The Call Is Coming From Inside The House

Why does my sexuality and gender bother y’all so much? That’s a question a lot of people who aren’t afraid to be themselves want to ask you bullies out there. I get a LOT of hate comments online for how I look and I decided to turn it up a notch by writing a song about praying the gay away and leaving church. Because why not?!

I’m dropping a song on 9/6 called “pray To god”. It’s the most vulnerable and heartfelt song I’ve written thus far in my career. The song is very special to me and my goal is for the song to reach as many people who can relate to it as possible. I grew up going to church, at first because of family, but eventually decided to go on my own. I liked the community and friendships church offered. It was fun to go on trips and build those bonds. I didn’t really have that for a lot of my youth, so this was an amazing experience for me!

The god stuff was something I never really could relate to. The messages centered around god and the churches belief system just didn’t connect with me. At around 12 years old, I was really into a show called “Bad Girls Club” (iykyk). Because it was a house full of all girls, sometimes they would hook up with each other and while I’d watch those scenes, I’d get butterflies in my stomach. That was the first time I knew something was “off” (churches words, not mine). Then every Sunday going to church and being told things like “God can hear all your thoughts. Sexual thoughts are sinful thoughts. Being gay is a sin”, I was SO scared and conflicted. The only solution I thought I had instead of exploring it and telling others what was going on, was to pray for it to go away.

Every night I would get on my knees and pray to just be “normal”. Fun fact, it didn’t work! As I got older in church and eventually moved to NYC, I started pulling away more and more as religion didn’t align with who I was anymore. I couldn’t understand how murderers and adulterers could be forgiven if they claimed Jesus as their Savior, but people who liked the same sex or were nonbinary couldn’t. Breaking away from church was actually very healing for me and allowed me to become who I am today.

I was nervous to put out a song like “pray To god”. What if I get a TON of hate for it and it’s too overwhelming for me? What if my old church friends block me? What if it’s not received well? What I realized was, I probably will get hate (I already am just teasing it lol), people won’t all like it, but already it’s finding its community. People are coming up to me, commenting and sharing that they can relate. I appreciate all the love so far and it’s my goal for the song to reach as many people as possible!

If you can relate, please comment what your experience has been and where you’re at in your journey today. “pray To god” comes out 9/6 and you can pre-save it 9/1. I can’t wait for you to enjoy the full song! Cheers to individuality and bravery.

Xoxo,

TOMMI AURA