REPORT: 2 Men Allege Sexual Coercion by Anti-Gay Eddie Long

Two Georgia men have filed lawsuits claiming that prominent Atlanta-based mega-church pastor Bishop Eddie Long coerced them into sex, reports CNN and CNN.com. Long pastors one of the largest and most prominent Black mega-churches in the country and has routinely spoken out and marched against gay rights.

"Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out a select group of young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship," the suits allege. The pastor took one plaintiff, Anthony Flagg, 21, on overnight trips to a half-dozen American cities in recent years, Flagg's suit alleges. "Long shared a bedroom and engaged in intimate sexual contact with plaintiff Flagg including kissing, massaging, masturbating of plaintiff Flagg by defendant Long and oral sexual contact," the suit says.

Long took the other plaintiff, Maurice Murray Robinson, 20, to Auckland, New Zealand, in October 2008 for his 18th birthday and engaged in oral sex with him, Robinson's suit alleges. "Following the New Zealand Trip, Defendant Long regularly engaged in sexual touching, and other sexual acts with Plaintiff Robinson," Robinson's suit alleges. Long spokesman Art Franklin said Tuesday that "we categorically deny the allegations." "It is very unfortunate that someone has taken this course of action," he said. "Our law firm will be able to respond once attorneys have had an opportunity to review the lawsuit."

The lawsuits name Long, New Birth MB and the Longfellows Youth Academy as defendants, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution. According to the suits, the Academy is a program for young men 13 through 18. The suits seek unspecified damages from Long. It is not yet online at the DeKalb County court system.

In June, Robinson was arrested and charged with burglary in connection with a break-in to Long's church office, reports the Journal Constitution. An iPhone, iPad and other items were taken from the office. Robinson's attorney says the theft was Robinson's attempt to retaliate against the pastor. The lawsuit also claims Flagg was moved into a home owned by another New Birth pastor when he was only a high school junior.

The FBI reportedly is reviewing the case, an Atlanta source tells R20.

Long is a married father of four. Known for his extravagance and "routinely preach[ing] sermons dressed in expensive tailored suits and dripping in diamonds," Long and fellow Atlanta-based mega-pastor Creflo Dollar are among the high-profile televanelists being audited by a Senate committee.

If schadenfreude could be compared to a gourmet meal, the bombshell allegations against Eddie Long certainly qualifies as a four-star feast at Le Cirque. In addition to being one of the nation's most prominent pastors, Long is also among the most vocal critics of gay rights and same-sex marriage in the Black church. In December 2004, one month after voters approved an amendment to the Georgia state Constitution that banned gay marriage, Long led a 25,000 person march against gay rights and marriage equality.

Eddie Long is also the spiritual mentor of the anti-gay Rev. Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr and new chair of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization founded by her father more than five decades ago. Julian Bond, the chair of the NAACP and a strong supporter of gay rights, refused to attend the funeral of Coretta Scott King that was held at New Birth MB Church. "I knew her attitude toward gay and lesbian rights. And I just couldn't imagine that she'd want to be in that church with a minister who was a raving homophobe. And I couldn't see myself in my church either."

Glass stones, houses, etc.. More details as they develop.

You May Have Missed ...
Bernice King Takes Over SCLC
"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights
Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral
Gay-Bashing" at Bermuda Mega-Church
Will Anti-Gay Rev. Bernice King Become SCLC's Next President?
Senate Investigation into Eddie Long and Creflo Dollar
Anti-Gay, Bishop Eddie Long Forced to Downsize

Comments

[TheRevKev]

WOW.

FAN...here it comes!

I'm just glad that I am free and don't have to speak one thing and seek another! GOD IS SPECTACULAR and HYPOCRISY ALWAYS SEE THE SUN!

[Bama]

How dreadful

[Former COGIC]

good! i cant stand that sanctimonious SOB.

hit dogs will holla!

[Charlekenghis]

Not trying to be racial, but this is huge. I hope it doesn't pass by the blip because this is a black preacher. I know all hell is breaking loose on black gospel radio stations.

[FREELEO]

Surely none of us are surprised by this.

[MRCHOCOLATE615]

OOOOH IT'S HOT RIGHT NOW ALL OVER THE BLACK CHURCH! AS ROD SAY DEVELOPING! SMDH!

[Dantrell]

Honey you know this is a mess. These boys were not willing to be bought off. Bless them!

[drdeeptruth]

Well.......it was bound to happen, watch the rest of the get exposed too....its gonna have a domino effect in the Black Church

[ff]

not surprising but are there receipts with these allegations?

[robert]

this is huge.. remember awhile back when T.D. Jakes's son was caught in a sting by police.. have not heard much anti-gay stuff from him since. the only big anti-gay black preachers that have a huge following on either radio or tv would be creflo dollar and tony evans..two down and two to go...

[Keith]

In as much as I don't wish ill will on anyone, I hope that this story explodes through mainstream media and forces black folk to take a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG look at the black church and how it has worked to our collective detriment. Megachurches and their leadership should be toppled....

[Black Pegasus]

**Sits in my chair and Laughs My Ass Off!**

I don't normally find glee in the fall of others, but when the fallen is a Hypocrite who promotes the Hate-filled Word of the Black Church, well, I could care less!

[Former COGIC]

@FF: I don't know what evidence they have but you should assume both of these men have something to prove their case. They wouldnt go against a powerful preacher like Long unless they had something.

If Eddie Long took one of these men on trips, there would be many records, from airline tickets to phone records. And if they talked to anyone about the harassment at the time, that would be important too.

And also these are two separate lawsuits claiming a similar pattern.

[jg, III]

Methinks thou does (and have been protesting) protest too loudly! That’s all I have to say!!!

[Eric Robinson]

why are we shocked !!!???

[Dalton]

>>>An iPhone, iPad and other items were taken from the office. Robinson's attorney says the theft was Robinson's attempt to retaliate against the pastor.

I would not be surprised if there was not plenty of evidence and other important things on the iPhone and iPad. A4A, Manhunt and dick pics anyone?

[Winston Jerome]

Oh lawd, not my pastor this some left wing conspiracy by the gay rights activists to discredit a wonderful man of the most high. I got to believe that.

[LavenderpopGay]

Those who live in glass closets shouldn't be throwin' stones. Have a nice fall from grace pastor.

[Black Pegasus]

LMAO! @ Winston Jerome

[Justin]

@ Charlekenghis

Anderson Cooper will be covering this story at the end of his show tonight (in any minute, actually). It's definitely getting mainstream attention.

[Justin]

Okay, so the "coverage" was just a quick mention, but they'll probably have more to say about it when there's more information.

[soulbrotha]

Let the walls come tumblin' down!

[Ebonykz]

"If schadenfreude could be compared to a gourmet meal, the bombshell allegations against Eddie Long certainly qualifies as a four-star feast at Le Cirque."

Rod, as a novice writer all I can say is you are truly amazing. Please don't ever stop.

[Randall]

@ Ebonykz:

I read the same sentence and was floored. WERK!You are very good Rod,I miss reading you at the Advocate and Out's Popnography, where else are you writing now?

[Tony]

My mother told me about Eddie Long years ago....she's a beautician, so you know they know everything. The church is a mess. Priest, preachers, it don't matter what you called them...they are all full of shit.