Renowned gospel artist Kirk Franklin has once again shown that his influence goes far beyond music, as he addressed issues surrounding love, acceptance, and the stigma tied to sexuality.
In a heartfelt conversation, Franklin opened up about his relationship with his son, Kerrion, stressing that he has never struggled with his son’s bisexuality.
“I’ve never understood homophobia,” he said. “I am a lover of every human. I love people. I love people. That’s always been me.”
The gospel singer explained that parenthood is rooted in unconditional love rather than agreement with every choice a child makes.
“I told my son, there will never be any situation in your life that I will ever, ever stop loving you. I will love who you love, and I will stand where you stand. At the end of the day, that’s my son and ain’t nobody gonna take my son away from me.”
Franklin also addressed the unrealistic expectations often placed on Christian figures, saying that faith leaders are frequently boxed into perfection.
“Just because I’m a Christian singer doesn’t mean I’m not human,” he stated. “I’ve always allowed myself to be seen as human, and that’s how I want to be with my family and my son.”
Speaking further, Franklin challenged the judgmental attitudes that still exist toward the LGBTQ+ community within religious spaces.
“If homosexuality is a sin, then adultery is a sin. Fornication is a sin. Divorce is a sin. None of them are bigger than the other. I’ve never understood why we single out some people for judgment. We all need grace,” he added.
Reflecting on his own upbringing, the gospel star revealed that he was once ridiculed for his love of fashion and the arts, which led some to question his sexuality. Despite that, Franklin said he has always remained grounded in love and empathy.
“I’ve always been loving and compassionate to people. That’s who I am,” he said.
