Jaymi Hensley Union J: Industry Officials Told Other Artists “Don’t Come Out”
Jaymi Hensley of Union J speaks about George Shelly Industry Officials Telling Other Artists “Don’t Come Out” and how he had to educate Sony on how to treat gay artists.
During the ‘RUComingOut.com’ panel at this year’s National Student Pride, Union J’s Jaymi Hensley admitted that he had witnessed firsthand gay people being told not to come out within the entertainment industry.
He said, “I’ve been very lucky and well supported, but I have seen other people in the industry being told ‘You can’t come out, it’s not going to do well for your sales’, and I like to think that I am testament, to saying it means bugger all.”
He said he had to educate bosses at Sony on how to treat gay artists, stating, “My job is my job, I just want to fight for something. I in a way feel that I educated Sony in how to treat a gay artist, because they didn’t know.”
Jaymi also stated that his determination to be openly LGBT in the media has at times held him back while trying to find work in TV and radio. “I’ve found it difficult getting into TV and radio for being a gay male. Unlike Rylan who is so out there and owns it, with me, fit in between being a boy band and being gay but not being overly camp.”
He also discussed the recent coming out on YouTube of band mate George Shelley, who he praised as being brave for opening up about having boyfriends. “It was a huge thing for him, I can’t imagine what he must have felt. When we did George was just a kid, and was at that point I think very much asexual. He hadn’t even come into knowing who he fancied. So to have to find out who you are on a global scale… I can’t imagine.”
Listen to Jaymi Hensley here.
Photo by National Student Pride