The Christian “ex-gay” movement, which claims to “cure” homosexuals, is boomg across the untry. At the same time, has left a trail of shattered liv s wake.
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BLACKS, GAYS AND THE CHURCH: A COMPLEX RELATNSHIP
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. * love center ministries 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.
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. Patrick Johnson, who is openly gay, says morn gospel mic is largely fed by the artistry of black gay men.
GAY CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT WATCH
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. " 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....