About Shawn

At 6 feet and 5 inches tall, Shawn Aaron Thomas stands out in virtually any crowd. In his Florida studio, he produces and records his own music and the inspirational sounds of other artists. With eight CDs to his credit in only eight years, he’s prolific. As an openly gay Christian recording artist, Shawn Aaron Thomas is unique.


The son of a pastor, Thomas grew up in Indiana, where he was immersed in both faith and music. After earning a degree in music and recording, life’s journey took him through various iterations – including living in an RV for two years while recording, traveling and promoting his ministry and music.


In 2003, Thomas released his first CD of Christian music, “Everything I Am,” which remained on Pride Christian Music’s Top 20 for more than a year. Two years later, while touring in his mobile home, he released his second full collection of original work, “Changed,” which was nominated for Outstanding New Inspirational Recording by OutMusic.com.


“Faith Unashamed,” his third effort, was released in 2006 after being recorded and produced entirely in the RV’s mobile recording studio. The CD listed on OutVoice.com’s Top 40 for over 23 months, and remained in the Top 10 for over a year. Additionally, the video for the single “What am I Gonna Do with You?” is still listed as the most viewed music video on TheQTube.


After two years of living and travelling in the motorhome, Shawn accepted a part-time position as a music minister at a church in West Palm Beach, Florida. He continued visiting churches nationwide by flying to each location while still remaining in West Palm on some Sundays to help lead worship. The experience and feeling of being back in worship at a semi-regular location impressed on Shawn the importance and power of music in the worship setting, rather than just in concert or performance. In 2008, the praise and worship CD, “Worship & Desperation,” was released with the intention of being used as a resource for churches. Along with the recordings, Thomas released a songbook, accompaniment tracks, and multi-media. “Worship & Desperation” received the 2008 Editor’s Choice Award from QNation.fm and the Genre Award from the 2009 Pride in the Arts Award and Stonewall Society. It also contains what Shawn confesses to be his favorite song that he has written: “The Christ in You.”


Shawn met his partner, Brian Ladd, at the church in West Palm Beach, where Brian currently serves in ministry as the Pastoral Associate. In January 2009, Shawn returned to full-time touring, playing 80 to 100 concerts each year in the United States and Canada, with Ladd occasionally joining him to offer his own ministry.


“Revisited Vol. 2,” includes work from five CDs recorded over 10 years, and coincided the 10th anniversary of Shawn’s first CD as an “out” artist, “Out in this World”. “Revisited Vol. 2” includes 17 tracks with six new recordings, including an updated version of “Out in this World,” which has become a Top 10 hit on the OutVoice Singles Chart. It was named Album of the Year by the 2009 Voters’ Choice Awards from the “Unashamed Faith Cafe” Radio Program.


In 2010, he released a book describing his experience as being both gay and Christian. Titled “Unashamed: Coming Out of the Second Closet,” the volume deals with being in the crosshairs from both groups, as many Christians think his sexuality is incompatible with faith and many in the GLBT community believe his faith runs contrary to GLBT causes. In its pages, Thomas explains that neither assumption is true.


His newest musical effort, released in July 2011, is a two-disc set called “Covered and Created,” which features 10 tracks previously recorded by other artists and 10 new original works. The “Covered” disc includes songs from Chris Tomlin, Casting Crowns, Richard Marx, Cher, and the OutVoice Top 10 hit of Shawn’s version of “Hero” by Mariah Carey.


With a minister as a father and a talented musician as his mother, Shawn's ministry through Aaron's Rainbow Project (ARP) is the natural combination of his musical and spiritual influences. As a member in good standing with the Grammy ™ Recording Academy and a four-time Pride in the Arts Awards recipient from The Stonewall Society and 14-time nominee, Shawn Thomas emerges not only as an outstanding performer and singer, but as a dynamic and versatile worship leader and presenter. His intention is to share the message of God’s of love and grace through music in order to build unity, understanding, and acceptance while still encouraging personal responsibility, self-reliance, and the development of conviction and values.


The Ministry of ARP - Shawn Thomas
Shawn Thomas