So I’m sure most of you have read the story somewhere on the Internet about DeJuaii Pace of The Anointed Pace Sisters admitting to being a lesbian on the new Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) show Addicted To Food, which premieres this week. If not, in a nutshell, the show focuses on helping eight overeaters get to the root of their food addiction and get on the road to recovery. As it turns out, DeJuaii attributes her overeating addiction to the secret that she’s been carrying for most of her life; she’s gay.
Anytime a gospel artist “comes out” or admits to being gay it’s “shocking” or at the very least surprising for obvious reasons. This piece isn’t about the church’s position on homosexuality, etc. We all know and are clear on what that is. But this story is interesting to me for different reasons. What I find most intriguing is DeJuaii’s revelation that aside from being a lesbian, she’s also a virgin. Yes, at 45 years old, she has “held out,” which I think is more than honorable, and she deserves a hi-five on that one. Let’s be really real, how many of YOU can say you waited or could have waited that long? (I’m not saying it’s impossible, obviously it’s not, but it’s not exactly common.)
As news of the story got around I began to have a few discussions with folks in and out of the church/gospel industry, and it raised a lot of questions. And I realized that despite our varying opinions on this and that, one good thing about all of this was the discussions and what they will provide. As I said, we’re all clear on the prevailing position of the church on this issue in that homosexuality is a sin. But then that makes me wonder, would it be considered a sin even though she’s never practiced? To use an extreme analogy, Would you consider yourself a murderer just because you’ve thought about or may have wanted really bad to kill someone in a moment of anger or otherwise? I find it intriguing that with her background, family history and all the repercussions that are sure to come with her revelation that she’d even own it. It’s a bold and puzzling move. I mean, does one need to have gay sex to be gay? I’m not denying attraction or desire and the role it plays in our lives, particularly with sexuality. But it just seems like in the grander scheme of things, DeJuaii has actually gotten it more right than most. Whatever your thoughts or opinions are on homosexuality, put them aside, she’s stayed the course of saving herself, which, in my opinion, is very virtuous, admirable and righteous.
So what do you think? Is a sin a sin when you think about it or when you act on it? Is all sin equal? Does a straight premarital sex trump gay abstinence? Because DeJuaii is still a virgin, should she have stayed in the “closet?” Will you continue to support her as a gospel artist?
Let’s talk about it.

(Photo: Facebook.com)