The young trio's fervent voices are astounding, making them one of the most exciting new acts in US gospel. Elton John is a fan and has hosted HGT on his Apple Music radio show, and they performed on Joe Biden's 2020 election campaign trail. Their openly expressed sexuality is not commonly seen in gospel, reflecting a shift in the traditional norms surrounding the genre, challenging the longstanding taboo against LGBTQ+ representation in religious music settings.
The 21st century is queer. Accept it. Gay and lesbian gospel singers have always existed, yet homophobia forced these pioneers to remain closeted: Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Marie Knight were creative and rumoured romantic partners, while others like Little Richard and Billy Preston had to navigate the thin line between secular and gospel music due to societal expectations. HGT embodies a radical shift in this narrative of silence and secrecy.
While there are efforts from progressive churches to be more inclusive, Black Baptist churches on the gospel circuit can still feature pastors who continue to equate homosexuality with sin and damnation. This contradiction complicates the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals within traditional church environments, yet HGT's emergence signals a growing movement towards inclusivity that pushes back against such outdated views.
Collection
[
|
...
]