PRESS RELEASE

Billboard-Charting Drag Queen Flamy Grant Named 

Musician in Residence at University Christian Church of San Diego

 

San Diego, CA — December 4, 2023 — University Christian Church (UCC) in San Diego’s Hillcrest neighborhood has named award-winning, Billboard-charting drag Christian musical artist Flamy Grant as its Musician in Residence.

 

Flamy Grant is a shame-slaying, hip-swaying, singing-songwriting drag queen with San Diego roots.  Her debut album Bible Belt Baby was nominated for Best Pop Album at the 2022 San Diego Music Awards and stayed at #1 on the iTunes Christian Charts for nine days in July/August 2023.  The songs “Good Day” also hit #1 and “Fortune Teller” hit #2 last month.  She is the winner of the 2023 Kerrville Folk Festival New Folk competition and was nominated for 2023 Drag Artist of the Year at the Revry QueerX Awards.

 

While these successes have made a compelling case for Flamy’s integration of music, drag, and spirituality, the Christian music community has been reluctant to embrace her art.  Regardless, Flamy is determined to take up space in Christian music, as evidenced by her attendance at the annual Dove Awards ceremony where she arrived in full drag with fellow Christian musicians Derek Webb and Semler, along with several LGBTQ+ folx and allies from around the country.

 

About accepting the Musician in Residence position, Flamy Grant stated:

I could not be more elated to join UCC as the new Musician in Residence — my cup overflows and my highlighter glows! I lived in San Diego for 17 years and loved every minute. It’s where I found community, purpose, love, and churches like UCC that celebrate LGBTQ+ people. It’s also where I spread my wings as both a songwriter and drag artist. This opportunity to remain connected and give back to the community that gave me so much is a dream, and I’m so excited to work with UCC staff and congregants to create opportunities at the intersection of spirituality, music, and queer culture — including drag!

 

University Christian Church was the first Open & Affirming (LGBTQ+ welcoming) congregation in all of Southern California for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is proud to be partnering with Flamy Grant for this unique opportunity.

 

Senior Minister of University Christian Church, Rev. Dr. Caleb J. Lines stated:

We are so thrilled to have Flamy Grant as our inaugural Musician in Residence.  Affirming the inherent worth and dignity of every person is a deeply sacred act.  Flamy’s willingness to integrate faith with queerness, drag, and authenticity is something we deeply admire at UCC.  Welcoming LGBTQ+ people into the full life and leadership of the Church is something that all faith communities ought to be doing.  With the Religious Right spewing so much misinformation about drag, we are excited about this opportunity to show how drag can be holy.  We can’t wait to share in ministry and to dismantle harmful theology together!

  

UCC’s Music Director RC Haus added:

As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have been frustrated that the Religious Right endeavors to write the narrative and describe who we are in wrong and judgmental ways.   For that reason, I am so excited to have Flamy Grant join us as Musician in Residence and portray the reality—Drag Queens can be people of deep faith and spirituality, examples of living out spiritually authentic lives for adults and children.  

 

Flamy Grant will be in San Diego approximately four weekends a year to add to UCC’s already vibrant music program.  She will debut new songs and create musical resources for Progressive Christian congregations to use.  Her first day with UCC will be on Christmas Eve, 2023, including a Drag Story Time at a Christmas Eve service.

 

Catch Flamy Grant at the following times at 3900 Cleveland Ave., San Diego, CA:

Sunday, December 24 at 10:00 AM, Morning Worship Service

Sunday, December 24 at 6:00 PM, Christmas Eve Service with Drag Story Time

 

University Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)/United Church of Christ is a progressive, welcoming, Open & Affirming community that brings people together through worship, love, faith, and service to others by following the example of Jesus Christ and seeks to embody God’s inclusive love through creative and vibrant worship and by working toward peace and justice in an ever-changing world.