Country music star Chris Housman reveals why he was forced to come out as gay after secret emails were shared without his permission

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 that led him to come out – including secret emails with someone else that were shared without his permission.

The Kansas-born singer-songwriter, who made waves on TikTok for his proud LGBTQ+ performances and posts, 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 had ever known or met in real life, other than on TV,” Housman explained.

The singer-songwriter revealed that coming out just after graduating high school was “not entirely” on his terms.

Housman explained that he had emailed someone from a neighboring town and told them he was gay, and his family then sold their computer to someone else, with some messages still saved to the desktop.

‘[It’s] the smallest city thing ever,” he told Custer.

“Some of these messages were saved, so it spread like wildfire because they weren’t in the right hands.”

Housman admitted that the messages that came out were the catalyst for telling his parents.

‘I wanted my parents to hear it from me and not from a rumor – which I knew was just a matter of time,” he explained. ‘So I put them down and came out.’

According to Housman, his parents “didn’t know what to do with that information,” admitting that his coming out was “not great” and that their relationship is still “evolving” to this day.

“I mean I was the first openly gay person I encountered, so I’m sure it was you probably the same for them,” he noted.

“They didn’t really have much to say.”

He remembered his mother telling him he was ‘not gay’ and don’t tell anyone.

‘[She told me] ‘Guys just go going through a phase” and “you’re going through this a little later than normal,” he said.

‘[She said] “It’s fine, we’ll figure this out out – just don’t tell anyone,” and I was like, OK, that’s the point I’m at I’m telling you because people are finding out and I don’t have to be ashamed of it either.’

Housman said that unfortunately, everyone in his family was “you.”wasn’t comfortable with his sexuality, but he was determined to change that.

‘YOUUnfortunately it lasts people are exposed to different walks of life than their own so that they can understand something when they don’t exposure – and because of the personal connection it can be harder for people,” he added.

Housman also detailed the years of sexual abuse he suffered at the hands of an older man he considered a close friend when he was just eight years old.

“I just liked idolizing him,” he recalled, explaining that the man was about twelve years older than him.

‘Of course my parents trusted [him] – everyone loved this guy and all – but next thing I know, I’m being abused… from eight or nine to about fourteen.’

Housman added that many of his friends had unfortunately experienced similar things, but reminded listeners that the attack was not the reason why he was gay.

“I’ve had family who have since found out about this and think that makes me gay, and it just doesn’t,” he told Custer.

Housman also spoke about coming to terms with his abuse and confronting his abuser, who he claims works with children and is now married with a wife and children.

“I still haven’t spoken a word to my parents about sexual abuse,” he admitted, revealing that the only person he told was his older sister Amanda. He described them both as the “black sheep” of the family.

He said he found his abuser’s landline number and called him, but when he called, his wife answered and told her what had happened to him.

“I started telling her she just turned it down and he on the phone basically tried to bribe me and ever denied anything. [happened]he told Custer.

Housman admitted that it was a difficult decision, especially now that he was married with a family, and had debated for a long time whether or not to report it, but ultimately decided against reporting it.

The emerging singer-songwriter first became famous with his song Blueneck.

The song tells Southern progressives about how there should be room for everyone in these “wide open spaces” – with lyrics like “George Straight or George Gay, there’s no difference.”

Housman’s latest music video for his current single Guilty as Sin – with lyrics like “there’s no point in us acting like this isn’t right” – also finds him mourning the loss of his partner, Abe Stoklasa, who he lost last November at the age of 38.

Even though they were not dating at the time of his death, his latest album, Blueneck, focuses on the positives of his relationship with Stoklasa and attempts to create a safe space for other liberal rednecks.

After years of therapy, Housman said he found peace and learned to accept himself, reminding people struggling with their identity that help is available.

“Ultimately, no matter how alone you feel, you are not completely alone – and you know that your experience is completely unique to you – but we are not alone,” he said.