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Home » Blogs » Lyle Masaki's blog » Gloria Gaynor leaves her gay following scratching their heads

Gloria Gaynor leaves her gay following scratching their heads

by
Lyle Masaki

Disco diva Gloria Gaynor has some of her gay fans worried with after a recent statement she made in a BBC radio interview. When Jane Little asked her about being a gay icon, she answered:

"I feel good about it because I feel it is a platform for my purpose, which is to bring the love of Christ to all of my fans. "Because they trust me, I think."
Ms Little asked: "So you see it as an evangelistic thing. Do you have a religious opposition to homosexuality?"
GG: "I want to lead them to Christ and what he has for them. I want to lead them to him, I want to lead them to truth."
JL: "Do you see homosexuality as something sinful?"
GG: "I want to lead them to Christ, simply, and whatever he has for them."

Gaynor's comments are drawing some complaints from people who found them to be homophobic. I'm having a hard time agreeing with any sense of certainty. Gaynor keeps her statements brief, refusing to connect her religion with anti-gay positions. She doesn't deny such a connection, either. (The article links to audio of the interview, but I haven't been able to access it; the file may be blocked to users browsing from the United States.)

Looking around a little, I found another interview where Gaynor was asked about her religious beliefs and her gay fanbase. In 1997, Gaynor talked with Chicago Outlines' Owen Keehnen:

OK: You have such a large gay following. Has that ever come in conflict with your beliefs as a Christian?
GG: No.

Gaynor wouldn't be the first disco diva to run into trouble with gay fans. Back in the 80's there were rumors that Donna Summer had made anti-gay remarks, a rumor that caused a backlash that caused Summer to strongly deny the rumors and become an active fund raiser for AIDS charities.

More recently, American Idol contestant Mandisa was voted off the singing competition when her connection to an anti-gay writer was noticed. There's reason for a disco diva to hide any anti-gay sentiments she may hold, but wouldn't anyone smart enough to notice that danger also know enough to avoid the topic entirely?

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    • Submitted by
    Lyle Masaki
    on Fri, 2007-07-13 15:57.
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    Evan's picture

    Gloria

    Submitted by
    Evan (2890 points) (574 posts)
    on Fri, 2007-07-13 20:24.

    Clever.  She is saying just enough to straddle the fence.  Her response to the last question is the most telling.  Instead of answering it in a direct way she just repeated what she said earlier.  I think most can decifer want she truly means; yes, she does believe gay people are sinful and need to be led to the "lord."

    People are much more open about there feelings toward gay people than they are of any other minority. 

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27067-2005Jan21.html

    http://citizenchris.typepad.com/citizenchris/2007/05/who_wouldnt_wan.html

    That is a good thing and a bad thing.  It's a good thing because then you know who you are dealing with and how to respond.  It's a bad thiing if you are closeted, just coming out or have low-self-esteem; hearing a constant stream of negativity and hate thrown your way can hurt.

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    Batina's picture

    Gloria Who???

    Submitted by
    Batina (15 points) (2 posts)
    on Tue, 2007-07-17 14:14.
    I always find it amazing how American blacks are so gullible when it comes to organized religion. Where was their god when they were enslaved? I guess the same place “he” was when the Jews were being gassed. First off you were born ok first time around you don’t need to be born again. I guess that is unless you feel the need to rub elbows with really brilliant folks such as George W. Bush. How can a group of folks that still are faced with being members of a group that isn’t fully accepted in the US, treat another group the same way? I know the answer but I’m still bewildered by this bizarre human behavior. Gloria Gaynor has her ducking nerve because the gays made her. Yeah we knew even back in the 80’s that she was a washed up one or two song old disco hag, but her songs meant something to us. I remember waiting in some night club in South Beach back in the early 90’s for her to sing one of her old “gay anthems”. She was a real has been even then – it was free to get in. We wanted Madonna not Gloria Gaynor but what do you expect for free? I can just imagine what the young gay boys today think of Gloria Who???? She better go easy on what’s left in her bank account, as that sucker is going to dry up like an old cow hooter (and you know the bottom line of organized religion = give us your $$$$). I don’t have any Gloria Gaynor CD’s to trash or burn – and is she even on itunes?
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