When Rev. Al Sharpton is right the truth cuts like a knife. The reverend once again slams black mega-churches and major denominations for ignoring poverty and justice to focus on gays and marriage.
Sharpton delivered the keynote at the Human Rights Ecumenical Service at Atlanta's Tabernacle Baptist Church, probably the city's largest gay-friendly and inclusive black church. The good reverend used the opportunity to question the role of the Mormon Church—which heavily bankrolled the Yes on 8 campaign—and the black mega-church pastors who mobilized congregations against gay marriage.
"There is something immoral and sick about using all of that power to not end brutality and poverty, but to break into people's bedrooms and claim that God sent you."
"It amazes me when I looked at California and saw churches that had nothing to say about police brutality, nothing to say when a young black boy was shot while he was wearing police handcuffs, nothing to say when they overturned affirmative action, nothing to say when people were being [relegated] into poverty, yet they were organizing and mobilizing to stop consenting adults from choosing their life partners."
"I am tired," he went on, "of seeing ministers who will preach homophobia by day, and then after they're preaching, when the lights are off they go cruising for trade...We know you're not preaching the Bible, because if you were preaching the Bible we would have heard from you. We would have heard from you when people were starving in California--when they deregulated the economy and crashed Wall Street you had nothing to say. When Bush took us to war chasing weapons of mass destruction that weren't there you had nothing to say. But all of a sudden, when Proposition 8 came out, you had so much to say, but since you stepped in the rain, we're going to step in the rain with you."
This is not new for Sharpton. When the reverend ran for president in 2004, he was one of only two candidates to support full marriage equality. In June 2006 he told CNN, "There are no gay people coming to our churches asking to get married. But there are plenty of people coming with problems voting or their sons in jail."
The civil rights activist has never really gotten his due from the mainstream LGBT community or much of the black LGBT community outside the Tri-State. But how fierce is it to have a pastor speaking the truth we know oh-so-well about those anti-gay pastors who rant from the pulpit and "cruise for trade" at night? You'd better work it out, Rev. Al.
Did Big Al actually say the words, "cruising for trade"? Who's writing his speeches these days? I've long had complicated emotions about Reverend Sharpton over the years, but points due to the man who's speaking realness right about now...
"cruising for trade..." damn, i have heard it all now...
Posted by: Scott Poulson-Bryant | 13 January 2009 at 16:05
Go rev Sharpton go... that was awesome. I hope its gets some play on the national media
Posted by: nahtans | 13 January 2009 at 16:08
Ho-ly Cow he let them have it! "Cruising for trade" -- oh no he di'int!
Posted by: ReggieH | 13 January 2009 at 16:09
I love Al Sharpton. Brothers and sisters, if you can, make sure you support Sharpton's National Action Network; that brother always show respect towards us.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 13 January 2009 at 16:32
I have issues with Rev. Sharpton, but he did his thing this time! He put it ALL out there!
Posted by: isis | 13 January 2009 at 16:34
thanks for being my CNN rod!
i love al!
he is one of the few black leaders telling uncensored truths in public...
and one of our greatest bgl allies always...
real men do wear perms!
smile
peace
ab
Posted by: alicia banks | 13 January 2009 at 16:36
Since Tabernacle Bapitst Church was mentioned, it should also be mentioned that in addition to it being one of the most gay-friendly churches in ATL....their pastor Rev. Dennis Meredith came out to his congregation as being BI-SEXUAL in a sermon he preached the first Sunday of the new year. He's been divorced from his wife for nearly a year. one of their sons is gay and he serves as the minister of music at the church.
Posted by: CHOIRBOY | 13 January 2009 at 16:59
@ alicia banks
"real men do wear perms!"...Too funny, my brother immediately popped into mind when I read that, too Funny!
Posted by: G | 13 January 2009 at 17:05
PREACH PREACHER!
SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER AND AUDACITY TO LUNACY!
ENOUGH!
ENOUGH!
ENOUGH!
THIS IS MASTERFUL AND I AM GOING TO LINK THIS STORY EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 13 January 2009 at 17:18
Go on, just love me some Rev Al, and, he called them out for what they are, and, he knows like everybody other than those in the pews week in and week out, that half those so called deacons, preachers, bishops and arch-bishops are cruising for trade when they have tired of those guys in the choir.
Keep it real now, most are just money grubbing hypocrites!
Posted by: Luther | 13 January 2009 at 17:28
PREACH REV. PREACH!!!
(waving myself with church fan)
Posted by: Otis | 13 January 2009 at 17:34
Now that's a "bully pulpit!" Tell 'em, Rev. Al, and too bad if they don't like it!
Posted by: Nathan James | 13 January 2009 at 18:14
ok, i'm loving rev al more and more these days.
Posted by: FREELEO | 13 January 2009 at 19:29
FREELEO! AIN'T THAT THE TRUTH! IT'S ABOUT HIM MORE AND MORE WITH EVERY TV APPEARANCE!
Posted by: TheRevKev | 13 January 2009 at 19:43
Thank you Rev. Al. Now I think I know how you are going to fit indirectly into the Obama administration.
I stand 100% behind you on your "where were you when" questions. I am sure you are going to have to repeat that many a time after Obama takes office and the bible thumpers in the south start their shouting.
Sic'em Al.
Posted by: gurlene | 13 January 2009 at 20:55
Did Al just say "cruising for trade"? *dead*
Posted by: j. brotherlove | 13 January 2009 at 22:27
Thank the Lord for the good ole Rev. Al!
Posted by: Duwayne | 13 January 2009 at 23:36
I've never really paid any attention to what Al says, but this time I am GLAD I did...preach on AL preach on...
Posted by: thegaytekeeper | 14 January 2009 at 06:15
See this is why I love Al Sharpton. He gets a bad wrap for the wrong reasons, FOR REAL.
Posted by: Chuma a.k.a. Christopher Hicks-Marshall | 14 January 2009 at 07:40
oh sweet jesus no he did not say "cruising for trade"
*ded*
Posted by: tokunbo | 14 January 2009 at 09:11
Both Sharpton and Jackson Sr have been vocal supporters of gay people's rights longer than most religious leaders or politicians. I love them both. I also love the Reverend giving the benediction at the inauration, Reverend Joseph Lowery.
The only reason for these progressive black preachers to come out in support of gay people's civil rights is their sense of justice--there is no other gain in it for them.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 14 January 2009 at 12:41
Al Sharpton has his critics, but I have always liked him. I think he's one of the few people who will tell it like it is even if it upsets people.
To read about him mentioning trade was the highlight of my day.
Posted by: Anthony in Nashville | 14 January 2009 at 12:46
Woo-hoo! You GO, Reverend!
Posted by: Ana | 14 January 2009 at 13:10
I can't believe he uttered the word TRADE ... that is hilarious! Preach!
Posted by: S. Flemming | 14 January 2009 at 13:43
He betta stop with all that! I would've loved it even more if he'd said,
"...lurking in the parks and tea rooms at midnight, cruising for trade"
Oooo. That reminds me.....
Posted by: banjiboi | 14 January 2009 at 15:00