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Eddie Long Releases Statement

Disgraced anti-gay mega-church pastor "Bishop" Eddie Long is finally publicly commenting after he settled at least five sexual coercion lawsuits filed by young men.

Two of the young men who accused him of sexual abuse spoke last week to the Atlanta Journal Constitution and WSB-TV. Twenty-four-year-old Jamal Parris and 23-year-old Spencer LeGrande were among the four cases initially filed against the disgraced pastor last fall. Both risked losing undisclosed their monetary rewards by speaking to the media.

Long released a statement on New Birth Missionary Baptist Church's website. The statement does not address or refute any of the claims that the anti-gay pastor routinely seduced and had sex with teenage boys:

We have a long history of dutifully serving those in need in the local and global communities and we will continue to do so. We are committed to the calling of a strong, viable and relevant ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Unfortunately, we are in the media again and people are wondering what I am going to say. All I have to say is what we stated earlier. All parties involved decided to resolve the civil cases out of court. The decision was made to bring closure to this matter and allow us to move forward with the plans God has for this ministry.

I will continue to honor and abide by my commitment of confidentiality and restraint as it relates to the resolution of the civil litigation and will not be diverted from the important work of the ministry.

I thank God for your faithful support of my journey to South Africa where thousands where blessed and more than 700 people gave their lives to Christ. We also were able to sow more support into the HIV/AIDS Hospice in Johannesburg that we partnered with last year. We built a wonderful bridge of relationships with pastors and community leaders to further establish the Kingdom and bless others.

I love you and thank you for your continued commitment and dedication.

The four young men—Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande—filed sexual coercion lawsuits against Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Long is accused of using church funds to give the young men cash, gifts and cars. The sexual relationships reportedly began when each of the plaintiffs were around 16 years old. A fifth man later came forward with more allegations.

Glass houses, stones, trust will set you free, etc..

R20's complete EDDIE LONG coverage.

Slain Iowa Teen's Family Claims He Was "Not Gay" and Does NOT Want Case Probed as a Hate Crime

Sadly, there have been no arrests and no warrants have been sought after 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews was fatally beaten by a group of baseball bat-wielding thugs shouting gay slurs in Waterloo, Iowa on August 19. Detectives insist this was "not" a hate crime but the result of a "dispute."

Here's one reason: Some members of Marcellus Andrews' family now claim the teen was not gay. Family members are downplaying the homophobic slurs, disputing eyewitnesses and say they do not want this investigated as a hate crime, reports the WCF Courier.

Eight members of Marcellus Andrews' family, including his sister and mother, were among nearly 50 people who participated in a communitywide conversation at Jubilee United Methodist Church. Two aunts, an uncle and three cousins also were there. Other attendees included students, professors, civil rights activists and gay rights advocates.

The Waterloo Commission on Human Rights, in collaboration with several community organizations, hosted the event largely because of homophobic slurs allegedly used by assailants during the beating Aug. 19. Waterloo police acknowledge the remarks but said the assault was not a a hate crime, but rather was motivated by a dispute between two rival groups.

Andrews' family does not believe he was gay. His sister, Nichella Andrews, 22, supports the police in ruling out a hate crime. Witnesses' accounts of what allegedly happened have been blown out of proportion, she said. A cousin, Renicia Haywood, 18, noted that a person who displays perceived feminine actions is not necessarily gay. "They didn't come to beat him up because he was gay," Haywood said. "There's more to the story."

"Gay or not, perceived as gay still ends up being a hate crime under those conditions," said Jim Day, vice president of the Black Hawk County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "Perception of gay and being gay still both qualify."

The brutal beating started after several youths taunted Andrews and called him "faggot." Police believe that a "club or baseball bat" was used in the brutal beatdown. Andrews had "severe head injuries" and was airlifted to University of Iowa Hospitals. He remained on life support for two days.

Marcellus Andrews was slated to start the interior design program at Hawkeye Community College on last week.

The teen was also popular and active in the drill team and youth ministry at his family's church—Union Missionary Baptist Church in Waterloo. That's probably a good explanation of the family's reaction and public comments.

R20 GIVEAWAY: "The Original Jill Scott From the Vault Vol 1"

The wait is over. Hidden Beach Presents: The Original Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1 debuted on Monday and the compilation lives up to its early reviews. The track list includes thirteen mostly unreleased tracks performed by the incredible three-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, poet, and actress Jill Scott.

Listen to the entire album AFTER THE JUMP ...

The Original Jill Scott From The Vault, Vol. 1 offers new tracks, alternate versions, bonus material, and unknown classics that should impress new fans and those who have followed Scott’s career since her beautiful 2000 Hidden Beach debut, Who Is Jill Scott? Words + Sounds, Vol. 1. The unreleased tracks are vintage Jilly from Philly: Sultry, evocative, assertive and confident

Melody Charles at Soultracks:

The thirteen tracks here are practically sequenced along the timeline of her personal growth and artistic actualization from CD to CD. "I Don’t Know (Gotta Have You)" is a robust itemization of lust and intrigue that could easily function as a precursor to "A Long Walk", followed by the throbbing, delicately-delivered "Wondering Why? (You Don’t Talk to Me)" where her tone is sugary-sweet and pensive, but the message is straight-forward and sharp.

Other tracks demonstrate that Jill’s phrasing and ability to spin a narrative remains unparalleled: her remake of Bill Withers’ classic "Lovely Day," for example, could’ve been a by-the-numbers retread, but she tumbles the tempo a bit, rolls it around in her lower register and transforms it into a sunny soliloquy all its own.

For many fans, the album highlight may be "Lovely Day". That's also the name of the viral social marketing campaign on Facebook, Twitter (#HaveALovelyDay) and across the internet that engages fans and encourages volunteerism, charity and community service.

The Original Jill Scott Vol 1 includes live bonus tracks, special foil packaging and a 20 page booklet with lyrics and liner notes. Rod 2.0 readers can win a free copy the Deluxe Edition thanks to Hidden Beach, Jill Scott's management, Fortess Marketing and marketing guru Thornell Jones. Answer this question: "What is your favorite Jill Scott moment?" Leave your answer in comments and be sure to include your email address. Contest closes Thursday.

Listen to the entire album AFTER THE JUMP ...

SPORNO: Cuban Decathlete Leonel Suarez Wins Bronze at Daegu 2011

PHOTOS: Getty

Cuban track phenom slash Olympic medalist Leonel Suarez—who always looks great in a track singlet—adds yet another medal to his growing collection. Suarez won bronze in the decathlon at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu South Korea.

Suarez took silver in the decathlon at the Worlds in Berlin 2009. Suarez also won bronze at Beijing 2008 Olympics.

More sporno WHEN YOU JUMP ...

VIDEO: Cory Booker on Bachmann's "Joke" About Hurricane Irene

Newark Mayor Cory Booker appeared on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight to respond to the ridiculous claims by Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann that Hurricane Irene was a sign for "politicians" to "listen" to God.

"For anyone human being to think they know what God is thinking is tremendously arrogant," said the mayor. "What I think he wants me to do is to stop talking about him so much and start trying to live his message."

The Minnesota Republican later said it was just a "joke."

Some joke. Nearly 350,000 remain without power in New Jersey, where flood waters are still rising. The damage from the hurricane has left more than 3 million without power nationwide and at least 38 deaths.

Watch the video clip AFTER THE JUMP ...

KENYA: Police Officers Target Gay Men in Extortion Scheme

Blackmail and extortion of gay men has become a "lucrative business" for criminals and some law enforcement officers in Kenya.

Human rights activist and attorney Monica Mbaru says most cases go unreported, but there have been three confirmed cases since September 2010. The latest incident occurred this month in Nairobi. A 33-year-old gay man was charged with sodomy and subjected to a humiliating "anal exam" after he refused to pay a bribe to police officers, reports Behind the Mask.

The police arrested Chad, bundled him into the car and drove past three police stations before taking him to ... a town outside Nairobi. Chad learnt he was being accused of sodomising his guest and the police wanted a bribe of Sh50,000 (about US$500) to make the accusations “go away.” The pestering and harassment made Chad feel that he had no choice in the matter and he reluctantly agreed to look for the money.

It was at this point he rang me to request that I witness an agreement for him that involved money. Once I realised that he was in a police station and the nature of the agreement, I came to his aid as his position was clearly illegal. When the police realised that Chad now had a lawyer they reduced the bribe to Sh5,000 (US$50), which we declined.

Since we refused to pay the extortion fee, my client was taken into custody for two days and then we managed to post a Sh20,000 (US$200) cash bail for his release.

He was charged and the magistrate ordered that Chad be subjected to an anal exam. The Kenyan Sexual offences act, allows for an anal exam if the accused is suspected to have infected someone with a venereal disease.

Chad was eventually released on bail. The next hearing will reportedly take place in two months.

Kenya's government is considered moderate on gay rights. They were the first African nation to include gay and bisexual men in their national HIV strategy. Two pro-LGBT justices were confirmed to the Supreme Court in June.

But there has been a backlash against calls to decriminalize homosexuality in the East African nation, such as one cabinet minister's proposal to scrap the nation's sodomy laws. Last November, Prime Minister Raila Odinga called for the mass arrests of gays at a political rally but later retracted his statements.

Some Background ...
Controversy in Kenya After Pro LGBT Nominees
Kenyan Prime Minister: "All Gays Should Be Arrested"
AIDS 2010: Joel Nana on African Gay/Bi Men, HIV
WATCH: CNN Surveys Gay Rights in SA, Kenya, Cuba
Kenyan Gays Demand Protection After Brutal Assault
Kenya: "Things are Changing in Favor of Gays"
Homosexuality is Un-African?

CAMEROON: 2 Teens, 2 Men Face Trial on Suspicion of Homosexuality

More unfortunate news from Cameroon, where gay men are routinely and randomly arrested and subjected to legal ordeals that continue for years.

Activists report that four more men have been arrested on suspicion of  homosexuality in the capital city of Yaounde. The detainees reportedly include two teenagers, reports ILGA.

Joseph Magloire O (46 years old), Yvan Nicolas N (18 years old), Seraphin Sylvain Nt (34 years old) and Emma L .T (17 years old) were arrested [on]  August 10 and  were presented in front the judge on Friday 26th August  for the allegation of: Homosexuality and indecent assault of a minor. They were remanded at the central prison of Yaounde by the judge the same Friday 26th August 2011.

Alternatives-Cameroon:

- Denounces the instrumentalization of article 347 bis which leads to the madness of repressive Cameroonian citizens on the basis of their sexual orientation real or perceive;

- Asks the authority of the [prison]  to offer to one of the four suspected homosexuals a medical care for his HIV infection and to find suitable conditions of detention for the two other young men;

- Call again the Cameroonian government to stop these wild arrests based on the sexual orientation real or perceive of individuals;

- Call once again to the repeal of the article 347 bis of the Cameroonian penal code which criminalize homosexuality.

The central African nation boasts one of Africa's more repressive anti-LGBT regimes. In recent months, there has been an increase in arrests and prosecutions under section 347a of its penal code, which criminalizes same-sex sexual acts. The government is reportedly preparing to toughen its already harsh penalties against homosexuality by equating them with pedophilia, activist reported last week.

Since late July, a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old have been in custody. New reports suggest the youths were arrested because they appeared feminine.  The young men were beaten and tortured, charged under Section 347a and appeared in court last Friday. Cameroonian LGBT activists also reported the March arrest of three men for homosexuality.

Attorney Alice Nkom, who successfully freed more than a dozen imprisoned gay men and founded the Association to Defend Homosexuals (ADEFHO), was threatened with arrest earlier this year. In 2007 she discovered an imprisoned gay man who was held for two years without trial. He was later released.

Background:
2 Gay Youth Arrested for "Looking Feminine"
2 Gay Youth Face Trial for Homosexuality
Air France Refuses to Deport Gay Asylum Seeker
CAMEROON: 3 More Arrests for Homosexuality
Cameroon: Pro-LGBT Attorney Threatened w/ Arrest
Cameroon Sentences Journalist to 6 Months
Cameroon Sentences Three for Homosexuality
Gay Man Imprisoned for Two Years Without Trial
"Homosexuelle en Afrique"
Cameroon Gay Man Re-Arrested
UN Condemns Cameroon Anti-Gay Laws
Yaoundé 11 Free?

IA Gov: No Link Between Fatal Anti Gay Attack, Gay Marriage Debate

More than one week after 19-year-old Marcellus Andrews was fatally beaten by a group of baseball thugs shouting anti-gay slurs in Waterloo, Iowa, the state's Republican governor finally has something to say.

Gov. Terry Branstad says there is no connection between the beating and the strident anti-gay tone from many marriage equality opponents, reports the Des Moines Register.

A reporter said the homicide could have been related to the sexual orientation of the victim, then asked Branstad what his role was as governor to control the tenor of the debate over gays rights, given the heat of the controversy over the marriage issue here.

Branstad answered: "The fact of the matter is, we need to protect the health, safety and well-being of all the citizens, regardless – if somebody is murdered, it needs to be investigated and prosecuted and people held responsible for it."

"But I see no link whatsoever and I think it’s inappropriate to try to blame people that are not associated with having committed a crime. I think we need to focus on the people who committed the crime and they need to be brought to justice.:

Marriage equality has been legal since a 7-0 Iowa Supreme Court ruling in April 2009. Republican legislators have attempted to amend the state constitution aganst marriage and civil unuions. The GOP has also  sought to impeach the four remaining Iowa Supreme Court justices who issued the landmark ruling.

Detectives believe college student Marcellus Andrews was beaten with a baseball bat by a group of teens on Friday, August 19. The teen had "severe head injuries" and was removed from life support two days later.

Police insist this was "not" a hate crime. They confirm that suspects have been identified, but despite eyewitness reports, there have been "no arrests" and no warrants have been sought.

You May Have Missed:
No Arrests After Fatal Anti-Gay Beating of Teen
Fatal Anti-Gay Beating Was Not a Hate Crime

PHOTOS: Britain's Harry Aikines-Aryeetey is Your Sporno Fantasy

PHOTO: Getty

British sprinting champion Harry Aikines-Aryeetey capitalizes on the viral success of his nude advertising campaign for Alfa Romeo with these sporno-tastic new potraits at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. The new portrait series is an obvious ode to classic (and homoerotic) male physique magazines from Team Great Britain's sponsor AVIVA.

More images AFTER THE JUMP ...

In other news: It's been a disappointing start for Harry AA and Team GB at Daegu. The former World junior sprinting champion was eliminated in the 100m semifinal heats after placing third. World 100m indoor champ Dwain Chambers was also eliminated in the semis for a false start.

Mohammed Farah became the first British athlete to medal at Daegu. Farah narrowly lost the gold in the 10,000m and took the silver.

Harry AA flexes on the track AFTER THE JUMP ...

Jury Deliberations Continue in Brandon McInerney Murder Trial

Jury deliberations continue this morning in the Los Angeles trial of 17-year-old Brandon McInerney. The teen shot his 15-year-old gay classmate Lawrence King twice in the head at point-blank range in February 2008.

The jury began deliberating on Friday after eight weeks of testimony and nearly 100 witnesses. Some testified that King's "feminine attire" and gender identity was upsetting some of the students and faculty at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard.

The defense has portrayed Lawrence King as sexually "aggressive" and repeatedly suggested that McInerney was "provoked."

Scott Wippert, a defense attorney, closed his argument Friday morning by asking jurors to consider the mind-set of a 14-year-old boy and the humiliation that King was inflicting on McInerney with his aggressive flirtations. Teachers had protested to the administration but no one stopped King's increasingly audacious behavior with boys on campus, Wippert said, winding up a more than three-hour presentation.

"Remember the boy who couldn't cry," said Wippert, gesturing to the silent defendant, who was dressed in a lavender shirt and slacks. "He wasn't allowed to cry. He was a 14-year-old-boy who shot Larry King because he didn't know what else to do to make it stop."

Prosecutor Maeve Fox, in her rebuttal, urged jurors not to let sympathy sway their deliberations. She noted that Wippert brought up the defendant's youthful age at the time of the shooting 39 times during his closing argument. "You're a human being, emotions come in," Fox said. "But you have to check them at the door. The law requires you to do that."

McInerney is being tried as an adult for first-degree murder.The state also alleges McInerney had close ties to white supremacists, which has led to a hate crime charge. McInerney faces up to 53 years to life in prison if convicted of all charges. Jurors also can consider a conviction of voluntary manslaughter, which carries a maximum 21-year term.

Rod 2.0's complete coverage on Lawrence King HERE.