Trey Pearson, the married lead singer of Christian rock group Everyday Sunday, has come out as gay, claiming that "there is absolutely no conflict with accepting who I am and following Jesus."
In a lengthy interview with (614) Magazine, an entertainment and culture magazine in Columbus, Ohio, Pearson reveals he was raised in a "very conservative" Christian home, where he was "taught that my sexual orientation was a matter of choice."
"I had never before admitted to myself that I was gay, let alone to anyone else," he says. "I never wanted to be gay. I was scared of what God would think and what all of these people I loved would think about me; so it never was an option for me."
Pearson, who has two young children with his wife, Lauren, says he had "romanticized" the idea of falling in love with a woman but that this had "resulted in a marriage where I couldn't love or satisfy my wife in a way that she needed."
The singer says he has "come to accept that there is nothing that is going to change who I am" and praises his wife for being "the most supportive, understanding, loving and gracious person I could ever ask for, as I have come to face this."
Pearson concludes by saying he is "taking another step into health and wholeness by accepting myself, and every part of me. It's not only an idea for me that I'm gay; it's my life. This is me being authentic and real with myself and other people. This is a part of who I am... I trust God to help love do the rest."
RNS News notes that Everyday Sunday has sold around a quarter of a million albums since 2011. His song "Wake Up! Wake Up!" was the most-played Christian rock song of 2007, and his 2009 album, "Best Night of Our Lives," broke onto the Billboard 200 chart. Pearson has also toured in all 50 states and 20 countries, playing with top Christian musicians such as Toby Mac, Switchfoot, MercyMe, Jeremy Camp and others.
Pearson admitted to (614) that his revelation will negatively impact his career: "I realize a lot of gate holders in that industry may want to never play my songs again, due to fear - but I also think the world is changing- and I think there are a lot of people out there that want to be a part of this conversation. So, wherever people are willing to listen to my music and my story, I will go."
The singer also said he is not abandoning his faith and revealed that Pastor Jonathan Martin, author of "How to Survive a Shipwreck" and former pastor Rob Bell helped to advise and mentor him as he started to come to terms with his sexual orientation.
"There is absolutely no conflict with accepting who I am and following Jesus," he said. "God wants me to be healthy, authentic, whole, integrated and my truest self."
