As an out and proud gay man who once fronted the Christian rock band Everyday Sunday, Trey Pearson has certainly been forced to ask some tough questions throughout his life. And on his meditative, atmospheric new song "Hey Jesus," he's sharing his struggle to reconcile his sexuality and his faith with the world.
"It's been awhile since I came out and I was wondering / Do you love me the same," he sings, adopting a heartfelt, reflective tone to match the gentle guitar strumming and orchestral flourishes. "I know that I could never change / I tried so hard brought so much pain / I just wanna be loved for who I am."
If the lyrics come across as searching, the video for "Hey Jesus" demonstrates that Pearson – who was forced to deal with a boycott from Christian festival workers who didn't want him to perform at Joshua Fest in 2016 – is more than comfortable living his truth in plain view of any critics. The video features him in bed with a partner, as well as a drag queen and young boy mouthing the lyrics of the song. (That queen, incidentally, is Boyonce, part of the West family that recently sent Nina West to RuPaul's Drag Race and national prominence.)