Barack Obama teams with Ex-gay Donnie McClurkin: More homophobes on tour, and responses from Donnie and Obama!!!

I'm running real late on this story. I have been hearing about it all day, and I felt i need to add my two cents. So it's already been confirm that Democratic White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama has decided to have a gospel tour with reclosted homosexual Donnie McClurkin.

Here's the release:All three of the dates of the “Embrace the Change” tour are in South Carolina, where Mr. Obama is locked in battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for black voters.

Gospel acts including Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and Hezekiah Walker, Byron Cage and the Mighty Clouds of Joy are scheduled to appear.

“This is another example of how Barack Obama is defying conventional wisdom about how politics is done and giving new meaning to meeting people at the grassroots level,” Joshua DuBois, the campaign’s religious affairs director, said in a release. “This concert tour is going to bring new people into the political process and engage people of faith in an unprecedented way.”

Donnie is on record for saying sexual orientation is choice, also says you can pray the gay away. Donnie goes even lower with comparing gays to liars!

Heres a few quotes:McClurkin explains, "There are certain things like, you know, anybody who has a lying problem; they get to the point where they hate being so, having such a lack of character that they make a change."

In the same interview, McClurkin argues again that homosexuality is simply a lifestyle choice. "There's a group that says, 'God made us this way,' but then there's another group that knows God didn't make them that way," he says. Notice the circularity in his rhetoric. The people who say that God made them gay don't know what they're talking about because the people who say God did not make them gay are right. Well how do they know if someone was born gay or not if they are not gay themselves? It's insulting and presumptuous of others to tell gays and lesbians that they're not smart enough even to know who they are.

Just for the record Donnie is still unmarried, and he has church called Perfecting Faith Church in New York. Donnie is a Bush supporter. Many have said since Donnie performed and support Republican like President Bush, why is he performing for a Democrat? That's a answer only Donnie can give you. Donnie argues that us the gays who say that God made us with our sexual orientation is liars. I can only say that Donnie doesn't know what he's talking about at all! He claims to be deliver, but still single, and unmarried. I wonder why? Surely if you're deliver, then you should be able to function as a heterosexual, right?

There are more homophobes on this tour like gospel group Mary Mary (Erica and Tina Atkins), their confirm for the tour. Here's their quotes on how they feel about gays with comparing us to murderers and prostitutes, a Clay Cane interview:

Clay: I’m not sure if you are aware of this, but you have an extremely large gay following -- how do you feel about homosexuality and having a massive gay following?

Erica: We are aware. Ummm... how do I feel about homosexuality? I feel how God feels about it, but I still love them. I don’t agree with the lifestyle, but I love them. They can come to the concert; I’m going to hug them just like I hug everybody else. They have issues and need someone to encourage them like everybody else -- just like the murderer, just like the one full of pride, just like the prostitute -- everybody needs God. What your struggle is may not be what my struggle is, but we all need Him. So, that's what our music is about giving and God, not to condone the lifestyle or to say, Oh it's okay, but not to bash -- but just to give them God. I mean, I’m appreciative of all of our supporters and fans. Hopefully what their hearing in our music is my love for God.

Tina: You know, I think the fact that our music is very upbeat and works well in clubs -- you know, I think that's something that makes more people gravitate to it. Like Erica said, we don’t necessarily agree with the lifestyle, but we don’t pride ourselves on bashing. Everyone has things in their life that they need to correct, everybody has struggles, everybody has things that, maybe I should’ve done it this way, maybe I should’ve made this choice, you know, or whatever. Even though that's the way we feel, we don’t bash, we don’t do that kind of thing and we embrace everybody who enjoys our music. Hopefully our music is impacting them in a way that if they see there's some things in their life that's not quite right and doesn’t align themselves with what the Bible says -- hopefully our music impacts them in a way that makes them want to change it.

So they feel how God feels right? As my friend Jerry said: The bible is NOT God! Too many contradictions to be on God's level!

Donnie McClurkin responds with some back-tracking on his beliefs: Gospel music superstar Donnie McClurkin says he was surprised to wake up Tuesday morning to a media firestorm.

... McClurkin told The Associated Press on Monday that "sexuality, everything is a matter of choice." But on Tuesday he told the Tribune that his ideals, and most importantly his ministry, were severely misconstrued.
"I don't believe that even from a religious point of view that Jesus ever discriminated toward anyone, nor do I," McClurkin said in an exclusive interview with the Tribune. "Most of the things that were said were totally out of context and then other things weren't true."

Ok, Donnie do you know what you said in the past? Like here:McClurkin has devoted his life to saving children from the cult-like snares of the homosexual recruiters. "The gloves are off," he told the 700 Club. "And if there's going to be a war, there's going to be a war."

What about comparing us [gays] to liars: McClurkin explains, "There are certain things like, you know, anybody who has a lying problem; they get to the point where they hate being so, having such a lack of character that they make a change."

Donnie seems to have forgotten his quotes of the past. Obama issued his thoughts early this evening:

About 6:40 pm today, the Obama campaign issued a written statement from the candidate saying that he "strongly disagree(s)" with McClurkin's views. Still, a spokesman said McClurkin would remain part of the concert line-up.

"I have clearly stated my belief that gays and lesbians are our brothers and sisters and should be provided the respect, dignity, and rights of all other citizens. I have consistently spoken directly to African-American religious leaders about the need to overcome the homophobia that persists in some parts our community so that we can confront issues like HIV/AIDS and broaden the reach of equal rights in this country," Obama said in the written statement.

"I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights. And so I strongly disagree with Reverend McClurkin's views and will continue to fight for these rights as President of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division," the statement added.

Justice MH: I feel that Obama should have been smarter with who he wanted on this gospel tour in South Carolina. Who ever is on his campaign staff needs to be fired. This is forgivable, but i have to admit, it has push me some towards Hillary Clinton. I bet she having a ball watching this happen to obama. Obama still has me on the fence, I just hope next time think who before you invited those who inaccurate views on your supporters. Obama has what it takes to be President, and yes Captain, Obama will be President some day in the future. I hope this comes out in best interest of Obama's chances of becoming the Democratic nominee!

"You And I Both Know": America's Black Homophobia Problem

[ A intelligent post about the double-standard of homophobia in regards to the black community, and the question towards Barack Obama! Enjoy. Justice MH]

By:Charlton Copeland

"You and I both know that there is a homophobia problem in the black community." So began Washington Post editor Jonathan Capehart's question to Barack Obama during the HRC/Logo gay-issues debate last night. This question of Obama appears to both assume the universality of homophobia within the black community, and require Obama to situate himself in relation to it. Capehart's question continued with a discussion of Obama's willingness to speak difficult truths to the black community regarding other sensitive topics that might, from another mouth, look like a claim of black dysfunction. Capehart's "you and I both know"-- an attempt to play on their shared blackness, I guess -- easily morphs into "we all know"/"everybody knows" that the black community is homophobic; "we all know" that black ministers (all black ministers) are homophobic. More than the problem of Capehart's question, however, was the way in which Obama's answer simply accepted the premise. His answer never challenged the assumption behind what "we" have come to so easily accept about "black homophobia". Obama gave examples of the courage that he has shown by speaking to presumably hostile straight audiences at Howard University and in black churches in the South, without ever acknowledging the fact that these communities are not uniform on issues of same-sex equality. Capehart's and Obama's statements were made without regard to the consistent record of support that the Congressional Black Caucus has given to equality issues within the LGBT community. Such statements also fail to recognize the diversity of thought within black religious communities, including Jeremiah Wright, Obama's own pastor, who has been a leading light on issues of same-sex inclusion.

Perhaps more problematic (and heartening) was a question by the event's host, who asked Obama -- and only Obama -- to compare the black struggle for civil rights with the gay struggle for civil rights. Obama, I think, answered this question with as much honesty and intelligence as it could be answered, and then challenged the questioner to ask the question of the other candidates, not simply the black candidate. Unfortunately, no other candidate was asked the question. Again, this leads to the conclusion that Obama is being handled differently because we have concluded that there is such a species of dysfunction known as "black homophobia," wholly separate from, and more pernicious than, ordinary homophobia. It would be foolish and insensitive to deny that the black community's response to homosexuality does not have culturally particularized elements. Yet to listen to Capehart, one would think that homophobia is a uniquely black dysfunction, against which Obama had better be prepared to situate himself. Do we speak of Methodist homophobia with Hillary Clinton? Or Catholic homophobia with Biden? Do we force any other candidate, even Bill Richardson, to situate himself in relation to homophobia in the Hispanic community? Not that I have seen.

Finally, the obsession with this characterization of black homophobia, I suspect, is rooted in a desire to locate for the record the limits of the black community's commitment to an egalitarian social-political order. Evidence of the qualified nature of the black community's commitment to equality allows others to justify their equivocation on the issue of equality, not simply the equality of gays and lesbians, but about other marginalized communities as well. Like so much in this presidential campaign, Obama serves as a convenient canvas upon which to further depict the dysfunctions of black folk. There is a homophobia problem in the black community, but there is a homophobia problem in the Congress, and on the Supreme Court, and in the White House. Indeed, America has a homophobia problem. It is against this homophobia problem that any candidate deserving of the LGBT community's support should aim his or her attention.

Justice MH: What was said above i agree with most of it. Homophobia exists in every community, and society. The world is homophobic. After full equality for LGBT people is achieved, like racism, homophobia will still be there, just NOT out in the open as much. A Presidential Hopeful should focus on homophobia as a American problem, not as a one section of our country's problem! I like many right-thinking Americans should question homophobia, racism, sexism, and religious intolerance. Change is possible!

[More-updates-5pm-Justice MH]

BET Poll: Black Church and Homosexuality

BET's Meet the Faith is hosted by the hot Ian Smith. The guests were
Keith Boykin and Sheryl Lee Ralph who really spoke out with passion and reason about the black church and homosexuality.

Meet the Faith ran a poll to ask viewers to express their personal opinions on the subject. The results are as follow:

The Poll

We asked you, "Should the Black church stop condemning and start accepting Black gays and lesbians?" And here's how you voted:

About 64 percent of you said, "No. Most Christians believe it's wrong, and if you see people going down the wrong path, you should try to save them."

About 29 percent of you said, "Yes. Religion should be about love and tolerance."

About 7 percent of you said, "I don't know."

We also asked you, "Is homosexuality a choice or natural preference?"

About 61 percent of you said, "It's a choice."

About 24 percent of you said, "It's a natural preference. You're born that way."

Justice MH: Should I be surprise that 61% believe homosexuality is choice? No. There is still alot of work to be done on this important issue. The ones in the 64% group say that we need saving. From what? From being who we are, and living in truth! It's amazing how some people will tell others that their path, who they are, and who they love is wrong. You can't get much hypocritical than that. I wonder how the poll would have turn out if heterosexuality was being question? I bet there would be some sort of difference. Over 20% said religion should be about peace and tolerance. The black church continues to do the opposite. Some zealot black preacher take couple of bible verses out context, and hammer their gay church members into low-self esteem, and closet case mode. We have cross the river on race, but there is still one more river to cross on sexual orientation!

NBJC Debuts "The Power of Us"

This Sunday July 22, 2007, The National Black Justice Coalition will debut it's new national media campaign called "The Power Of Us"!

The Power of Us is a bold, daring, and savvy nationwide campaign to highlight Black LGBT couples, families, high profile activists, religious and spiritual leaders, organizers, artists, designers and more. The new national campaign the Power of Us designed to display positive and uplifting messages and images that embrace, celebrate, and promote the talent, brilliance, and contributions, that Black SGL/LGBT people are making in America. This is a much-needed national campaign to show positive images of black gay men, especially as couples, that are show in the general media or gay media.


Also being honored is a woman I have so much respect for, and that woman is Jasmyne Cannick. Jasmyne's final duty as a board member will come to an end at the debut of the new media campaign "The Power Of Us"!

The event is planned to take place at a private home on Sunday, July 22 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.