Blacks, Gays And The Church: A Complex Relatnship : NPR

Contents:

• BERNICE KG DEFENDS HERSELF AGAST ANTI-GAY REMARKS
• BERNICE KG TO GAY PEOPLE: ‘I’M NOT THE ENEMY’
• CORETTA'S BIG DREAM: CORETTA STT KG ON GAY RIGHTS
• BLACKS, GAYS AND THE CHURCH: A COMPLEX RELATNSHIP
• BERNICE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}REVEREND BERNICE A. KG IS THE YOUNGT CHILD OF MART LUTHER KG JR. AND CORETTA STT KG. SHE IS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MART LUTHER KG JR. CENTER FOR NONVLENT SOCIAL CHANGE ATLANTA, {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: SEP 17, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1963-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS BERNICE KG?REVEREND BERNICE A. KG (BORN MARCH 28, 1963) IS THE YOUNGT CHILD OF {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}MART LUTHER KG JR. AND CORETTA STT KG. AFTER HER FATHER WAS ASSASSATED MEMPHIS, TENNSEE, 1968, A PICTURE OF KG CURLED UP ON HER MOTHER'S LAP AT THE FUNERAL BEME AN INIC IMAGE. KG WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE FAY'S FOUR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW HER FATHER TO THE MISTRY; HER PREACHG STYLE IS SEEN AS SIAR TO HIS. SHE IS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MART LUTHER KG JR. CENTER FOR NONVLENT SOCIAL CHANGE ATLANTA, {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}BERNICE {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}(PHOTO: NIKKI KAHN_THE WASHGTON POST VIA GETTY IMAG)FAY DEATHS AND FUNERALSWHEN SHE WAS 5, BERNICE KG HAD TO ATTEND FATHER MART LUTHER KG JR.'S FUNERAL AT ATLANTA'S EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE HER FATHER AND GRANDFATHER HAD SERVED AS PASTORS.IN 2006, AFTER OVARIAN NCER LED TO CORETTA STT KG'S ATH, KG ANIZED AND LIVERED THE LOGY AT HER MOTHER'S FUNERAL. DPE HER FAY'S TI TO EBENEZER, WAS HELD AT NEW BIRTH MISSNARY BAPTIST CHURCH LHONIA, GEIA, WHERE KG WAS THEN AN ELR. (THE LARGER CHURCH WAS ALSO ABLE TO WELE MORE MOURNERS.)THE YEAR FOLLOWG HER MOTHER'S ATH, KG'S SISTER YOLANDA DIED SANTA MONI, CALIFORNIA, AFTER SUFFERG A HEART ATTACK.GROWG UP, KG EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF OTHER FAY MEMBERS: A.D. KG, HER UNCLE, WAS FOUND AD HIS POOL 1969 (SPE BEG A STRONG SWIMMER). AND 1974, HER GRANDMOTHER, ALBERTA KG, WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE PLAYG THE AN AT EBENEZER.EDUTNIN ATLANTA, KG WAS A STUNT AT THE GALLOWAY SCHOOL BEFORE GOG ON TO GRADUATE OM DOUGLASS HIGH 1981. SHE IALLY ATTEND GRNELL COLLEGE IOWA, BUT SOON TRANSFERRED TO SPELMAN COLLEGE. THERE, SHE RECEIVED A B.A. PSYCHOLOGY 1985.HAVG FELT A LL TO THE MISTRY, BUT ALSO WANTG TO FE HER OWN PATH, KG OBTAED A MASTER OF DIVY AND A DOCTORATE OF LAW OM EMORY UNIVERSY 1990. SHE BEME A MEMBER OF THE GEIA BAR AND WAS LATER GIVEN AN HONORARY DOCTORATE OF DIVY BY WLEY COLLEGE.WHEN WAS BERNICE KG BORN?BERNICE ALBERTE KG WAS BORN ATLANTA, GEIA, ON MARCH 28, 1963.BERNICE KG ON TMPAT A RALLY DURG THE 2016 PRINTIAL MPAIGN, DONALD J. TMP TOLD A CROWD, "IF [HILLARY CLTON] GETS TO PICK HER JUDG, NOTHG YOU N DO, FOLKS," BEFORE ADDG, "ALTHOUGH THE SEND AMENDMENT PEOPLE, MAYBE THERE IS, I DON’T KNOW." KG QUICKLY VOICED HER DISAPPROVAL VIA TWTER: "AS THE DGHTER OF A LEAR WHO WAS ASSASSATED, I FD #TMP’S MENTS DISTASTEFUL, DISTURBG, DANGERO."ON MART LUTHER KG JR. DAY, AS TMP PREPARED TO TAKE OFFICE, KG SPOKE AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH AND RECEIVED A STANDG OVATN AFTER STATG, "GOD N TRIUMPH OVER TMP." VIA FACEBOOK, SHE SHARED ADVICE ABOUT ALG WH THE G ADMISTRATN, WH SUGGTNS SUCH AS FOCG ON POLICY AND HOLDG NONVLENT MONSTRATNS.YET KG HAS URGED PEOPLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER EVEN IF THEY HOLD DIFFERG VIEWS, AND TOLD WSB RAD JANUARY 2017, "UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE, MY FATHER WOULD TRY TO MEET WH PRINT-ELECT TMP BEE HE REGNIZ THAT ORR TO MOVE THE AGENDA OF JTICE, EEDOM AND EQUALY FORWARD, YOU N’T JT PROTT AND RIST. YOU ALSO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE AS WELL."USE OF TWTERWHEN A PEPSI AD SHOWED KENDALL JENNER HANDG A POLICE OFFICER A N OF PEPSI AT A TENSN-EE PROTT, KG TWEETED A PICTURE OF HER FATHER BEG MISTREATED BY THE POLICE AND WROTE, "IF ONLY DADDY WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE POWER OF #PEPSI."AFTER SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN WAS STOPPED OM SHARG A LETTER OM CORETTA STT KG ON THE SENATE FLOOR TO OPPOSE THE NOMATN OF JEFF SSNS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, KG TWEETED HER SUPPORT OF WARREN. IN SEPTEMBER 2017, WHILE PRINT TMP CRICIZED FOOTBALL PLAYERS FOR KNEELG DURG THE NATNAL ANTHEM, KG SHARED A PHOTO OF HER FATHER KNEELG DURG A MONSTRATN OF HIS OWN, AND NOTED THAT HE'D BEEN CRICIZED FOR PROTTG AS WELL.FOLLOWG A STATEMENT BY JOHN KELLY, TMP'S CHIEF OF STAFF, THAT ROBERT E. LEE HAD BEEN AN HONORABLE MAN AND THAT A LACK OF PROMISE NTRIBUTED TO THE CIVIL WAR, KG SHOT BACK: "IT’S IRRPONSIBLE & DANGERO, PECIALLY WHEN WHE SUPREMACISTS FEEL EMBOLNED, TO MAKE FIGHTG TO MATA SLAVERY SOUND URAGEO." AND AFTER ALABAMA SENATE NDIDATE ROY MOORE OFFERED HIS OPN THAT AMERI HAD BEEN GREAT "WHEN FAI WERE UNED — EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SLAVERY," KG ED TWTER TO CLARE, "GREATNS WILL NEVER CLU SLAVERY."HER PARENTS' LEGACYAFTER KG'S FATHER WAS KILLED, CORETTA HELPED HER CHILDREN BETTER UNRSTAND HIM. BERNICE KG TOLD THE WASHGTON POST 2011, "SHE NSTANTLY TGHT ABOUT SERVICE TO HUMANY, AND SHE WOULD RECE OVER AND OVER AGA THE SCRIPTURE THAT MY FATHER TGHT . 'HE WHO WOULD BE THE GREATT AMONG YOU MT BE THE SERVANT.'" CORETTA HAD STARTED THE KG CENTER HER BASEMENT; BY TAKG THE ROLE OF CEO JANUARY 2012, BERNICE KG HAS BEEN ABLE TO NTUE HER PARENTS' WORK.IN 2009, KG WAS CHOSEN AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRINT OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEARSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH HER FATHER HAD -FOUND AND LED. HOWEVER, THE GROUP WAS FANCIAL DIFFICULTI AND EXPERIENCG FIGHTG, AND KG END UP NOT STEPPG TO THE ROLE.SIBLGSKG HAS THREE SIBLGS: YOLANDA DENISE (1955-2007), MART LUTHER III (B. 1957) AND DEXTER STT (B. 1961). KG'S BROTHERS MANAGE THEIR FATHER'S TATE, WHILE SHE OVERSE THE KG CENTER AND THE ARCHIVE OF HER FATHER'S PAPERS THERE. BOOK AND SPEECHKG THORED HARD QUTNS, HEART ANSWERS: SERMONS AND SPEECH (1996). HER ORATORIL TALENTS HAVE DRAWN PARISONS TO HER FATHER'S, AND MA HER A SOUGHT-AFTER SPEAKER.IN 1980, KG ADDRSED THE UNED NATNS ABOUT APARTHEID (STEPPG FOR HER MOTHER). AND SHE ENERGIZED THE CROWD AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH ON MART LUTHER KG JR. DAY 1993 WH A QUTN: "MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT WE MARCHED WH DR. KG 25 OR EVEN 30 YEARS AGO. WE NEED TO ASK OURSELV, 'WHAT ARE WE DOG NOW?'"EARLY LIFE AND CALL TO MISTRYKG WAS A QUIET, SHY CHILD — NICKNAMED "BUNNY" — WHO WANTED TO BEE THE UNTRY'S FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRINT. WH HER FATHER'S WORK AND TRAVEL, SHE WAS LEFT WH FEW MEMORI OF HIM, THOUGH SHE DO RELL KISSG HIS FOREHEAD WHEN HE WOULD E HOME. SHE SOMETIM FELT ANGRY AND ABANDONED BEE HER FATHER WAS NO LONGER THERE.WHEN KG WAS 16 AND AWAY WH A CHURCH YOUTH GROUP, SHE SAW A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. AT A MENTN OF HER FATHER'S FUNERAL, SHE BURST TO TEARS AND FLED OUTSI. FOR A TIME SHE DOUBTED HER MMENT TO GOD, BUT AT 17 SHE FELT LLED TO THE MISTRY.KG NTEMPLATED SUICI HER 20S, A CRISIS THAT HELPED HER ACCEPT THE LL TO PREACH. SHE GAVE HER FIRST SERMON AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH MARCH 1988, FOLLOWG HER FATHER AND GRANDFATHER'S FOOTSTEPS. IN 1990, SHE WAS ORDAED AT EBENEZER. SHE SOON WAS SERVG AS A MISTER AT THE GREATER RISG STAR BAPTIST CHURCH.NEW BIRTH MISSNARY BAPTIST CHURCHKG WENT ON TO BEE A -PASTOR AT NEW BIRTH MISSNARY BAPTIST CHURCH, A MEGACHURCH HEAD BY BISHOP EDDIE LONG. WHILE THERE, SHE PARTICIPATED A 2004 MARCH THAT LLED FOR A "RETURN TO FAY VALU" AND A BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE (THIS SET KG APART OM CORETTA, WHO SAW A LK BETWEEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND LGBT RIGHTS).KG LEFT NEW BIRTH 2011, AROUND THE TIME LONG REACHED A SETTLEMENT WH YOUNG MEN WHO'D ACCED HIM OF ERCG THEM TO SEXUAL RELATNSHIPS, THOUGH SHE SAID THIS WAS NOT THE REASON FOR HER CISN.MARRIAGE EQUALYIN 2004, KG STATED ABOUT HER FATHER'S ATH: "I KNOW EP DOWN MY SANCTIFIED SOUL THAT HE DID NOT TAKE A BULLET FOR SAME-SEX UNNS." AND SHE SAID 2013, "I VALUE MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND WOMAN," THOUGH ALSO NOTG WAS ULTIMATELY SOCIETY'S CISN TO MAKE.AFTER THE 2015 SUPREME COURT CISN THAT GRANTED SAME-SEX UPL THE RIGHT TO MARRY, KG ISSUED A STATEMENT VIA THE KG CENTER THAT SAID PART, "IT IS MY SCERE PRAYER ... THAT THE SUPREME COURT LG ENURAG THE GLOBAL MUNY TO RPECT AND EMBRACE ALL LGBT GLOBAL CIZENS WH DIGNY AND LOVE."CONTUED LEARSHIPKG WAS JT 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN HER FATHER, HIS FAMO "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH, HOPED "THAT MY FOUR LTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE A NATN WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE LOR OF THEIR SK BUT BY THE NTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER." THOUGH THIS DAY HAS NOT YET ARRIVED, WH HER SPEECH, PREACHG, MENTORG, WORK AT THE KG CENTER AND BEYOND, KG HAS HELPED PH THE UNTRY CLOSER TO HER FATHER'S {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS
• JOHN LEWIS SAW GAY RIGHTS A MOVEMENT LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS
• BERNICE KG’S GAY-CLIVE SPEECH AT MLK RALLY SURPRIS LGBT PARTICIPANTS
• ANTI-GAY MISTERS IN LIFE AND DEATH: BISHOP EDDIE LONG AND REV. BERNICE KG
• MART LUTHER KG JR.’S VIEW ON GAY MARRIAGE 
• BERNICE KG SHOULD PUBLICLY RENOUNCE HER ANTI-GAY BIGOTRY

BERNICE KG DEFENDS HERSELF AGAST ANTI-GAY REMARKS

Mart Luther Kg Jr., the current issue of Atlanta magaze fends herself regardg anti-gay remarks.

Dpe her mother Coretta Stt Kg’s support for LGBT equaly, Kg is an ordaed mister who led a prott agast gay marriage, bee of her personal beliefs. She argu she is not homophobic and that she is “not the enemy, ” bee she has iends who are gay and lbian.

BERNICE KG TO GAY PEOPLE: ‘I’M NOT THE ENEMY’

Kgs ments, ma rponse to backlash om lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr (LGBT) advot, ironilly beme public jt days before Print Barack Obama named Bayard Rt, the openly gay advisor to Dr.

For many years, those the LGBT muny have felt betrayed by Bernice Kg’s public aversn toward gay and lbian people even though her mother was an outspoken advote and fierce ally for LGBT equaly.

Long, known for his anti-gay sermons and beliefs, later settled wh four young men for a great al of money after they sued him for sexually explog them. For more than twenty years before her ath 2006, she fought tirelsly for gay rights and lked the civil rights movement wh the LGBT rights movement, believg all the while that her work was a fahful exprsn of the clive dream shared by her hband. Kg's first public foray to the gay rights movement occurred durg her steady learship of the 20th anniversary of the 1963 march.

CORETTA'S BIG DREAM: CORETTA STT KG ON GAY RIGHTS

Durg the n-up to the anniversary, Kg whstood the ti of social nservatism and pledged her support for the Gay and Civil Rights Act then before Congrs -- a groundbreakg bill that would have prohibed discrimatn agast gays and lbians hog, employment and public acmodatns. Given the homophobia of some civil rights lears takg part the rally, Kg's cisn to make room for a lbian speaker was nothg short of prophetic.

Today's march openly jos the black civil rights movement and the gay civil rights movement the stggl we have always shared, the stggle for jobs, for health, for peace and for eedom.

BLACKS, GAYS AND THE CHURCH: A COMPLEX RELATNSHIP

Wh help om her special assistant Lynn Cothren, an openly gay man, she created a welg environment at the Kg Center and ed the Center's rourc to te the lol muny about the disease.

BERNICE {LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:600;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:0.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.25REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.2;}} A{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:HER;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;} A:HOVER{LOR:#A00000;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}REVEREND BERNICE A. KG IS THE YOUNGT CHILD OF MART LUTHER KG JR. AND CORETTA STT KG. SHE IS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MART LUTHER KG JR. CENTER FOR NONVLENT SOCIAL CHANGE ATLANTA, {MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;} SPAN{LE-HEIGHT:1.6;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;}{FONT-STYLE:NORMAL;PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:RALAS,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;LOR:#323232;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.3;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;TEXT-TRANSFORM:PALIZE;}{DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;MARG-LEFT:0.625REM;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}UPDATED: SEP 17, {DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;}{MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 64REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(100VW - (1REM * 2));MARG-LEFT:1REM;MARG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(-1 * 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - (LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 2 * 1REM)) / -2);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 90REM){{MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / 2);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM) - 1REM - 20.625REM) / -2) - 1REM);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 2);MAX-WIDTH:LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM);PADDG-LEFT:1REM;PADDG-RIGHT:1REM;} .E152U5OS0{WIDTH:100VW;MARG-LEFT:LC(LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 + 1REM)) / -2) - LC(2 * 1REM));}[DATA-HAS-SPONSOR] {MARG-LEFT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);MARG-RIGHT:LC((100VW - LC(20.625REM * 2 - 1REM)) / 4);}}{JTIFY-SELF:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG-LEFT:-50VW;MARG-RIGHT:-50VW;WIDTH:100VW;LEFT:50%;RIGHT:50%;}}{HEIGHT:TO;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO LC(50% - 50VW);}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{MARG:TO;}}{POSN:RELATIVE;HEIGHT:TO;}{POSN:RELATIVE;--POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:TO;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;} A{POSN:ABSOLUTE;}{POSN:RELATIVE;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;VERTIL-ALIGN:TOP;}{BACKGROUND:#C92228;BOTTOM:0;PADDG:.5REM;RIGHT:0;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG:0.39REM;}}{DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:1REM;WIDTH:1REM;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:1.063REM;HEIGHT:1.063REM;}}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;POSN:RELATIVE;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:3.5REM;PADDG-RIGHT:3.5REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{MAX-WIDTH:45.25REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 61.25REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM) AND (MAX-WIDTH: 100REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;PADDG-RIGHT:0REM;}} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;}{CLEAR:BOTH;NTENT:" ";DISPLAY:BLOCK;FONT-SIZE:0.7REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.5REM;HEIGHT:0REM;VISIBILY:HIDN;}{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1.1875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.6;} STRONG{FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}(1963-){LOR:#323232;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-WEIGHT:800;LETTER-SPACG:0.02EM;MARG-BOTTOM:0.625REM;MARG-TOP:0.625REM;}@MEDIA(MAX-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:1.875REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{FONT-SIZE:2REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.1;}} B, STRONG{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;}WHO IS BERNICE KG?REVEREND BERNICE A. KG (BORN MARCH 28, 1963) IS THE YOUNGT CHILD OF {-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN-THICKNS:0.0625REM;TEXT-RATN-LOR:HER;TEXT-UNRLE-OFFSET:0.25REM;LOR:#A00000;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;TRANSN:ALL 0.3S EASE--OUT;}{LOR:#595959;TEXT-RATN-LOR:BORR-LK-BODY-HOVER;}MART LUTHER KG JR. AND CORETTA STT KG. AFTER HER FATHER WAS ASSASSATED MEMPHIS, TENNSEE, 1968, A PICTURE OF KG CURLED UP ON HER MOTHER'S LAP AT THE FUNERAL BEME AN INIC IMAGE. KG WAS THE ONLY ONE OF THE FAY'S FOUR CHILDREN TO FOLLOW HER FATHER TO THE MISTRY; HER PREACHG STYLE IS SEEN AS SIAR TO HIS. SHE IS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE MART LUTHER KG JR. CENTER FOR NONVLENT SOCIAL CHANGE ATLANTA, {--DATA-EMBED-DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;CLEAR:BOTH;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;MARG-BOTTOM:0.9375REM;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;WIDTH:100%;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{WIDTH:100%;MARG:0 TO 0.9375REM;}} A SPAN{RIGHT:1REM;} IMG{WIDTH:TO;HEIGHT:85VH;} A{DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;POSN:VAR(--POSN, RELATIVE);} IMG:NOT(.EWCW41W1){DISPLAY:BLOCK;WIDTH:100%;HEIGHT:TO;-WEBK-ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;-MS-FLEX-EM-ALIGN:FLEX-START;ALIGN-SELF:FLEX-START;}{WIDTH:100%;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-LE-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-LE-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:LE-FLEX;-WEBK-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;-MS-FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;FLEX-DIRECTN:LUMN;MARG-LEFT:TO;MARG-RIGHT:TO;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 20REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 30REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 40.625REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 48REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 64REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 73.75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 75REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}@MEDIA(M-WIDTH: 90REM){{PADDG-LEFT:0REM;}}{WIDTH:0;M-WIDTH:100%;PADDG-TOP:0.625REM;LOR:#323232;FONT-WEIGHT:BOLD;MARG-BOTTOM:0.3125REM;FONT-FAY:CHARTER,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;FONT-SIZE:1REM;LE-HEIGHT:1.4;} EM, I{FONT-FAY:HER;FONT-STYLE:ALIC;} EM{FONT-STYLE:ALIC;FONT-FAY:CHARTERITALIC,GEIA,TIM,SERIF;}BERNICE {PADDG-LEFT:0REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;}{PADDG-RIGHT:0.3125REM;LOR:#595959;FONT-FAY:GILROY,HELVETI,ARIAL,SANS-SERIF;FONT-SIZE:0.75REM;LE-HEIGHT:1;FONT-WEIGHT:800;}(PHOTO: NIKKI KAHN_THE WASHGTON POST VIA GETTY IMAG)FAY DEATHS AND FUNERALSWHEN SHE WAS 5, BERNICE KG HAD TO ATTEND FATHER MART LUTHER KG JR.'S FUNERAL AT ATLANTA'S EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE HER FATHER AND GRANDFATHER HAD SERVED AS PASTORS.IN 2006, AFTER OVARIAN NCER LED TO CORETTA STT KG'S ATH, KG ANIZED AND LIVERED THE LOGY AT HER MOTHER'S FUNERAL. DPE HER FAY'S TI TO EBENEZER, WAS HELD AT NEW BIRTH MISSNARY BAPTIST CHURCH LHONIA, GEIA, WHERE KG WAS THEN AN ELR. (THE LARGER CHURCH WAS ALSO ABLE TO WELE MORE MOURNERS.)THE YEAR FOLLOWG HER MOTHER'S ATH, KG'S SISTER YOLANDA DIED SANTA MONI, CALIFORNIA, AFTER SUFFERG A HEART ATTACK.GROWG UP, KG EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF OTHER FAY MEMBERS: A.D. KG, HER UNCLE, WAS FOUND AD HIS POOL 1969 (SPE BEG A STRONG SWIMMER). AND 1974, HER GRANDMOTHER, ALBERTA KG, WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE PLAYG THE AN AT EBENEZER.EDUTNIN ATLANTA, KG WAS A STUNT AT THE GALLOWAY SCHOOL BEFORE GOG ON TO GRADUATE OM DOUGLASS HIGH 1981. SHE IALLY ATTEND GRNELL COLLEGE IOWA, BUT SOON TRANSFERRED TO SPELMAN COLLEGE. THERE, SHE RECEIVED A B.A. PSYCHOLOGY 1985.HAVG FELT A LL TO THE MISTRY, BUT ALSO WANTG TO FE HER OWN PATH, KG OBTAED A MASTER OF DIVY AND A DOCTORATE OF LAW OM EMORY UNIVERSY 1990. SHE BEME A MEMBER OF THE GEIA BAR AND WAS LATER GIVEN AN HONORARY DOCTORATE OF DIVY BY WLEY COLLEGE.WHEN WAS BERNICE KG BORN?BERNICE ALBERTE KG WAS BORN ATLANTA, GEIA, ON MARCH 28, 1963.BERNICE KG ON TMPAT A RALLY DURG THE 2016 PRINTIAL MPAIGN, DONALD J. TMP TOLD A CROWD, "IF [HILLARY CLTON] GETS TO PICK HER JUDG, NOTHG YOU N DO, FOLKS," BEFORE ADDG, "ALTHOUGH THE SEND AMENDMENT PEOPLE, MAYBE THERE IS, I DON’T KNOW." KG QUICKLY VOICED HER DISAPPROVAL VIA TWTER: "AS THE DGHTER OF A LEAR WHO WAS ASSASSATED, I FD #TMP’S MENTS DISTASTEFUL, DISTURBG, DANGERO."ON MART LUTHER KG JR. DAY, AS TMP PREPARED TO TAKE OFFICE, KG SPOKE AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH AND RECEIVED A STANDG OVATN AFTER STATG, "GOD N TRIUMPH OVER TMP." VIA FACEBOOK, SHE SHARED ADVICE ABOUT ALG WH THE G ADMISTRATN, WH SUGGTNS SUCH AS FOCG ON POLICY AND HOLDG NONVLENT MONSTRATNS.YET KG HAS URGED PEOPLE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER EVEN IF THEY HOLD DIFFERG VIEWS, AND TOLD WSB RAD JANUARY 2017, "UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE, MY FATHER WOULD TRY TO MEET WH PRINT-ELECT TMP BEE HE REGNIZ THAT ORR TO MOVE THE AGENDA OF JTICE, EEDOM AND EQUALY FORWARD, YOU N’T JT PROTT AND RIST. YOU ALSO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE AS WELL."USE OF TWTERWHEN A PEPSI AD SHOWED KENDALL JENNER HANDG A POLICE OFFICER A N OF PEPSI AT A TENSN-EE PROTT, KG TWEETED A PICTURE OF HER FATHER BEG MISTREATED BY THE POLICE AND WROTE, "IF ONLY DADDY WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE POWER OF #PEPSI."AFTER SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN WAS STOPPED OM SHARG A LETTER OM CORETTA STT KG ON THE SENATE FLOOR TO OPPOSE THE NOMATN OF JEFF SSNS AS ATTORNEY GENERAL, KG TWEETED HER SUPPORT OF WARREN. IN SEPTEMBER 2017, WHILE PRINT TMP CRICIZED FOOTBALL PLAYERS FOR KNEELG DURG THE NATNAL ANTHEM, KG SHARED A PHOTO OF HER FATHER KNEELG DURG A MONSTRATN OF HIS OWN, AND NOTED THAT HE'D BEEN CRICIZED FOR PROTTG AS WELL.FOLLOWG A STATEMENT BY JOHN KELLY, TMP'S CHIEF OF STAFF, THAT ROBERT E. LEE HAD BEEN AN HONORABLE MAN AND THAT A LACK OF PROMISE NTRIBUTED TO THE CIVIL WAR, KG SHOT BACK: "IT’S IRRPONSIBLE & DANGERO, PECIALLY WHEN WHE SUPREMACISTS FEEL EMBOLNED, TO MAKE FIGHTG TO MATA SLAVERY SOUND URAGEO." AND AFTER ALABAMA SENATE NDIDATE ROY MOORE OFFERED HIS OPN THAT AMERI HAD BEEN GREAT "WHEN FAI WERE UNED — EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SLAVERY," KG ED TWTER TO CLARE, "GREATNS WILL NEVER CLU SLAVERY."HER PARENTS' LEGACYAFTER KG'S FATHER WAS KILLED, CORETTA HELPED HER CHILDREN BETTER UNRSTAND HIM. BERNICE KG TOLD THE WASHGTON POST 2011, "SHE NSTANTLY TGHT ABOUT SERVICE TO HUMANY, AND SHE WOULD RECE OVER AND OVER AGA THE SCRIPTURE THAT MY FATHER TGHT . 'HE WHO WOULD BE THE GREATT AMONG YOU MT BE THE SERVANT.'" CORETTA HAD STARTED THE KG CENTER HER BASEMENT; BY TAKG THE ROLE OF CEO JANUARY 2012, BERNICE KG HAS BEEN ABLE TO NTUE HER PARENTS' WORK.IN 2009, KG WAS CHOSEN AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRINT OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEARSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH HER FATHER HAD -FOUND AND LED. HOWEVER, THE GROUP WAS FANCIAL DIFFICULTI AND EXPERIENCG FIGHTG, AND KG END UP NOT STEPPG TO THE ROLE.SIBLGSKG HAS THREE SIBLGS: YOLANDA DENISE (1955-2007), MART LUTHER III (B. 1957) AND DEXTER STT (B. 1961). KG'S BROTHERS MANAGE THEIR FATHER'S TATE, WHILE SHE OVERSE THE KG CENTER AND THE ARCHIVE OF HER FATHER'S PAPERS THERE. BOOK AND SPEECHKG THORED HARD QUTNS, HEART ANSWERS: SERMONS AND SPEECH (1996). HER ORATORIL TALENTS HAVE DRAWN PARISONS TO HER FATHER'S, AND MA HER A SOUGHT-AFTER SPEAKER.IN 1980, KG ADDRSED THE UNED NATNS ABOUT APARTHEID (STEPPG FOR HER MOTHER). AND SHE ENERGIZED THE CROWD AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH ON MART LUTHER KG JR. DAY 1993 WH A QUTN: "MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IS NOT ENOUGH TO SAY THAT WE MARCHED WH DR. KG 25 OR EVEN 30 YEARS AGO. WE NEED TO ASK OURSELV, 'WHAT ARE WE DOG NOW?'"EARLY LIFE AND CALL TO MISTRYKG WAS A QUIET, SHY CHILD — NICKNAMED "BUNNY" — WHO WANTED TO BEE THE UNTRY'S FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRINT. WH HER FATHER'S WORK AND TRAVEL, SHE WAS LEFT WH FEW MEMORI OF HIM, THOUGH SHE DO RELL KISSG HIS FOREHEAD WHEN HE WOULD E HOME. SHE SOMETIM FELT ANGRY AND ABANDONED BEE HER FATHER WAS NO LONGER THERE.WHEN KG WAS 16 AND AWAY WH A CHURCH YOUTH GROUP, SHE SAW A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. AT A MENTN OF HER FATHER'S FUNERAL, SHE BURST TO TEARS AND FLED OUTSI. FOR A TIME SHE DOUBTED HER MMENT TO GOD, BUT AT 17 SHE FELT LLED TO THE MISTRY.KG NTEMPLATED SUICI HER 20S, A CRISIS THAT HELPED HER ACCEPT THE LL TO PREACH. SHE GAVE HER FIRST SERMON AT EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH MARCH 1988, FOLLOWG HER FATHER AND GRANDFATHER'S FOOTSTEPS. IN 1990, SHE WAS ORDAED AT EBENEZER. SHE SOON WAS SERVG AS A MISTER AT THE GREATER RISG STAR BAPTIST CHURCH.NEW BIRTH MISSNARY BAPTIST CHURCHKG WENT ON TO BEE A -PASTOR AT NEW BIRTH MISSNARY BAPTIST CHURCH, A MEGACHURCH HEAD BY BISHOP EDDIE LONG. WHILE THERE, SHE PARTICIPATED A 2004 MARCH THAT LLED FOR A "RETURN TO FAY VALU" AND A BAN ON GAY MARRIAGE (THIS SET KG APART OM CORETTA, WHO SAW A LK BETWEEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND LGBT RIGHTS).KG LEFT NEW BIRTH 2011, AROUND THE TIME LONG REACHED A SETTLEMENT WH YOUNG MEN WHO'D ACCED HIM OF ERCG THEM TO SEXUAL RELATNSHIPS, THOUGH SHE SAID THIS WAS NOT THE REASON FOR HER CISN.MARRIAGE EQUALYIN 2004, KG STATED ABOUT HER FATHER'S ATH: "I KNOW EP DOWN MY SANCTIFIED SOUL THAT HE DID NOT TAKE A BULLET FOR SAME-SEX UNNS." AND SHE SAID 2013, "I VALUE MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND WOMAN," THOUGH ALSO NOTG WAS ULTIMATELY SOCIETY'S CISN TO MAKE.AFTER THE 2015 SUPREME COURT CISN THAT GRANTED SAME-SEX UPL THE RIGHT TO MARRY, KG ISSUED A STATEMENT VIA THE KG CENTER THAT SAID PART, "IT IS MY SCERE PRAYER ... THAT THE SUPREME COURT LG ENURAG THE GLOBAL MUNY TO RPECT AND EMBRACE ALL LGBT GLOBAL CIZENS WH DIGNY AND LOVE."CONTUED LEARSHIPKG WAS JT 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN HER FATHER, HIS FAMO "I HAVE A DREAM" SPEECH, HOPED "THAT MY FOUR LTLE CHILDREN WILL ONE DAY LIVE A NATN WHERE THEY WILL NOT BE JUDGED BY THE LOR OF THEIR SK BUT BY THE NTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER." THOUGH THIS DAY HAS NOT YET ARRIVED, WH HER SPEECH, PREACHG, MENTORG, WORK AT THE KG CENTER AND BEYOND, KG HAS HELPED PH THE UNTRY CLOSER TO HER FATHER'S {BORR:0;BORR-BOTTOM:TH SOLID BLACK;MARG:1.875REM 0;CLEAR:BOTH;}QUICK FACTS

Kg was so touched when one of her close gay iends died that she hosted his fay and circle of iends for a quiet day of sewg stch on a panel that would bee part of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. In 1993 she held a prs nference urgg Print Clton to stop the ban on gays and lbians servg openly the ary.

Many gays and lbians, she stated at the time, had marched the civil rights movement, givg her every reason to return the support they had so eely offered Ain-Amerins the 1950s and 60s. Kg roundly nounced the "toxic" vis of homophobia and lled for an crease public fundg for diversy fearls approach to gay rights reached new heights when she publicly nounced Print Gee W. Kg stated: "Gay and lbian people have fai, and their fai should have legal protectn, whether by marriage or civil unn.

" Even more potedly, she add: "A nstutnal amendment banng same-sex marriage is a form of gay bashg and would do nothg to protect tradnal marriag. " The implitn of her pot was clear: Print Bh had wrongly endorsed gay the earlit days of her advocy, Coretta Stt Kg remaed firmly nvced that her hband would have supported her mpaign for LGBT rights. At last, Coretta Stt Kg believed that by fightg for gay rights, she was simply helpg to build "the beloved muny of Mart Luther Kg, Jr., where all people n live together a spir of tst and unrstandg, harmony, love and peace.

JOHN LEWIS SAW GAY RIGHTS A MOVEMENT LIKE CIVIL RIGHTS

"She was right about that, and I was glad to see her dghter Bernice, known for her opposn to gay marriage, fally showg public signs of support for . Her explanatn is cur, though, bee her visn also do not align wh a signifint part of her mother's legacy -- an unwaverg mment to advancg gay Kg died five years ago this week, and the gay rights movement has missed her ever sce.

BERNICE KG’S GAY-CLIVE SPEECH AT MLK RALLY SURPRIS LGBT PARTICIPANTS

Kg offered public support for gay rights and sought to lk the morn civil rights movement -- and her hband's legacy -- wh the gay rights movement. Kg had publicly announced her full support for a feral gay rights the shockg 1986 Supreme Court cisn Bowers v.

Hardwick, which nied that gays had a nstutnal right to engage "acts of nsensual sodomy, " Mrs. Kg creasgly add her crystal-clear voice to mpaigns waged by gay rights anizatns and gay-iendly legislators. In 1993 she held a prs nference urgg Print Clton to strike down the ban on gays and lbians servg openly the U.

A year later she stood shoulr to shoulr wh Ted Kennedy and Barney Frank as they troduced legislatn that would have crimalized workplace discrimatn agast gays. She equently ced his claim that "jtice is divisible" and often noted that by fightg for gay rights she was simply helpg to build the "beloved muny of Mart Luther Kg Jr.

ANTI-GAY MISTERS IN LIFE AND DEATH: BISHOP EDDIE LONG AND REV. BERNICE KG

"Bernice Kg is not her mother's December 2004, Kg joed Bishop Eddie Long -- who is now facg lawsus allegg that he ed his rich and epispal thory to lure young men to sexual enunters -- leadg a march that opposed gay marriage. 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. 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. Patrick Johnson, an openly gay gospel sger and thor of Sweet Tea: An Oral History of Black Gay Men of the South.

MART LUTHER KG JR.’S VIEW ON GAY MARRIAGE 

Patrick Johnson, who is openly gay, says morn gospel mic is largely fed by the artistry of black gay men. Johnson and others believe that morn gospel mic self is largely fed by the artistry of black gay men. Bishop Yvette Flunr of Oakland, Calif., is openly gay and the founr of The Fellowship, an anizatn of black pastors and church openly welg of lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr members.

" As Johnson puts , "You n't throw a shoe back through history whout htg gay and lbian women and even transgenr sgers. " Johnson scrib church choirs as a welg muny wh a muny "where you meet other gay people, so be a form of socializg.

BERNICE KG SHOULD PUBLICLY RENOUNCE HER ANTI-GAY BIGOTRY

" Commentator Keh Boyk, who is Ain-Amerin and gay, lls a paradox: "The church might be the most homophobic and most homotolerant of any stutn the black muny. " Woon, the pastor North Carola, agre that the prence of gays and lbians choirs or other church mistri reveals the "duplicy and, ankly, the hypocrisy of the black church.... He says his church also has ntued to support gay members who have ntracted HIV/AIDS, unlike some other church that ostracize them — a practice many people on both sis of the issue say has been mon.