Rob Halford Talks About Targeting LGBTQ Community Politics: People Are Afraid

Rob Halford (Instagram @judaspriest)

JAKARTA - In the latest episode of the podcast "WTF With Marc Maron", vocalist Judas Priest Rob Halford, who publicly stated his homosexuality in 1998 while appearing on MTV News, discussed discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders in America and other parts of the world.

Despite the increasing number of US states annually seeking to pass laws protecting LGBTQ groups, state legislature bodies continue to apply draft laws targeting transgender groups, limiting local protection, and allowing the use of religion to impose bans.

"People are scared. We are part of a group of people who have been killed, burned alive, whatever, tortured all the most terrible things have happened to gays, as happened to other minorities, be it Jewish religion, Holocaust. So, yes, even though it's terrible, it's been a long time," Rob opened.

"When will this end? I don't think there will ever be an end when attacks are still ongoing, extremist attacks for political reasons or efficacy. You can't get rid of fanatics; you can't get rid of the mentality of people like that, but don't give them a bigger sound. And it will have an impact on society., like, 'Bung, I really want to admit to being gay, but if I'm walking around and someone will hit the back of my head with a baseball bat'," he continued.

"So how bad is the thing you have to go through, being a gay who is in the auspices of your own mind, but convey this to people who openly claim to be gay and people who know that in your environment."

"'Hey, you've heard? They're gay. Let's break down the door.' All that kind of mental problems happen everywhere. But even when you go out. I mean, I always experience it. Not so much compared to some people, but I was hit via SMS. I understand what people say about me and all that kind of thing."

Halford went on to say he was surprised by the amount of support after he revealed he was gay more than two and a half decades ago.

"Yes, for fear of being rejected," he explained. "That's the main reason. 'People won't love me because I'll tell them who I am'. Does that make sense? Yes, it makes sense that you are gay and maybe you have a job...for whatever reason."

"I question whether if I don't reveal myself to be gay like I did, will I stay in the cupboard?" he continued.

"Because in the book I talk about hiding because people in this industry suggest to me, 'Don't tell them you're gay. That will be the end of the band's career (Priest). It's a terrible thing to think about, but that's a fact. People in this band know, and people in the label know too."