirited curse, Penn said, “I think it’s a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect on their great shame, and their shame in their grandchildren’s eyes if they continue that support. We’ve got to have equal rights for everyone.”

The audience also clapped when the winning screenwriter for MILK, Dustin Lance Black, proclaimed his bigotry when he commented, “If Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he would want me to say to all the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told they are less than by the churches, by the government, by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value, and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights, federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you, God, for Harvey Milk!”

At the beginning of the show, host Hugh Jackman described the message of MILK as, “It’s okay to be gay.”

Of course, Jesus Christ believes otherwise.

While I am certainly no expert on the New Testament, I have it on good authority that Jesus never brought up man on man action not once in his teachings. Now divorce… that’s a different matter.

And here is a sampling of comments from the fine denizens of Free Republic (courtesy of Joe.My.God) so you don’t have to burn your eyes visiting their site:

• “Seems that the Oscars have gone the way of the Nobel … Commies Queers Globull warming idiots and terrorist lovers need only apply.”
• “Hollywood awards have nothing to do with movies and everything to do with the homosexual agenda. It’s nothing but a bunch of liberal queers giving each other a congratulatory slap on the ass for using movies to promote homosexuality.”
• “Penn, milking the man-milk dispenser, yet again.”
• “He just made a plea for Gay’s to be able to marry…Then he thanks the country for electing Obama. He’s scum.”
• “Here it comes again. When “Brokeback Mountain” didn’t win best picture the fruits were screaming like we put shards of glass in the nation’s KY Jelly supply. We’ll probably get the same with “Milk.””
• “At least Milk has a happy ending!”

And the headline over at World Net Daily reads “Oscars turn into blatant homosex-fest.”

The hate is just palpable isn’t it? As said by Pam at Pam’s House blend… haters just need to own the word bigot. They seem to understand it better than anyone else.