By: Brad

Chely, good for you for having the courage to be honest with yourself primarily, and the music world secondarily. Unless people have lived in one's shoes, they are in no position to be judgmental, yet all too often we, as people, are. The very fact that people can support you and enjoy your work only insofar as they approve of your personal choices (that have no bearing on them whatsoever) is symptomatic of the narrow, feeble, and overly-conservative thinking that, unfortunately, so many country music people demonstrate. As a country music lover, and as a human being, I find your personal choices do not influence my listening choices. I only find it sad that we live in a society that purports to be free, to want its citizens to live and let live, and yet you receive such mindless and ridiculously negative messages, including death threats. Death threats? For being a lesbian? I am saddened that people can think that way. I'm also saddened that we live in a society where a person still has to "come out," and can't simply "be." You have nothing of which to be ashamed, nothing for which to apologize, and nothing that needs explanation. Best of wishes for your career, and never forget, you have many supporters out here, regardless of your personal decisions.