As the controversy continued to swirl with more statements from bloggers condemning his position, Obama released his own statement defending his decision to appear on stage with notorious homophobes in order to raise money and votes for his presidential bid:This has already been nicknamed the "gay-bash" tour because three of the acts are on the record for rebuking the "gay lifestyle." Mary Mary, the enormously popular duo, has a large gay following but has compared gays to murderers and prostitutes. Hezekiah Walker is a minister of the Pentecostal faith, traditionally inhospitable to gays, and, heads a Brooklyn mega-church well-known for its anti-gay views. Walker was also the subject of an unfounded gay rumor that has become urban legend.
The piece de resistance: Donnie McClurkin, the famously "ex-gay" gospel singer who emerged from sexual abuse and 20 plus years of "active" homosexuality to evangelize against the gays. "What makes his otherwise inspiring story so troubling is that he is now violating young people in much the same way that he was violated," Keith Boykin pens one of the most definitive profiles of the "ex-gay" evangelist: "By teaching young people that they can pray their way out of who they are, he is essentially creating a generation of newly confused adolescents." The New York Times reports the gospel tour but does not mention McClurkin's back story—an odd omission because several of their top political reporters are gay.
McClurkin has performed for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush—the "ex-gay" gospel singer is seen [above] over the shoulder of Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary—and belongs to the anti-choice and anti-gay, black mega church wing of the Republican Party.
"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.Joe.My.God and other white gay bloggers like Wayne Besen seem disappointed by this statement and have renewed calls for Obama to drop McClurkin from his 3-stop South Carolina "Embrace The Change" Gospel Tour. The controversy is starting to be widely reported in outlets like The New York Times (Obama Criticized Over Singer), USA Today (Obama under fire for gospel tour with anti-gay singer) and others.
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."
Bloggernista has published the text of a letter Alexander Robinson of the National Black Justice Coalition, the only national Black LGBT advocacy organization, has sent to Senator Obama requesting a meeting to discuss the matter and express disappointment at his refusal to not appear with McClurkin.
Bloggernista is a black gay bloogger who agrees with conservative blogger Chris Crain that this McClurkin-Obama controversy appears to reflect simply bad advance work by Obama staffers since a quick Google search of the other people on the gospel tour (Mary Mary and Hezekiah Walker) would have immediately revealed the problematic anti-gay history that Rod McCollum has been reporting.
To Mad Professah just saying that it's bad advance work by staffers lets Obama off the hook. It's not just about McClurkin. Once the controversy bloomed and the tour became under a more public spotlight, the homophobic views of the other performers should have been enough for Obama to take a more drastic step: refusing to appear with McClurkin (which Obama is already agreed to do, at least at one of the stops) is not enough. He should actively seek to make public appearances with prominent pro-LGBT Black people in South Carolina as well. If he needs help in finding such people, I'm sure NBJC can help identify them!
1 comment:
Its easy to say that Obama should dump McClurkin from the Embrace the Change tour, but the fact is that doing so now would cost Obama Black votes in
South Carolina. It would be seen by some Blacks as Obama caving in to white gay people over Black people.
Blacks make up 40% of the vote in the state and if Obama is to have a chance at winning the state's primary and the Democratic nomination, then he cannot afford to turn off those voters.
The events should not have been planned with the gospel acts that are currently listed. As I say in my post, a simple Google or wikipedia search would have alerted the staff to the anti-gay statements. But, now that this has happen, the question becomes what is the best way to move forward?
There is an opportunity to create a larger discussion around homosexuality, respect for human differences and to build connections between African-Americans and LGBT people. I believe that we should take up this opportunity and use it to create alliances between two constituencies important to Obama and the Democratic Party.
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