Monday, December 07, 2009

Answer to Donnie McClurkin: Black & Gay is Beautiful - You damned right it is

From Rod 2.0 Beta comes news that should be given more coverage:


Black gay activists take out a full page advertisement in response to Donnie McClurkin's hateful "ex-gay" and 'anti-gay" rants. The advert runs in (Friday's)  Metro NY. Click for larger version.

Pastor Joseph Tolton of Rehoboth Temple wrote the official response on behalf of New York’s black gay men and counters the "hypocrisy in the pulpit" and "spiritual" violence of McClurkin and homophobic black churches. It reads in part: "For those of us in faith who have always loved the black church, the defining issue of our lives has been the churches damning stance on homosexuality. As children, the condemnation broke our spirit. As adolescents, this ridicule broke our hearts. As young adults, this disdain has attempted to drive us to the brink. Spiritual violence is wrong and it kills the spirit. The black church must find new ways to talk about sex and sexuality." 

Tolton adds this message to McClurkin: "You are not a man who loves men because of being molested as a child. That grave and despicable tragedy broke your spirit and damaged your mind; however, it did not have the capacity to change your DNA." 

Pastor Tolton is seen in the center of the photo. From left to right: Actor Cornelius Jones; Activist Sheldon DeSouza; Michael Whittaker; Tolton; HIV activists Gaynel Sheffield and Pat Desrolers; and openly gay R&B singer Nhoji. Bravo to Pastor Tolton and these activists. Donnie McClurkin's experience was the exception and not the rule. This is much more accurate picture of our black LGBT community—diverse and confident.

While the ad ran Friday,  the knowledge that self-hating loudmouths like McClurkin aren't the only ones with a voice in the black church is an excellent way to start off the week. 


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