Ray Boltz and Rob Halford Shared a Secret

Ray Boltz is considered one of the best known Christian music acts around the United States. He has received three Dove awards, recorded around 16 albums, and in a stunning revelation to the Washington Blade admitted that he is also gay. Yes, Ray Boltz is gay.

He also has a wife of 33 years - although he is now divorced - and four children. Ray Boltz hid his sexuality from all, and Celebgalz report that he did not actually come to terms with his sexual orientation until about 2004 when he decided to tell his family.

In the meantime, the secrecy was eating him alive inside.

Rob Halford is the lead singer of the band Judas Priest, one of the three truly great bands in the heavy metal genre. His vocal abilities have made Priest songs easy to discern in the din of other music, and the group owes it fame and fortune in large part to the stage persona of Rob Halford.

Unlike Ray Boltz, Rob Halford is a worldwide renowned musician and it took predictable courage for him to come out 10 years ago in 1998 and announce that he, too, is gay. Of course, in retrospect we can all acknowledge that we had an inkling of this well before then, but still, the step was one of uncertainty.

Comparing and contrasting Ray Boltz and Rob Halford forces me, as a Christian, to draw some uncomfortable parallels. For example, in the German heavy metal circles being gay was not something that would have gone over well. I can only imagine that other groups were just as unwelcoming of homosexuality in a genre that thrives on the male to female, testosterone dripping, suggestive lyrics singing heavy metalists.

On the other hand, many Christians in the United States have been inspired by the music of Ray Boltz, and yet it is fair to say that a good number of these very same Christians would never have purchased even one album, had they known that Boltz was gay. In Christian circles it is understood that the artists should not have a hint of sexual immorality attached to them, and gayness is considered such immorality.

Both musicians faced huge risks with this revelation, but only one singer's career has the chance of being over.