Country star Chris Housman has opened up about growing up in a conservative town and coming out as a gay man.
Housman, 34, appeared on the Rooted Recovery Stories podcast with host Patrick Custer, where he discussed the series of events which led him to coming out – including secret emails with someone else that were shared without his permission.
The Kansas-born singer-songwriter, who has been making waves on TikTok for his LGBTQ+ proud performances and messages, opened up about his own journey to accepting his sexuality.
‘I came out when I was 18, and when I came out I became the first openly gay person I’d ever known or met in real life other than like TV,’ Housman explained.
The singer-songwriter revealed that coming out just after he had finished high school ‘wasn’t totally’ on his terms.
Chris Housman, 34, appeared on the Rooted Recovery Stories podcast with host Patrick Custer, where he discussed the series of events which led him to coming out
The Kansas-based singer-songwriter revealed some secret emails between him and another man were shared without his permission
Housman explained he had been emailing someone from a neighboring town, and telling them he was gay, and then his family sold their computer to another with some of the messages still saved on the desktop.
‘[It’s] the smallest town thing ever,’ he told Custer.
‘Some of these messages were saved so then it started spreading like wildfire because those were not in the right hands.’
Housman admitted that the messages getting out was the catalyst for him telling his parents.
‘I wanted my parents to hear it from me and not from a rumor – which I knew was a matter of time,’ he explained. ‘So I sat them down, came out.’
According to Housman, his parents ‘didn’t know what to do with that information,’ admitting him coming out ‘wasn’t great’ and their relationship was still ‘evolving’ to this day.
‘I mean that I was the first person openly gay person I’d encountered, so I’m sure you it was probably the same for them,’ he pointed out.
‘They didn’t really have much to say.’
He recalled his mom telling him he’s ‘not gay’ and not to tell anyone.
Housman’s latest music video for his current single Guilty as Sin shows him mourning the loss of his ex-partner
The emerging singer-songwriter first shot to fame with his song Blueneck, and had gained popularity on TikTok for his LGBTQ+ proud performances and messages
His latest album, Blueneck, which features the namesake song, Guilty as Sin and Bible Belt, focuses on the positives of his relationship with Stoklasa
‘[She told me] “Boys just go through a phase” and “you’re just going through this a little later than usual,”‘ he said.
‘[She said] “It’s fine we’ll figure this out – just don’t tell anybody,” and I was like okay well that’s the thing is I’m telling you because people are finding out and also there’s nothing for me to be ashamed of about it.’
Housman said that sadly everyone in his family was ‘uncomfortable’ with his sexuality – but he was determined to change that.
‘Unfortunately it takes people exposure to walks of life other than their own for them to understand something and when you don’t have that exposure – and it’s personal connection it can be tougher for people,’ he added.
Housman also opened up about the years of sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of an older man he considered to be a close friend when he was only eight years old.
‘I just like idolized him,’ he recalled, explaining the man was about 12 years older than him.
‘Of course my parents trusted [him] – everybody loved this guy and stuff – but the next thing I know I’m like being molested… from like eight or nine to like 14.’
Housman added that sadly, many of his friends had gone through similar things – but reminded listeners the assault was not why he was gay.
‘I’ve had some family that has like discovered that happening since and think that I’m gay because of that and that’s just so like not it,’ he told Custer.
Housman also spoke about coming to terms with his assault and confronting his abuser, whom he claims works with kids, and is now married with a wife and children.
‘I still haven’t spoken a word to my parents about being sexually abused,’ he admitted, revealing the only person he told was his older sister, Amanda – describing them both as the ‘black sheep’ of the family.
He said he found his abuser’s landline number and rang him, but when he rang his wife picked up – and he told her about what had happened to him.
‘I started like telling her she was just rejecting it and he got on the phone basically tried to bribe me and denied anything ever [happened],’ he told Custer.
Housman admitted it was a difficult decision to make, especially now he was married with a family, and had debated whether or not report it for a long time, but not reporting it in the end.
Housman also opened up about the years of sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of an older man he considered to be a close friend when he was only eight years old
The emerging singer-songwriter first shot to fame with his song Blueneck.
The song tells Southern progressives about how there should be room for everyone in these ‘wide open spaces’ – featuring lyrics such as ‘George Straight or George Gay, there’s no difference.’
Housman’s latest music video for his current single Guilty as Sin – which features lyrics such as ‘ain’t no use in us acting like this ain’t right’ – also shows him mourning the loss of his partner, Abe Stoklasa, whom he lost last November at age 38.
Even though they weren’t dating at the time of his death, his latest album, Blueneck, focuses on the positives of his relationship with Stoklasa and tries to create a safe space for other liberal rednecks.
After years of therapy, Housman said he had found peace and learned to accept himself – reminding people who are struggling with identity that help is available.
‘At the end of the day, no matter how alone you feel you’re not totally alone – and there’s you know your experience is completely unique to you – but we’re not alone,’ he said.
