Omar Apollo talks about the “heartbreaking” impact Catholicism had on him growing up
By Editors · 11 comments
All the rules, man. Can’t be gay. Can’t cuss. Can’t do drugs. I’m just like, “What am I supposed to do?” It’s terrible. Really heartbreaking. But whatever.
…I was way more aware [than] my siblings of how I looked. … [It was] probably the gay side of me.
I hate speaking like [this]. Mexican guy. You know? Queer. I get it for sure, I just don’t think about it like that.
Omar Apollo speaking to GQ about being raised Catholic and coming to terms with being gay.
Real fans know the Grammy-nominated musician is super queer—they also know he’s always been hilarious on Twitter.
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Why is this man not an international superstar (yet)??? I guess he’s not focused on radio friendly hits….but his music is freaking gorgeous and brilliant.
I thought practicing Catholics had let go of a lot of their dumb dogma; kinda like most non-orthodox Jews. As my Jewish friend said; now days we take the good and ignore the bad and outdated.
Maybe it’s because most Catholics i interfaced with we’re NY and Jersey folks. Always seemed a lot less judgmental than my Southern Brethren.
I’m a recovering Catholic and I find what really helps is removing bibles in the hotel rooms I stay at and then shred them when I get home. I encourage more people to do this and let’s remove religion where it doesn’t belong: in public.
“Heartbroken?” Omar complained, “Can’t be gay. Can’t cuss. Can’t do drugs. What am I supposed to do?” As a lapsed Catholic, I’m very familiar with the rules. The issue is, these “rules” hardly pertain to just Catholicism. What religion endorses them? Sure, a few are now more open to being gay, but no religion endorses cussing or drugs; those are also cultural issues. He’s an adult now; he can learn from the past and decide what his behavior will be going forward. Religion is all about control, shame and money; forget it, treat people well and live your life.
not sure it’s exclusivity of Catholicism, pretty much the rules every child has drummed into them from day one. Whether you follow it in adult life is your choice or not.
Catholicism is a powerful cult. If you weren’t raised Catholic you might not understand. Even contemporary Roman Catholicism still carries a lot of that baggage. Saints, sins, the sacraments, going to hell, exorcisms, the mysticism, blood turning into wine, flesh into bread, the pageantry of the Mass, the robes, etc. It isn’t like everything else; they’ve had thousands of years to hone the mind control and it really screws up a lot of people. (It also produces some of the great artists and creative people of the last 500+ years, but that’s another story!)
Being a recovering Catholic myself, I can attest to the damage this cult (and all religions aka cults) can do to a person. Once I separated God from cult religions I found peace
I am an atheist but I grew up in the most Catholic state in the USA. I went to a Catholic grammar school and then onto a Catholic coed high school.
I thought I never had Catholic guilt. I went to church only when I had to. My parents never went to church, maybe Christmas or Easter, maybe. So, until I had to unpack my life after I came out.
But then, whoosh and all these things I never thought that had an effect on me, did.
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Jack
Why is this man not an international superstar (yet)??? I guess he’s not focused on radio friendly hits….but his music is freaking gorgeous and brilliant.
Mark Allen
I agree 100%! Fortunately here in Vermont his music is played on the radio! He has a classic vocal style that I love!
Kangol2
You made it through that Catholic hell, Omar Apollo! Here’s to you, with your talented, hot self, and to your career!
Rocinante
I thought practicing Catholics had let go of a lot of their dumb dogma; kinda like most non-orthodox Jews. As my Jewish friend said; now days we take the good and ignore the bad and outdated.
Maybe it’s because most Catholics i interfaced with we’re NY and Jersey folks. Always seemed a lot less judgmental than my Southern Brethren.
ZzBomb
I’m a recovering Catholic and I find what really helps is removing bibles in the hotel rooms I stay at and then shred them when I get home. I encourage more people to do this and let’s remove religion where it doesn’t belong: in public.
Peter
“Heartbroken?” Omar complained, “Can’t be gay. Can’t cuss. Can’t do drugs. What am I supposed to do?” As a lapsed Catholic, I’m very familiar with the rules. The issue is, these “rules” hardly pertain to just Catholicism. What religion endorses them? Sure, a few are now more open to being gay, but no religion endorses cussing or drugs; those are also cultural issues. He’s an adult now; he can learn from the past and decide what his behavior will be going forward. Religion is all about control, shame and money; forget it, treat people well and live your life.
nm4047
not sure it’s exclusivity of Catholicism, pretty much the rules every child has drummed into them from day one. Whether you follow it in adult life is your choice or not.
Kangol2
Catholicism is a powerful cult. If you weren’t raised Catholic you might not understand. Even contemporary Roman Catholicism still carries a lot of that baggage. Saints, sins, the sacraments, going to hell, exorcisms, the mysticism, blood turning into wine, flesh into bread, the pageantry of the Mass, the robes, etc. It isn’t like everything else; they’ve had thousands of years to hone the mind control and it really screws up a lot of people. (It also produces some of the great artists and creative people of the last 500+ years, but that’s another story!)
Diplomat
My god that voice. His soft highs warms the soul.
cuteguy
Being a recovering Catholic myself, I can attest to the damage this cult (and all religions aka cults) can do to a person. Once I separated God from cult religions I found peace
radiooutmike
I am an atheist but I grew up in the most Catholic state in the USA. I went to a Catholic grammar school and then onto a Catholic coed high school.
I thought I never had Catholic guilt. I went to church only when I had to. My parents never went to church, maybe Christmas or Easter, maybe. So, until I had to unpack my life after I came out.
But then, whoosh and all these things I never thought that had an effect on me, did.