Are Christian pop stars refusing to play at LGBT events?

It’s not often you see a Christian singer’s faith headlined in the mainstream press. When you do, it’s often due to a controversy. At first glance, this seems to be the case with the row engulfing 90s pop group Eternal - but the story isn't quite as simple as it seems, explains Heather Tomlinson

90’s female R&B group Eternal planned to reunite for a tour this year. However last week, one half of the foursome claimed that the plans were scrapped because two members (who are Christian) refused to play at gay-rights supporting Pride events. The details are disputed, but some headlines imply it’s about faith: The Daily Mail led with “Christian Bennett sisters refused to play LGBTQ gigs” while The Daily Telegraph said people are “trying to get Christian members of Eternal cancelled’ – referring to a modern trend of people with conservative opinions being excluded from public life.

However it is actually over the increasingly hostile public debate about balancing women’s and transgender rights.