Singer Michelle Shocked cleared the house on Sunday after going on an on-stage rant against homosexuality in a San Francisco nightclub.
According to a report in the The Bay Area Reporter, Shocked played two sets at Yoshi’s nightclub in the Fillmore section of San Francisco on March 17. Though the first set went fine, after which she tweeted the following:
Truth is leading to painful confrontation #shortsharpshocked
During the second set, Shocked reportedly began ranting against homosexuality and predicting the return of Jesus. The Bay Area Reporter story quotes her as saying, “When they stop Prop 8 and force priests at gunpoint to marry gays, it will be the downfall of civilization and Jesus will come back.” When asked for specifics on what she was trying to say, Shocked is quoted to have said, “You are going to leave here and tell people ‘Michelle Shocked said God hates faggots.”
The club began to empty and the club’s manager came on-stage to announce that the show had ended. Shocked continued to sing, even when her microphone was cut and the stage lights were turned off.
Shocked became a member of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ choir in the mid-90s. In 2008 the singer told the Dalls Voice that she believes homosexuality is a sin.
Shocked found indie acclaim in the late 80s and early 90s with her albums Short Sharp Shocked, Captain Swing, and Arkansas Traveler. She has been nominated for two Grammy awards, one for Best Contemporary Folk Album for Arkansas Traveler and one for Best Contemporary Folk Recording.
(Image courtesy Sigmund/Wikimedia Commons)
