There will never be a queer icon in heavy metal like Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford. That the metal god came out as gay when it was still taboo in the metal scene (or at least much more taboo than it is now, although the struggle remains very real) is respectable enough on its own; that he did so as the frontman of one of heavy metal’s most traditional and “masculine” bands is downright awesome. But in a recent interview, Rob makes it clear that while we’ve come a long way, being gay in America often feels like an uphill battle.While discussing his new Christmas album with NME, Halford said, “Don’t get me started on the Christian right pushing the LGBTQ community under the bus. They’re passing laws here where if you’re gay you can lose your job, based ...
