ClarksvilleNow.com Reporting
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The same day country singer Ty Herndon revealed to People Magazine he is gay, Billy Gilman followed with a similar announcement on YouTube.
(See Billy Gilman coming out video here)
“It’s difficult for me to make this video, not because I’m ashamed of being a gay male artist or a gay artist or a gay person. But it’s pretty silly to know that I’m ashamed of doing this knowing that because I’m in an genre and industry that is ashamed of me for being me,” Gilman says in the video.
Herndon describes himself as “an out, proud and happy gay man.” Herndon tells People he realized he has an incredible story that could possibly help someone’s child or grandchild not to go through as much suffering as he has.
Herndon, who’s 51, says he came out to close family when he was 20. He was married twice and now has a longtime male partner, Matt.
Herndon says both he and his partner are practicing Christians and he believes, “We get to choose who we love, and that includes God, and he loves us back.”
According to The Advocate, a reporter took a picture of Gilman and his partner several months ago. He said at that moment he “knew what he needed to do.”
Herndon says the country music business has been more accepting of homosexuality and points to Kacey Musgraves winning the CMA award for song of the year for “Follow Your Arrow” as proof.