15 Jun 2009 13:25 Africa/Lagos
'Come Out' Album's Message: God Loves You Just as Gay as You Are
LOS ANGELES, June 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Gospel singer and an out lesbian member of clergy in the Gospel Truth Music Ministry (http://www.rizigospel.com/), the Rev. Rizi Nasele Timane' is unveiling her new album "Come Out," a collection of original songs that call for full human rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. As part of the album's promotion, Timane' is touring the United States during the summer of 2009.
The album's title song challenges the fundamentalist notion that God and the Bible condemn homosexuality and strives to educate the public about what the Bible really says and does not say about homosexuality. "I have extensively studied the Greek and Hebrew translations of the Bible, and I found that, when interpreted properly, the Bible does not condemn homosexuality at all," stated Timane'.
"I'm the first out lesbian reverend and gospel singer from Nigeria, West Africa," Timane' continued. "I was one of the first people to identify as openly gay in homophobic Africa, and I know firsthand how that rejection translates to drug addiction and suicide." According to the Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Additionally, San Francisco State University's Chavez Center Institute has found that LGBTQ youth who come from a rejecting family are up to nine times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers because of the negative treatment endured.
"For LGBT persons, this painful struggle with religion or spirituality and sexuality is responsible for depression, low self-esteem, drug addiction, self-abuse, isolation and the entering into of false heterosexual marriages," said Timane'. "Worst of all, it's responsible for thousands of suicides each year in the LGBT community, especially amongst our teens and young adults. It is my hope to put a stop to these negative traits and suicides by re-educating our community."
"Anti-LGBT arguments like the one contending that California's Proposition 8 ensures children's wellbeing by providing them with a mother and father are totally absurd. In the case of Proposition 8, the state's laws permit adoption by gay and lesbian parents as well as single parents and even allows courts to assign a single grandparent, aunt, uncle or even a non-blood relative to be a child's guardian or caregiver," continued Timane'.
"The goal of my new album is to enable any LGBT person seeking God to know that God loves them just as gay as they are," states Timane'. She also wants to help those who are struggling with their spirituality and sexuality, just as she did for many years, to finally find complete reconciliation and affirmation.
Gospel music lovers and Timane' fans will be able to attend live performances at the following times and events:
-- June 20 at 2:50 p.m., Rhode Island PrideFest in Station Park
-- June 27 at 3 p.m. and June 28 at 12:30 p.m., San Francisco Pride Celebration in Civic Center Plaza
-- July 9 at 7:30 p.m., Annual Fellowship Convention in Westin Atlanta Airport hotel
-- July 18 at 2 p.m., San Diego Gay Pride 2009 in Balboa Park
To learn more about Timane' and her experiences as a gay Christian that inspired her music, visit http://www.rizigospel.com/.
"Come Out" video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rfre1lV61Es
Contact:
Christina Thach
Gospel Truth Music Ministry
888-474-9423
thegospeltruthmusic@yahoo.com
This release was issued through eReleases(TM). For more information, visit http://www.ereleases.com/.
Source: The Gospel Truth Music Ministry
CONTACT: Christina Thach of Gospel Truth Music Ministry,
+1-888-474-9423, thegospeltruthmusic@yahoo.com
Web Site: http://www.rizigospel.com/
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