Michael Passons, founding member of the contemporary Christian music (CCM) group Avalon, recently gave an in-depth interview where he described what it was like when the group ousted him for being gay.
Passons first came out publicly in 2020, revealing the real reason why he left Avalon. But his two-part interview with Patrick Custer in December appears to be one of the most comprehensive accounts he has given about his time in the band.
“I think I developed two of me,” said Passons of how he handled hiding being gay while being in a Christian band in a conservative community. “There was the real me, who was the person feeling all of those things inside. And then there was the me that would show up to church, the me that would show up on stage. And that’s the only way I could do it.”
When asked if his secret self was “shelved” the entire time he was in Avalon, Passons said he did “reach out for love and affection” at times, but that was scary because of the trust required.
“That did eventually get me in trouble. The house of cards did fall. Because I was playing both ends there,” he said. “I had a career to where, these are the rules, and I was breaking the rules. And so at the end of the day, that is going to cause an issue. And it did finally.”
Michael Passons Discusses Avalon’s Success, His Ouster, and the Aftermath
Michael Passons was the first member asked to join the band that would become Avalon, which was organized by Grant Cunningham of Sparrow Records in 1995. The group had a huge hit in the single “Testify to Love” and went on to receive an American Music Award, six Dove Awards, and three Grammy nominations.
Avalon has had a number of member changes over the years and in 2022 rebranded as Avalon Worship. The current members are Jody McBrayer, Janna (Potter) Long, and Greg Long. Dani Rocca Herbert, who was in the band from 2018-2025, was featured in Prime Video’s 2025 docuseries about Teen Mania, titled “Shiny Happy People: A Teenage Holy War.”
RELATED: Teen Mania Alumni Dispute Founder Ron Luce’s Claims About ‘Shiny Happy People’
Passons left Avalon in 2003. At the time, he told Custer, the message given to the public was that “Michael went on to pursue other musical opportunities.” He had to sign an NDA but said his arm was twisted.
Passons did not share the real reason why he left the band until 2020 when he appeared on the podcast “Jonah and the Whale,” hosted by Josh Skinner. Passons told Custer he made the decision to reveal the reason spontaneously in the middle of that interview.
“I’m like, this is my life and I’m going to reclaim it. I’m going to talk about it,” Passons said. “I’m going to set the record straight. Because there are a lot of people out there who need to hear that they are not alone in the prison cell that they’ve put themselves in.”
Passons joined Custer for an extended interview divided into two parts. The first, “Michael Passons Breaks Silence: His Truth About Avalon, Christian Music & 20‑Year Return,” focused on Passons’ background, how Avalon came to be, and the band’s success. In the second part, “Forced Out: The Day Avalon Came to My House,” Passons described what led to him being kicked out of the band and how he navigated the aftermath.
Michael Passons, founding member of the contemporary Christian music (CCM) group Avalon, recently gave an in-depth interview where he described what it was like when the group ousted him for being gay.Click to Post
