A Certain Ratio’s Jez Kerr comes out as bisexual, saying “I no longer want to hide my real identity”
A Certain Ratio’s Jez Kerr has opened up about years of living in “secrecy and unnecessary shame”, in a lengthily Instagram post where the bassist lets fans know he is bisexual.
In the post, Kerr shares that being “bisexual and crossdressing has been a part of my life from an early age”.
Then going on to say: “I know this isn’t exactly a big deal in 2022, but it is something that I’ve only just managed to deal with and I hope by sharing, it might help someone else.”
“After a long period of illness, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on my life and have recognised that secrecy and unnecessary shame is not good for my mental health. I’m bisexual and crossdressing has been a part of my life from an early age.”
He went on to discuss how “confusion and shame” led him to suppress his true self and suppress how he was feeling publicly.
Then adding: “That suppression comes at a price. This denial, combined with feelings of guilt and shame, has led to all kinds of problems: drug abuse, anxiety, self humiliation, suicidal feelings, a feeling of total self loathing.”
An important message off our Jez. pic.twitter.com/upnwlMLwFl
— A Certain Ratio (@acrmcr) October 17, 2022
“I had a very strict catholic upbringing, and so I guess guilt and shame were drummed into me from an early age”, Kerr said, adding that playing football when he was younger also played a part, as “anything other than strictly ‘manly behaviour’ was distinctly discouraged.”
Kerr rounds off the note by saying:
“Only close friends and some family members have been aware of my sexuality and crossdressing, but I now feel able to embrace this part of me and be true to myself.
“I no longer want to hide my real identity away or feel shame for who I am anymore.”
The musician was met with an outpouring of support online, for which he took to Twitter to say thank you a community “that really cares for one another”:
“I’m really overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received from the friends here on Twitter.Iwant to thank you all for your kind words,you have made me feel that I’m not alone with my problems and that there is a community here that really cares for one another. Many thanks”
Congrats, Jez!
I’m really overwhelmed by the amount of support I’ve received from the friends here on Twitter.Iwant to thank you all for your kind words,you have made me feel that I’m not alone with my problems and that there is a community here that really cares for one another. Many thanks ❤️ pic.twitter.com/X7DUfA9Rdx
— jez kerr (@jez_kerr) October 18, 2022
A Certain Ratio are an English post-punk band, formed in 1977 in Flixton, Greater Manchester by Peter Terrell (guitar, electronics) and Simon Topping (vocals, trumpet), with additional members Jez Kerr (bass, vocals), Martin Moscrop (trumpet, guitar), Donald Johnson (drums), and Martha Tilson (vocals) joining soon after.
The band last released an album in 2020, tilted ‘Acr Loco’. It was their first LP in 12 years after ‘Mind Made Up’ in 2008.