The Metal God , Rob Halford , spoke about his experience as a gay metal idol and offered advice to fans of the genre who are still "in the closet."
The conversation took place in a new interview with Rolling Stone , when asked what he learned from coming out in 1998, Halford says, “I learned that you have to get out of the cage and you can’t live your life for other people. To come out as what was at the time, and still is to some extent, a very dominant alpha male experience – and that’s no disrespect to great female metalheads – it brought me a lot of peace and helped me in my work more than anything else. If you’re still in the closet, you can’t focus on life and work, and what are you here to do in life when you have that shadow hanging over your head? Erase it, smash it, burn it, destroy it all. You have the right to live your life as a human being on this planet on your own terms.”
Thinking about advice for metal fans who feel trapped in a heterosexual culture and can't come out, Rob says, “Well, you don't have to feel as alone as I do. At your fingertips, you can find all these resources, places to help you make that decision. It's up to you to decide. I have friends who are still deeply closeted by their own choice, that's how it works for them.”
“Gay metalheads, man, just come join us, just get out there and have fun,” Halford continued. “Have fun in your life and don’t be afraid. It’s just fear more than anything else: fear of rejection, fear of being kicked out of the house by your family. It’s unbelievable how there are always cruel aspects within a family environment that you didn’t know about. But please, don’t let that stop you. It’s your life. Claim it. It belongs to you.” Now that’s advice from a living legend, huh?
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