Delicious Pop

Have you heard about Justin Utley, the gay ex-Mormon and survivor of ex-gay therapy? Well, he’s making his voice heard through his music.  The New York City singer-songwriter has been spreading his inspiring message at several Pride Festivals, including Stockholm, Denver, LA, Atlanta, San Diego and Las Vegas.

I actually stumbled upon Justin last summer, and quickly tweeted, “Um, I think I might have a man crush on @JustinUtley. LOL! Good music!” And he was nice enough to tweet back, “Too kind… too kind.” A man —who responds quickly, looks good and could serenade me at the drop of a hat— well, it’s all good in my book. But make no mistake, there’s much more to Justin than those endearing qualities.

It’s been a long road for the alternative country rock singer.  Before he became an advocate for LGBT equality and civil rights, Justin spent 2 years in a Mormon Church program — to be exact, it was conversion therapy designed to covert gay and bisexual men to heteros. Justin stopped therapy and broke ties with the Mormon Church.

In June 2010, he released “Stand for Something,” a powerful single to motivate and inspire others to fight for LGBT equality and end youth homelessness. The song was nominated by the LGBT Academy of Recording Arts for 4 OutMusic Awards, including “Best Songwriter” and “Artist of the Year.”  Justin won an award for the “Best Country/Folk Song of the Year.”   

Fast forward to 2012, and it’s already shaping up to be a busy year for the talented singer-songwriter.  A full band showcase is scheduled for March in NYC; his new video for “Great Escape” is scheduled drop this Spring; and his dance card is filling up quick for scheduled Pride performances.

Make sure you check out Justin’s performance when he comes to a city or town near you, to perform songs from his third studio album, Nothing This Real. What are my favorite picks? I enjoy listening to “Moment for Me,” “Behind My Eyes,” and of course, “Stand for Something,” which I appreciate for its strong, heartfelt message.  So check out the live-version of his award-winning hit, and tell me what you think.