In 1998, a young Canadian country singer was told he could have it all – a major Nashville record deal, a shot at stardom, the whole package. There was just one catch: he’d have to hide who he really was.
For Patrick Masse, that was never going to work. Four years later, he made a decision that would reshape his entire career: he became one of the first openly gay male country artists, at a time when the genre was far from ready for such a revelation.
Two decades later, his pioneering journey has helped pave the way for a new generation of LGBTQ+ country artists
But Masse’s connection to country music started long before the record deals and hard choices. Growing up in Vancouver, the genre was woven into the fabric of his childhood.
“My Dad had it playing all the time,” he says. “Now that my Dad has passed away, it is a nice bond and memory. I kind of feel like the genre chose me.”
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When did you first come out?
“I came out in 1994, the same year I graduated high school. Vancouver is a very progressive city and being gay here was, in my opinion, no big deal.
“But when I got into country music, I realized it was going to be a huge issue. In 1998 when my first album came out, I was still in the closet professionally.
“After I lost a major record deal in Nashville in 2002 – I was told I would have to sanitize my gayness and become property of the record label – I decided to actively start talking about my sexuality as a proud gay man.
“So in late 2002 and early 2003, I started actively talking about being a proud gay man and never looked back.”
What kind of reaction did you face from the industry?
“I was told by an artist manager, ‘If you kept your mouth shut about being gay, you wouldn’t be getting pushed out of country and not getting booked.’
“I was also told things like ‘you must be gay, look at your pants.’ I could feel I was treated differently, but I was raised not to be a victim, so I powered through.”
Have you had any positive experiences that stand out?
“One thing I have learned is at the end of the day, people respect honesty. They may not always agree with you, but trust you.
“I was playing in Texas one time and a very conservative man came up to me and said, ‘I was not going to come see you perform, just because you were gay, but I’m sure glad I did, you’re awesome!’ That was years ago and he is still a fan, so that is pretty cool.”
Masse’s music has often taken a deliberately universal approach, with gender-neutral lyrics that speak to common human experiences.
“I just never wanted anyone to feel they could not relate to my music,” he explains. “I think human emotion is felt by everyone, regardless of who you love or your sexual orientation.”
One of Masse’s most poignant songs, Mend The Man, tells the story of a boy whose father leaves, making him “a victim of a choice he didn’t have.” When the boy asks his mother “Were you just too ashamed of me when you let all those good men leave?” it touches on themes that many gay men find familiar.
Masse connects deeply with its message. “I think a lot of men in our society suffer from these emotions,” he explains. “All that nonsense about ‘be a man’ and ‘boys don’t cry’ – I mean really, it’s not working. Men are emotional beings and that is just fine. I say embrace who you are. It is not always easy, but nothing worth having comes easily.”
Over the years, Masse’s role in the industry has evolved from pioneer to mentor. In 2022, he hosted and produced the first-ever Songbird North Pride at Pride Toronto, featuring a lineup of queer artists.
He’s collaborated with other LGBTQ+ country artists, including recording Go Your Own Way with Drake Jensen and touring together.
How do you see the country music industry changing for LGBTQ+ artists?
“It’s wonderful to see that there’s so many queer artists out there. I’ve had the opportunity to connect with amazing artists like Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer.
“It wasn’t only the door was closed for queer artists, it was for basically anybody that was not White and Straight. As much as the genre has opened up, it still has a long way to go.”
The path hasn’t always been smooth. In 2021, Patrick contracted COVID-19, losing his voice completely for over a year. But true to the resilience that has defined his career, he fought back.
Today, he’s not only singing again but working on new projects, including a recent tribute cover of K.D. Lang’s Constant Craving and an ambitious album of covers featuring songs by female artists.
His upcoming releases include a cover of Air Supply’s Lost in Love, his own take on Reba McEntire’s It’s Your Call with a bisexual twist, and a deeply personal original song about his father, written with a good friend.
What advice would you give to up-and-coming LGBTQ+ country artists?
“Be yourself. I think of what Shania Twain told me many years ago in 1998. She said if you take five artists, they’ve all made it five different ways.
“There are no rules – just stay true to yourself and true to your music and true to your sound and produce music that you love, and the rest will fall into line.”
Looking ahead, Patrick continues to create music and push boundaries. After rebuilding his voice from scratch following his illness, he’s back in the studio and more determined than ever.
His advocacy work was recently recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the Canadian AIDS Society. His journey from a closeted country artist to a proud advocate and mentor serves as an inspiring reminder that authenticity and talent can indeed break down even the most deeply entrenched cultural boundaries.
If you want to see and hear more about Patrick Masse, you can check out his official site, or follow him on Facebook and YouTube.