The same theme came up in a Rosie O'Donnell satellite-radio interview on Friday with newly declared lesbian country singer Chely Wright, who declared: "I think God wanted me to [have a singing career], and I also think that God has been whispering in my ear for a very long time to come out as a lesbian...and I continued to override God and say, 'God...you [don't] quite understand Nashville. Let me handle this.'"
On her coming-out interview on the May 5 Today, NBC interviewer Natalie Morales offered her an enthusiastic endorsement of her decision and drew out of her how God apparently just wanted her to "tell the truth" about her choices:
NATALIE MORALES: Why, though? What were you so afraid of? Were you afraid of fans and the reaction, or is it just fear of not being accepted?
CHELY WRIGHT: There had never been one --t here had never been an openly gay country music artist. And country music is typically known to be a conservative -- our fan base is conservative, pretty much our industry, the people who run it have conservative beliefs. And it's widely known to be about God and country and family. And they--for some reason, people don't think that that can co-exist with being a homosexual.
MORALES: Yeah, I don't know why that is.
WRIGHT: I don't either.
This is two liberals playing dumb. There’s this book called the Bible where homosexuality is described as morally wrong and contrary to God's wishes.
Wright then told the story of pondering suicide:
MORALES: Right.
WRIGHT: ...and my prayer was, "God, give me a moment's peace."
MORALES: Yeah.
WRIGHT: And what--and I got up off my knee, I said, "Amen," got up off my knees and I got that moment's peace and I got the understanding -- I didn't -- I didn't hear God's voice. I didn't see a guy in a robe, but I heard God say what he'd been whispering in my ear all along, "I expect one thing of you and that is to tell the truth."
MORALES: Well, good for you. Good for you. And I know now you'll have your moment's peace.
WRIGHT: I have it.
MORALES: Good.
WRIGHT: I have it.
MORALES: Good. And I hope people embrace you for all that you are because it's a really brave and courageous thing that you're doing.
WRIGHT: Thank you, Natalie.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly magazine, Wright explained that she doesn't really believe in the God of the Bible:
EW: I'm curious what your definition of spirituality is these days.
WRIGHT: I don't have a religious inclination. I can't even identify myself necessarily as Christian. When I'm in Kuwait City and I hear the chants in the morning, I feel something. Anyone who gets on their knees and looks up, that moves me. And quite frankly I don't begrudge anyone who doesn't get on their knees and look up. I don't have a problem with that. I like the Golden Rule.
EW: When you pray to a higher power, is it something specific? Is it the universe?
WRIGHT: It's a holy power. It's not a tree. It's God. And because it was welded into my mind, God is a dude in a robe with a beard. I always felt like God was my best friend and the keeper of my secrets.
EW: I'm just surprised that having experienced such closed-mindedness about sexuality, you haven't turned your back on religion.
WRIGHT: Yeah. I love my heart in that way. It may be why I still call the Nashville community "we." I don't feel put out until you put me out. There doesn't have to be reciprocity in hate. I don't have to show up to every argument I'm invited to.
But Wright and her liberal interviewers are very clearly making an argument: that God is not a "born-again bigot," and that their tolerance is far superior to the "hate" of traditional religion.
