Pop singer Lance Bass called in
Wednesday to the Joy Behar Show to give country singer Chely Wright a
word of encouragement on her coming out.
Wright came out lesbian in an interview
with People magazine Tuesday. “Nothing in my life has been
more magical than the moment I decided to come out,” she told the
magazine.
Bass, who also came out gay in a cover
story for People, told Wright that the two shared a similar
story.
“I think it's so important to be
visible,” Bass said.
“We have some of the same similar
upbringings. I'm from Mississippi, the Bible Belt, had a career that
I thought would be detrimental if I came out. With a young fan base
and mainly women. And especially having four guys' careers in my
hands I thought I was going to destroy if it ever got out. That a
lot of pressure for an entertainer.”
“It's still is a huge issue to
people,” he added. “It takes more and more people coming out
like you Chely to show the world that it is normal, it is OK. And
giving people someone to relate to. There are millions of women out
there right now that are so happy and proud of you for doing this.
Thank you for doing this.”
Wright, a Christian, told Behar that
the church tells young gay people that they are “damaged goods.”
“I am a believer in God and I think
there are a lot of young people out there today who feel they are
being told that they are damaged goods and that they are suppose to
pray this away. And I'm here to tell them that I have never not had
a relationship with God,” Wright said.
The 39-year-old singer was named Best
New Female Vocalist by the Academy of Country Music in 1994. She's
released seven studio albums throughout her career and is best known
for her 1999 #1 single release Single White Female. Broken,
her new single, was released last month.
In addition to writing her own music,
Wright has penned songs for Brad Paisley, Richard Marx, Mindy Smith
and Clay Walker.
Speaking to Access Hollywood,
Wright said she cut off “cold turkey” former boyfriend Paisley
once she realized the damage she was doing living a lie.
She released her eighth studio
album, Lifted Off The Ground, and a memoir titled Like Me
on Tuesday.