“Though it may have been merely a consequence of being true to himself, he has nonetheless become a trailblazer and a symbol of hope for those country music artists and fans alike who may have become ostracized from a genre they hold dear.” “Though TJ Osborne is not the first country music artist to come out as gay, he is the first and currently only openly gay artist signed to a major country label,” the measure reads. The tabled legislation, Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 609, would act as a congratulations of sorts that signified the state supporting his status. Jeremy Faison, the chair of the House Republican Caucus.
The state’s House of Representatives blocked the measure on Tuesday after a procedural objection by longtime anti-LGBTQ Rep. Brothers Osborne singer TJ Osborne, who recently came out as gay, was on track to be honored by the Tennessee government as “the first openly gay artist signed to a major country music label” after a measure unanimously passed the Senate.
