Singer LeAnn Rimes sounded off on country music’s evolving stance on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in a new GLAAD interview.
Rimes, whose new holiday EP “One Christmas” hit stores this fall, told GLAAD’s Claire Pires, “I hope that we’re moving forward and not back.”
She also discussed fellow country stars Ty Herndon and Billy Gilman, both of whom came out as gay last month.
“I knew this was all about to happen and [Herndon] actually texted me right before it happened. I’m so proud of him,” she said. “Ty waited for a very long time in his life and Billy actually has a chance at having a full life as an out, gay man.”
She then added, “People should be able to love who they love — it’s as simple as that.”
Her sentiments echo those she made in a 2011 interview with PrideSource, in which she spoke about her support of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
“I just believe that everybody should be able to do what they want to do as long as no one’s hurting anybody,” she said at the time.”I don’t believe in hate. I don’t believe in bullying. It’s something that’s become a huge issue, especially with cyberbullying. It just breaks my heart seeing kids committing suicide because they’re not accepted. It kills me.”