Donnie McClurkin and Perfecting Gays
Among the great advice my father gave me as a child -- besides never buy tires at full price -- was that the only thing lower than a car dealer is a used car dealer, and car dealers are scum of the earth.
To paraphrase -- the only thing worse than a bigot is a black bigot...
And to take it a step further would be to include a black bigot who drapes himself in the cloth and hates in the name of the Lord.
And, yet, there is Donnie McClurkin who's planning an SRO three day stand with the brother who would be president, Barack Obama.
A lot of folks are calling McClurkin anti gay or a gay hater or a straight out homophobe 'cause he says that he's in a "war" against homosexuality, and homosexuality is a choice and gays can be fixed.
A lot like, I'm sure, Ann Coulter would tell you Jews can be perfected -- and while we're on the subject of the absurd, the Patriots can be beaten because their passing offense really can be stopped.
Anyway...
With Obama coming under fire for including a hate monger in his Compassion and Unity tour, McClurkin shot back at all the anti-hata haters and said that his comments were taken out of context.
A lot like, I'm sure, Bill O'Reilly will tell you his comments are often taken out of context.
McClurkin feeling that gays can be perfected does not come from nowhere. According to McClurkin, as a child he was raped by a male family member, which so affected him, he "became" a gay man for some 20 years before religion helped "straighten" him. I want to stress very, very emphatically that a young person being molested by ANYONE is beyond humorless. It is sick and depraved.
But as far as McClurkin becoming gay as a result, then later having ministry cure him, well...
A lot like, I'm sure, Ted Haggard would tell you a little church can cure you of the need to have your gay masseuse sell you a little meth.
According to a piece in the Chicago Trib, McClurkin now says he is straight and that his ministry is open to those who say they no longer want to live as a gay person. What he doesn't do, he says, is crusade against homosexuality.
And for the record, my house is open to all people who no longer want to be redheads. If you're a redhead, then get the F out! But I'm certainly not crusading against redheads.
And this is the guy Obama's gonna share a stage with?
In an official statement Obama has said that he "strongly disagrees" with Reverend McClurkin's views, yet he still intends to share a stage with him.
But, Barack, you can't say you strongly disagree with the head of the Klan, then invite him on stage just 'cause he knows his way around a Johnny Cash song (no disrespect to the late Johnny Cash or his family, just the first singer who popped into my head).
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Ok, can we all agree that Donnie McClurkin has been through trauma that has affected his feelings toward homosexuals. Why isn't he being treated like raped women who fear men, or victims of violent crimes who get uncomfortable around people who remind them of the perpetrator? In those cases, the victims natural prejudice would be greated with empathy, understanding, and then gentle confrontation or rationalization. Everyone wants Donnie McClurkin be better than that and immediately rational. The man is understandable angry and his opinion is affected by his trauma. If I went through what he did, you can forget gospel music. I would be a gangster rapper and disrespect homosexuals more than Eminem.
Furthermore, if being gay is innate, then why aren't we discussing the posibility that he may still be gay, but denouncing homosexuality is a way to shun the depression associated with his molestation. If it is innate, don't worry homosexuals. He'll be back, right, Ted Haggard style. Please trust your own beliefs. Besides, you know the phrase "don't knock it until you try it". McClurkin admits that he tried it for twenty years. Let him knock it if he wants. Its only one opinion. The real issue is Barack Obama and how he will legislate, and sharing a stage with a talented gospel singer with personal problems does not mean he will agree with how that singer chose to overcome his personal problems. Lets all grow up please.
Once he gets off his pulpit and stops proselytizing and instead seeks treatment for dealing with his trauma you'll get your empathy. Until then, he's fair game.
I'm sure you're not suggesting that victims do not deserve empathy until they shed their angery behavior..
Right. It's OK to kick a man when he's down if he has the audacity to speak in public.
Victims should know their place, keep their head down, and never make eye contact with anybody.
And if a victim is foolish enough to get on a stage, that's when you hurt him the most. That's the only way for the healing to begin.
What exactly does he say in his sermons? Does anybody know?
If McClurkin is really so "saved" or "redeemed" by his ministry, he should have learned the difference between the trauma of rape and the fact of life that is homosexuality. He would certainly receive sympathy and support from the gay community for the former, but conflating the two is not to be trusted.
My problem with liberals is that we are smarter than everyone else. It causes wonderful debates, but no cohesion. I thought liberalism was the welcoming of all ideas, including McClurkin's, and agreeing to disagree when it comes to doing the greater good. If this discussion is about equal rights for homosexuals, lets cut all the bullshit and have that discussion. Equal rights for all, from the right of close-minded gospel singers to support the same candidate as open-minded gospel singers to the right of homosexuals to form a legal union and enjoy the same perks heterosexuals do.
This will fade. Barrack will have an explanation forged of Lincoln-esque (or some other lonely icon of freedom's) wise-sounding words. All will be forgotten when he declares his all-inclusive stance's plan of action through his leadership.
Will he have a valid point when he does? Even if he does, the skeptical nay-sayers required by a healthy democracy will continue to chatter. The chatterers will (hopefully) forever chatter.
"And, ye shall know their hearts by their chattering
- The Book of Wise Mouselions
I'm not forgetting it. I was a strong supporter of Obama, and he is dead to me.
Obama is not ready for prime time. If there is one thing you must be to deal with the Repugs, you must be politically savvy. He failed. His intentions may have been innocent--appeal to a section of the black church that might not otherwise have voted for him--but the effect was devastating for another portion of his potential constituency. He should have had the foresight to know this. I think the bulk of people will look at this as not a problem of homophobia, but of incompetence.
I have to agree that it was a blunder. If McClurkin--and some others in this tour--had been vetted, Obama wouldn't be issuing the disclaimers he's scrambling to do these days.
If Donnie really wanted Obama to win, he would pull out without being asked.
Obama is not Donnie's candidate.
Tell me who do you think these black folks would have voted for if they didn't vote for Obama? They voted for Edwards in 2004 in overwhelming numbers. They voted for Clinton in the same numbers in 92 and 96. Obama would be a fool not to fight for their votes. You my friend are the one who is politically naive. Black folks make up 50 percent of the democratic primary electorate. No serious candidate is going to fail to address that constituen
But you don't have to appeal to their homophobia to get their votes. Or do you?
A round of applause for John Ridley. It just goes to show how things have really changed when you have support like his.
Remember what happened to Donna Summer's career when she got all holy and started talking smack about gays. Well B. O. may've done the LGBT community a favor by further outing this big sicko Hater and slowing down his career. There are lots and lots of gay and gayfriendly gospel fans. I can just see pickets at all of his appearances now. Oprah's gonna have to put him down now too. Somehow gayhater publicity doesn't translate into big sales and fan support. Musically he can't touch Gay Men James Cleveland and Billy Preston anyway.
HRC and the gay community had already put Donnie McClurkin up to public ridicule when he sung at the 2004 Republican convention. If that didn't slow him down, this will certainly have no effect.
Whenever someone like O'Reilly or Limbaugh and McClurkin have to explain their comments, watch out! McClurkin was deeply affected by child abuse and in a very sick way that makes his 'reasoning' extremely twisted.
Obama jumped the gun too quickly to accept the offer to appear at this concert without thinking of the consequences. No one likes to be taken for granted and that's exactly what Obama has done to the gay community. His numbers started to fall in the polls and he panicked most likely. He didn't have to do this but he made his choice and now his campaign is really sunk. He's lost a most-needed constituency. It's too late for him to change his mind too. Although there are few 'elephants' in the gay community, like elephants, we never forget.
"He's lost a most-needed constituency"? Who would that be? Certainly not gays! The most needed constituency is the African American Community Where Donnie McClurkin is very popular. The gay community has a hisotry of over playing its hand. If they want to do battle with the Black church, the most needed constituency needed to win against Republicans, they can go right ahead. Ask John Kerry why he lost OH in 2004.
Gays are black too and they have families and friends who love them and vote.
What say you, Hillary / Obama?
GAY MARRIAGE. Is it moral or
Too much to handle, too much trauma?
Is it a question you abhor ?
As presidential politicians,
Your own political beauticians
Who manicure your every word,
Both what you’ve said and what’s detterred ,
Have tried to shape your commentary
So you can capture Christians who
Would otherwise bid you adieu.
But for the love of God and Mary-
Who had a kid but never wed-
Why can’t gays share a marriage bed?
Amen.
Leland R. Erickson
Citizen
This country is the most reactionary and backwards of all the developed countries in the world (unless you include Russia and China as "developed" - I guess they're developing but not in the best directions
Just a comment on your user name.
Race To Infinity would be sitting down still,
wouldn't it?
It's a paradox. Yes it would be resting at the still point of the turning "world" or cosmos. It's parodying the whole concept of "seeking", meaning that infinity and eternity is already here and now, and the frantic human pursuit of them is futile and comical.
You can link to my blog and ask me questions there too, or email me.
gmail.cominity@gmail.com
obama has campaigned long and hard on the theme of experience vs judgement and essentially claiming that his judgement trumps hilly's "experience"
this whole episode certainly calls into question his judgement and highlights his political inexperience - an experienced politician would never have allowed him/herself to be put in this damned-if-
homosexuality is not a choice and cannot be "fixed", only sublimated - ted haggard proved that - rev. donnie KNOWS that and obama certainly should know it
barack, you have definitely obombma'd on this one
Not only is it sick to have sex with children in itself, but the struggle of confusion of who in fact they should have sex with is one of the main effects of children growing up after this has happened to them. Maybe this is what he meant by saying that "he" struggled with homosexuality for 20 years. And maybe he wouldn't have been gay had that person not molested him at all. Some gay people actually want to be heterosexual, and maybe for those that do, he and religion will be an inspiration to change. For those that are fine with their sexuality being whatever it is, then ignore him and live your life. And besides, the Bible that he is preaching from condemns homosexuality, and I suppose that if he calls himself a reverend of those that want to hear it, he is speaking from that aspect. Also, I am a firm believer in God, and I personally don't have a problem with anyone's lifestyle, unless you are molesting kids, killing or raping people, or doing something to the detriment of others.
The Bible that he's preaching from comdems a lot more than homosexuality, much of which is totally accepted today, like eating pigs. DM can believe what he wants but Obama doesn't, as Mr Ridley contends, need to provide a showcase for Biggots. Donnie makes Anita Bryant seem healthy. If she's been a joke for 30 years now how can a fool like DM be respected by people like Obama today?
You are either incredibly gullible or working as a front for McClurkin. Time and time again, we have to hear the lies from people like McClurkin, and that's what it comes down to: McClurkin is a liar of the first order. He hasn't conquered homosexuality. He might have sublimated it, but sublimation can only work for a short period of time without severely damaging the psyche of the person seeking to hide his/her true feelings. McClurkin's "righteous anger" speaks more to his unspoken yearnings than to his religious beliefs.
All kids go through this "confusion" whether or not you want to believe it or not, from having a crush on a teacher of the same sex to experiencing same sex either emotionally or physically. That doesn't mean that one being gay, or even heterosexual for that matter, later in life is rooted in these feelings or experiences; it's just an extention of the path they were genetically programmed for. It's a natural outcome from prior to birth. It'a almost like two roads we're born to go down and we get to the crossroad and finally realize, yes, this is where I'm to go. Unfortunately, there are those who live in denial and take the wrong road, such as McClurkin and Larry Craig.
The bible that he is preaching from also condones selling your daughter into slavery-is he preaching that too? Does that make it alright?
mmmm-not so much.
Ah, but there's the point McClurkin IS doing something that is to the detriment of others.
Even if I wanted to become straight I wouldn't bother with McClurkin's ministry.
What a hassle!
All I need to do is change my laundry detergent.
http://www
for me, it was my deoderant and i praise jesus every day for showing me that this was what i needed to change
i switched from wet to dry and since then i have had only perfected thoughts of lust and desire
I guess the gay community is finding out how much clout they do not have. They need to get in line with Obama's deal--not the other way around. This issue is not about Gay rights. It is about how much certain activists in the Gay community can get away with in regard to bashing someone who does not agree with them. Obama is a smart politician, as he knows there are not enough Gay votes to even warm up a waffle. The Gay community needs to pick their battles in a more strategic way. They are going to lose big on this one because no matter how much the general population sympathises with them they don't really care that much and that was proven by Obama's stance for sure.
One. Nationwide, the percentage of gays and the percentage of blacks are very close. Now in South Carolina, there are many more blacks than gays, so you do have a bit of a point when you limit this to SC.
Two. This isn't just a "gay community" issue. It is a matter of equality, and there are many people that will stand up for the civil rights of their fellow citizens, just like the Civil Rights movement during the Sixties was just a black community issue.
Don't forget blacks are gay too!
Last time I checked, there were about 11 percent of the population who are black, and a good estimate of gay men is about 3-4 percent. (I think the survey said the pctage. of gay women was about the same.) The ten percent gay population statistic is a myth. I'm pro-gay rights and a progressive, so I'm just stating facts from surveys.
The percentages make not a whit of difference regarding rights, just stating the true statistics, as I said.
So wait a minute, need a little clarification here...
You are liking the gay rights movement to the civil rights movement?
Could you pick a different major leap forward in man's evolution to ride the coat-tails of? Next step is of course to compare the worlds treatment of gays to the Holocaust maybe?
Don't get me wrong, I'm not anti or pro gay, I'm more of the "do whatever you feel is right, I don't have to deal with any of your consequences anyway as long as I do what I feel is right" kinda guy. But trying to compare one groups plight to the plight of an entire race is a bit too ridiculous even for me.
cylindar: Excuse me, but it's Obama who's finding out how much he can't get away with in regard to the gay community. Not only do we consistently vote but we put a lot of cash into someone's campaign. As for your argument that Obama proved he doesn't care that much, I agree but empathy on the part of the general public has risen tremendously over the years and all polls show politicians can no longer get away with turning their backs on us.
You're more or less something out of the Jurassic Age than the 21st century.
Replace your comments with "blacks", "Hispanics", "Jews", or "women" in place of gays and see how ridiculous you sound.
Gays have to demand their rights as vehemently as other minorities. If not, then we risk being railroaded and ignored. I'd rather have another George Bush in office then elect a homophobic Democrat.
Not me.
I feel let down by Obama.
But speaking of prejudice, gays, men of the cloth and the kkk. I’m mystified by gay priests and pastors and their battle to be recognized as holy christians. Isn’t this like a black man wanting to be a wizard of the kkk. What gives?
GWW
Many gay people feel they have a place at the table with other churched folks and decide to work for change from within. Historically, the church was a strong support for slavery, for the subjugation of women and for the fear of mixed-race marriage, after all.
Maybe it's beacuse Jesus' teachings on gays was the same for all other people. It isn't Christ who condemns gays, it's Christians.
Wow! OUTSTANDING! Thank you so much for such an enlightened, tolerance-inspiring blog!
A guy in the gym this morning was just telling me about McClurkin opening a new church in Carson, CA. It's supposed to happen this weekend. I told him, "F**K Donnie McClurkin. Anyone who hates won't get my respect. I don't give a damned who they hate, I don't have time for them. I am a black, heterosexual male.
You are a hero, and appreciate, brother.
appreciate = appreciated
Well put, Shag11.
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