Today’s Required Reading is done, but this story was too great not to share. Y-Love, Orthodox rapper, has come out of the closet. While these kinds of stories can get old really fast due to their gossip-ready flair, this one is particularly touching because of the artist’s own thoughts on why it was time to come out, and his journey to this point. The full story can be found in Out Magazine, but here’s a great excerpt:
“Although Jordan discovered organizations for gay Orthodox Jews—like GLYDSA and the fledgling JQY—he continued to be conflicted, alternately embracing them as much-needed support groups and cursing them as heretics. He tried a form of reparative therapy for a time and lived a double-life that was not healthy for him until he says, it finally hit him: ‘It’s God’s will to be gay.’
When asked if he decided it was time to come out publicly because of all the positive discourse in the press as of late, Jordan says his catalyst was actually the opposite. ‘It’s because of the negative backlash that’s coming. Because people like Michele Bachmann’s husband are still pedaling ex-gay therapy. Because there are kids that are jumping out of their school windows. I know what it feels like, and so I have to say something.’
Over the past few months, Jordan says he’s been coming out to close friends, but he’s urged them not to post anything on social media sites so he could still maintain his previous reputation. Now he’s ready to tell the world.
‘I’ve dealt with racism; I’ve dealt with discrimination,’ Jordan explains. ‘I want to be there at that gay pride festival, for that kid who has a baseball cap over his yarmulke. I know what it feels like to have to hide.'”
