The music video for Take Me To Church shows the persecution of two gay lovers, and was supposedly made (on a small budget) in response to Russia's cruel treatment of the LBGT community which has so recently been in the press. He told NY Magazine: "To me, it's not even a gay issue or a civil rights issue, it's a human rights issue, and it should offend us all. It's just simple. Either somebody has equal rights, or they don't...I didn't even have that many close LGBT friends or anything like that, but I suppose it was growing up and becoming aware of how you are of a cultural landscape that is blatantly homophobic...if you see racism or homophobia or misogyny in a secular society, as a member of that society, you should challenge it. You owe it to the betterment of society" Preach.