While many black pastors nmn homosexualy om the pulp, the choir lofts behd them are often filled wh gay sgers and micians. The fact that gays and lbians often hold learship posn the church is the worst kept secret black Ameri.
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BLACKS, GAYS AND THE CHURCH: A COMPLEX RELATNSHIP
(Photo by Paras Griff/Getty Imag for ESSENCE)McClurk, 61, had prevly opened up years ago about his past stggl wh homosexualy, which he lled a “perversn, ” and claimed that he was able to supprs his sexual orientatn, cg his and many Christian church’ stance on homosexualy as a admted that he still had urg to be wh men but chose not to. Comparg homosexualy to diabet he said, “I don’t eat sugar, but don’t mean that I don’t want sugar. ”Read More: Kirk Frankl lls out homophobia the church: ‘Nothg to do wh the Bible’Now, the Grammy Award-wng artist says he believ his stggle over his sexualy will leave him whout the fay he always dreamed of.
”Read More: Kelly Rowland explas why she left her church after Dty’s Child’s ‘secular mic’ cricism“There may be some who will read this and rent some of the statements ma about homosexualy. My hope is for gay/queer children and adults are met wh love and acceptance so they n eely exist. Yet the prence of gays and lbians black church is mon.
KENYAN GOSPEL ARTISTE OUT AS GAY
While many black pastors nmn gays and lbians om the pulp, the choir lofts behd them often are filled wh gay sgers and micians. Print Obama's recent announcement that he supports same-sex marriage turned the spotlight on rervatns many blacks harbor about gay rights.
Most polls show Ain-Amerins evenly divid about gay marriage, but the vol opposn, led by preachers, has gaed more attentn. Woon helped lead the recent mpaign that outlawed gay marriage his state. The virtuosy of gay sgers, micians and posers has been the drivg force velopg popular gospel choirs — even chart-toppg, Grammy-wng acts — that make money for a church, help expand ngregatns and raise the profil of pastors.
It all happens unr an unspoken "don't ask, don't tell" ctom that allows gay people to be active the church, though closeted, and church to reap the benefs of their membership. "On the one hand, you're nurtured the choir but you also have to s through some of those fire and brimstone sermons about homosexualy beg an abomatn, " says E.