Hudson releases statement defending her position on gays

Jennifer Hudson has been receiving rave reviews and considerable Oscar buzz for her portrayal of the character Effie in the Bill Condon–adapted film version of the popular Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Her notices are no surprise to The Advocate, as Hudson graces our current cover.

What is surprising is a headline posted December 6 in the online edition of the Dallas Voice: " 'Dreamgirl' Says, Gay Is a Sin," which ran above the subhead, "Oscar frontrunner Jennifer Hudson stops in Big D; Devout Baptist sticks with Bible on same-sex issues." Hudson was in Dallas as part of a promotional tour for the film, and she participated in a roundtable where Daniel A. Kusner, life and style editor for the Voice, a local gay and lesbian newspaper, asked Hudson about her religious beliefs. Hudson said she is Baptist. When he asked about her stance on same-sex marriage, Hudson is reported to have responded, "Nobody has ever asked me these questions." She continued, "Everybody sins. No sin is greater or different than the other. To each his own. If it don't bother Jennifer, then Jennifer don't mind. I don't really even think about it because I don't believe in judging people for what they do."

Kusner then asked Hudson if she thinks being gay is a sin, to which she reportedly replied, "According to the way we're taught, and what it says in the Bible, it is." Kusner's article then scolds her for not having a more "thoughtful response."

Hudson contacted The Advocate through her representatives Wednesday, saying she is devastated by the report, which she says misrepresents her beliefs about her gay fans and gay people in general. She released the following statement to The Advocate:

"In a recent interview, I was asked how I reconciled being a Christian with performing at events for my gay fans. I find it upsetting that some folks equate being a Christian with being intolerant of gay people. That may, unfortunately, be true for some, but it is not true for me. I have talked often of my love and support of the gay community. I have said again and again that it was the gay community that supported me long before and long after American Idol, and kept me working and motivated. It is the gay community that celebrated my voice and my size and my personality long before Dreamgirls. Yes, I was raised Baptist. Yes, I was taught that the Bible has certain views on homosexuality. The Bible also teaches us not to judge. It teaches us to love one another as God loves us all. I love my sister, my two best friends and my director dearly. They happen to be gay. So what? While some search for controversy, I hope that my friends and fans who know me, know where I stand."

In our cover story, Jennifer is quoted as saying, "[There are] about a hundred of 'em [her gay friends]. Girls don't like me. People say, 'Oh, here comes Jennifer and a bunch of dudes.' And gay guys always recognize me when I'm out. I love that. It happens so much— even if I have a hat and sunglasses on—that when I see a group of gay guys and they don't, I think, What's wrong with them? I even asked Bill [Condon] about it. I said, 'Why are all my friends gay men?' And he said, 'Oh, I know why.' But then he still wouldn't explain it to me!"

About Condon, she said, "I love my Bill. I love that man. Asking questions about him is the wrong thing to do if you want to get out of here soon, because I'll talk about him forever. He's an angel. I couldn't have asked for a better director." There's also a quote from Condon about Hudson: "She and I had serious marriage discussions. I fell in love with her. It's one thing to try into Jennifer Holliday's shoes, to take on this kind of epic role, but to have done it without ever having been on a movie set before and to go toe-to-toe with Jamie Foxx and everyone else, it takes a rock-solid confidence. I know it's overused to describe actors as brave, but I thought that her job took actual physical courage." (The Advocate)