The goal of this feature was to introduce a performer to a community that may not have heard of Marsha Ambrosius! Her music has not only expanded the boundaries of R&B but has also challenged traditional shifts in cultural thinking on homosexuality, particularly in the African-American community. This artist, with a debut release, has initiated some worthwhile dialogue on issues relating to the effects of race, religion, and religious beliefs on gays and lesbians; homophobia; bullying; and gender-based discrimination. Were these musical risks worth it? I'd like to think so.

To Rex and John:
I appreciate the concern over accuracy here; it's a sensitive subject. The question -- about more negative attitudes toward gays among African-Americans -- is complicated. Eddie Robinson and I parsed several Pew studies (below) that support our conclusion. Rex, we certainly did not imply that every church is socially conservative, or that all churches have the same views -- only that a correlation exists.

http://people-press.org/2010/10/06/support-for-same-sex-marriage-edges-upward/

http://pewforum.org/Gay-Marriage-and-Homosexuality/Majority-Continues-To-Support-Civil-Unions.aspx

http://www.christianpost.com/news/doma-repeal-bills-and-holes-in-the-gay-rights-argument-49470/

I have felt that much of R&B was not only homophobic but demeaning to women - often cast as 'victims' of some male. I am encouraged to hear that at this artist is going against the stream.

I agree w/ John from St. Louis - great segment, moving video, & def made me want to pick up the CD from this artist. however the stated link w/ black church attendance & negative attitudes towards gays among african americans was over the line. i attended a black church for 3 years until recently & have never heard one sermon or comment that would fit with this stereotype. kurt anderson - please check your correspondent's transcript & address in a journalistically responsible manner. thanks for a consistently good program....

This was a moving segment and I applaud the focus. But I was troubled by one unfair, misleading, and biased statement. The statement was made that black attitudes toward homosexuals have tended to resist change "because" of frequent church attendance. Pew research data were cited in support of this statement. There is nothing in Pew's public opinion data that would warrant this sort of broad causal statement. It may be that black attitudes toward homosexuals have been stable and it may be that blacks have high church attendance. But to say that one causes the other is both bad science and bad journalism. This statement is based on prejudices (i.e., pre-judgments) about what is or is not being preached over those pulpits and amounts to a sweeping critique of all organized religion. I expect better of NPR.

I'm glad to see folks addressing these issues in music in genres that surprise. A similar meaning, if not as strong a video story, can be found from SoulStice, in "A Strange Kinda Love". Check out an article on him here: http://www.refinedhype.com/hyped/entry/soulstice-strange-kinda-love/

or the video here: http://www.refinedhype.com/hyped/entry/strange-kind-of-love-video/

this is a VERY POWERFUL message in a moving video performance. KUDOS, ms. ambrosius!!!