Faith and family can be anchors in a young life — or weights that threaten to pull us under. In this summer special of In the Key of Q, I revisit remastered episodes from four remarkable queer artists: JSky (UK), Ty McKinnie (US), Blake Mundell aka Courier (US), and Wuhryn Dumas (US). Each speaks candidly about growing up queer in environments steeped in religious expectation and traditional family roles.

We hear how early love for music and community often existed alongside fear, shame, or silence, and how each of them has reclaimed their space in ways that honour both their identity and personal history. From Blake’s candid account of conversion therapy to Wuhryn’s reflections on becoming the role model he never had, these conversations challenge the idea that faith and queerness cannot coexist. Instead, they reveal the messy, human process of reconciling the two.

It’s an episode about reclaiming joy, asserting self-worth, and finding home, whether that's in a church, a studio, or simply in one’s own skin.

Timestamped Takeaways

• [00:00] Setting the stage: Introduction to the summer specials and the theme of faith and family for queer people.
• [00:01] Ty’s Hallelujah baby years: Early joy in church life and music, before acceptance came with conditions.
• [00:02] Blake’s nightly prayers: Internalising shame from evangelical messages, leading to years of self-questioning.
• [00:03] Wuhryn’s early queerness: Family members naming his queerness before he understood it himself.
• [00:05] JSky’s dual worlds: Balancing football culture with the joy of church music and his Nana’s influence.
• [00:09] The false choice: Blake describes feeling forced to choose between being queer or Christian.
• [00:11] Unsafe at home: Ty recalls retreating from family conversations about sexuality and Proposition 8.
• [00:12] Direct confrontation: JSky’s honest exchange with his religious grandmother sparks perspective change.
• [00:17] Reclaiming the sacred: Blake holds space for all his past selves; Ty builds new understanding with family.
• [00:21] Hugging on your own terms: Ty insists on physical affection despite discomfort.
• [00:21] Becoming the representation: Wuhryn’s commitment to showing young queer Black boys that they can thrive.
• [00:24] Home you build: Closing reflections on finding sacred space beyond traditional institutions.

Guest Bio

JSky – UK singer, broadcaster, and creative, known for blending music and storytelling. Instagram

Ty McKinnie – US singer-songwriter with soulful honesty and a love of storytelling. Official Site

Wuhryn Dumas – US artist creating music with fierce pride and visibility for queer Black identities. Official Site

Blake Mundell / Courier – US artist and writer exploring identity and belonging through music. Official Site

Links

• Read deep dives into our queer lives at the blog HERE.
• Check out the official podcast playlist on Spotify.
• Follow the podcast on: Instagram • Tik Tok • Facebook
• See producer and presenter Dan Hall's other work HERE (subtitled version HERE).
• Find composer Paul Leonidou HERE.
• Listen to other episodes at HERE.