Gloria Gaynor leaves her gay following scratching their heads

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?