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REPORT: Bernice King to Resign from Eddie Long's New Birth MBC

Coincidence? Atlanta-based anti-gay Rev. Bernice King will reportedly announce today that she is resigning as an elder at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. The move comes only days after Bishop Eddie Long's settlement of four sexual misconduct lawsuits filed against him and his church by young men.

Long is the spiritual mentor of the youngest daughter of the slain civil rights icon Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Bernice King will make the announcement today, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

King intends to disclose her plans to radio host Rhodell Lewis between 4 and 5:30 p.m., according to a news release.

King is leaving with the blessing of Long, pastor of the Lithonia Megachurch, and had been planning this move for a couple of years, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity. Attempts to reach King, Lewis and church officials on Monday were unsuccessful.

In his first public appearance since the settlement was reached, Long on Sunday made no mention of the sexual misconduct cases when he spoke from New Birth’s pulpit. Before the matter was settled, Long repeatedly denied claims made by the four men.

Long was accused of luring at least four young men into sexual relationships and using church funds to give them cash, gifts and cars. The four young men—Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande—filed sexual coercion lawsuits against Long and New Birth MBC last fall. The sexual relationships reportedly began when each of the plaintiffs were around 17 years old.

Read the complaints HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

In October 2009, King was named the president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization founded by her father more than five decades ago. The fundamentalist minister and anti-gay activist became the first woman to lead the SCLC in its 52 year history. However, she "refused to officially take over" and resigned in January 2011, reported the AJC.

Too bad Bernice is leaving New Birth. In December 2004, Long and King led a 25,000 person march against gay rights and marriage equality. Would love to hear King's position on her church and pastor's settlement to (same) sexual misconduct charges.

Read R20's complete EDDIE LONG coverage.

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"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights
Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral
Gay-Bashing at Bermuda Mega-Church
Bernice King Takes Over SCLC
Will Bernice King Become SCLC's Next President?

WATCH: Charles Barkley Slams Bernice King and Homophobia

TNT aired a special tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during Monday's pre-game show to  Orlando's 109-106 loss to the Celtics. The package included an interview with the anti-gay Rev. Bernice King, youngest daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr,  new chair of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and pastor at scandal-plagued Bishop Eddie Long's New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. 

After the package aired, basketball great and TNT analyst Charles Barkley made a none-too-subtle reference to Bernice King, who says she had a "responsibility to continue" MLK's legacy.

"His daughter said something that was very interesting," Barkley noted.  "People try to make it about black and white. He talked about equality for every man, every woman. We have a thing going on now, people discriminating against homosexuality in this country. I love the homosexuality people. God bless the gay people. They are great people. We have discrimination against Hispanic people in this country and we need to answer to that."

Barkley first came out in favor of gay rights in August 2006 and said, "I'm a big advocate of gay marriage. If they want to get married, God bless them." In February 2008, Barkley slammed evangelicals and Republicans as "hypocrites" and "fake Christians" for opposing marriage equality.

Totally heartfelt and unscripted remarks, heard by a massive television audience of male sports viewers. Thank you, Mr. Barkley. Via Towleroad, watch at 6:20+  AFTER THE JUMP ...

PHOTOS, COMPLETE VIDEO: Eddie Long Vows to "Fight" Sex Scandal

Embattled anti-gay mega-church pastor Bishop Eddie Long addressed his congregation at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church this morning, vowing to fight numerous allegations that he lured young men into sexual relationships and promising that he will return to lead the church the next week.

Reading from an iPad, the pastor drew thunderous applause from thousands when finally emerged  for the first time since the first lawsuits were filed four days ago. Long did not discuss specifics of the allegations and neither confirmed nor flatly denied the accusations. "There have been allegations and attacks made on me. I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man. But I am not the man that's being portrayed on the television. That's not me. That is not me," he said as applause interrupted him.

The pastor of the 25,000-member church—which is the largest church in Georgia and has hosted Presidents Carter, Bush and Clinton—compared himself to the Biblical tale of David fighting the giant. "Please hear this: I’ve been accused. I’m under attack. I want you to know as I said earlier I am not a perfect man. ... But this thing I’m going to fight. I feel like David against Goliath, but I’ve got five rocks and I haven’t thrown one yet."

Bishop Eddie Long is 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.  Bernice King is also a pastor at New Birth and spoke during Sunday's first service. The June 2006 funeral for Coretta Scott King was held at the church.

The New York Times adds:

"About 100 people waited at the doors of the church more than an hour before the first service. Some held signs of support, while others prayed for their embattled leader. A small group sang the hymn 'White as Snow.' Members in their seats clapped and swayed as the service began around 8 a.m., with several people with microphones singing on stage. Later in the service, hundreds began dancing and chanting, 'Jesus, Jesus.' A small group of young people held Apple iPads high over their heads, with the screens scrolling white letters against a black background reading, 'It's time to praise him.'"

In the past week, four young men have filed lawsuits against Long claiming sexual coercion. Two men live in Georgia, one lives in North Carolina and one lives in Colorado. "At least two other cases are being prepared," a source tells Rod 2.0.  The actions claim the anti-gay pastor "coerced" them and numerous young men "into engaging in sexual acts and relationships for his own personal sexual gratification." The suits allege Long used church funds to give them cash, gifts and cars.  Read the complaints HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Over the weekend, friends and family of the plaintiffs have spoken out. Antonio Makins, the best friend of Jamal Parris, the third young man who filed suit against Long, says that he was aware of the relationship and witnessed Long "lavish jewelry, gifts, cars and money" on his then-teenaged friend.

On a personal note, it was totally expected and sadly disappointing to watch thousands of churchgoers applaud a man accused of using their church tithes to buy cars and give cash to teenage boys. Apparently, there is no rush to seek the truth, only a rush to convince themselves that they haven't been lead by a hypocrite. Good luck with that.

More photos, watch the complete "sermon" AFTER THE JUMP ...

VIDEO, REPORTS: Georgia Men Allege Emails, Texts and Photos with Anti-Gay Pastor Eddie Long

There are more developments in the shocking case of Eddie Long, the prominent anti-gay Atlanta mega-church pastor accused of pressuring young male members of his church into sexual relations. Yesterday in DeKalb County, Georgia, the two men aged 20 and 21 filed lawsuits against the well-known televangelist.

Via a spokesperson, the pastor has denied the allegations "but declined to get specific when pressed, saying the lawyers had yet to look at the full lawsuits."

  Anthony Flagg and  Maurice Robinson claim they began having relations with Long at the age of 16. The suits allege Long used church funds to give them cash and gifts. "Robinson was placed on the payroll. In addition Long bought Flagg a Ford Mustang."

The men say Long flew them around the world "on Long’s personal jet and shared a bed with him at the hotels. Long used the alias “Dick Tracy” when he checked into the hotel."

Attorney BJ Bernstein says she has "emails, text messages and photographs between the men and Long." Bernstein will subpoena Long's personal and business phone and computer records.

Sources tell Rod 2.0 the FBI is also involved and investigating the financial angle of the case.

The website for Long's church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, has been down since the story broke Tuesday evening.

CNN's Rick Sanchez extensively covered the story and read from the lawsuits. Watch the report AFTER THE JUMP ...

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.

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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

Bernice King Takes Over SCLC, Will She Renounce Anti-Gay Bigotry?

In August, Rod 2.0 reported the Rev. Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr and a well-fundamentalist minister and anti-gay activist, was being considered to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the organization founded by her father more than five decades ago. On Friday King was named the first woman to lead the SCLC in its 52 year history.

King is a minister at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia, headed by obsessively homophobic Bishop Eddie Long. The two organized a 2004 march against same-sex marriage in Atlanta that attracted thousands. Writing at The Daily Voice, Earl Ofari Hutchinson says Bernice King must renounce her anti-gay bigotry and lead the SCLC in a new direction.

That bigotry was on shameful and insulting display in December 2004 when she and thousands of marchers stood at the gravesite of her father, Martin Luther King, Jr., and denounced gay marriage. The implication was that King might well have stood with her and them in their protest against gay rights. Nothing could be further from the truth. King's fight against bigotry and discrimination, all bigotry and discrimination, was relentless and uncompromising. If anything that day, King would have been across the street from his gravesite with the hundred or so other counter-demonstrators. They loudly shouted that what Bernice and the marchers were doing at her father's gravesite and in his name, was a travesty and a disgrace. King sullied her father's name to show her enmity to gay marriage. She also sullied her mother's too. A few years before Bernice's gravesite antic, Coretta Scott King issued a public statement forcefully denouncing anti-gay bigotry and made it perfectly clear that her husband would be a champion of gay rights if he were alive. 

On its website SCLC clearly says "its mission is to challenge all people of good will, of every persuasion, who believe in the principles espoused by Martin Luther King, Jr. to join us." Presumably that's the mission of its new president. She can prove it is by publicly renouncing her anti-gay bigotry.

The SCLC recently made headlines when its national leadership attempted to oust the Rev. Eric Lee, president of the Los Angeles chapter, over his support of same-sex marriage and efforts to fight Prop 8. Thankfully that motion didn't prevail.

Despite its much-storied history, the SCLC is barely a blip on the current civil rights radar. If Bernice King does not renounce her bigotry and move the SCLC into a progressive direction, the organization will become even more irrelevant.

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SCLC Leader Criticizes Anti-Gay, Black Pastors 
Blackout on Proposition 8 [Advocate] 
"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?

Will the Anti-Gay Rev. Bernice King Become the SCLC's Next President?

This should be very interesting, considering the several recent discussions on black gays in the black church, and, the continuing role of anti-gay black ministers in civil rights organizations. The Rev. Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and the well known fundamentalist minister and anti-gay activist, is among the five candidates hoping to lead the organization founded by the civil rights icon more than five decades ago, the AP and Miami Herald report.

If she is chosen, Bernice King, who is also a minister, would be the first woman to lead the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. The group met this week for its annual convention in Memphis, Tenn., where King was killed in 1968. He was the SCLC's first president, serving from 1957 until his death. His son, Martin Luther King III, was president from 1997 to 2004.

Interim President Byron Clay confirmed three of the five candidates seeking to become the group's seventh president were: King, SCLC Georgia State President Samuel Mosteller and activist Markel Hutchins, founder of the National Youth Connection. Mosteller and Hutchins are also ministers. Officials declined to say who the remaining candidates are.

The SCLC's 51st convention concludes today in Memphis. "We are going back to Memphis to try to re-capture the original spirit and mission of our fallen prince," said Byron Clay, SCLC’s interim president, tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

But some wonder if the Southern Christian Leadership Conference would be better off with fresh ideas on how to fix itself, instead of retreading old ones. Chapters in Florida have bolted from the once venerable organization to form a rival group, while the president of the Los Angeles chapter has had his job threatened over his support of gay marriage.

The AJC details the SCLC's recent appalling decision to attempt to oust the Rev. Eric Lee, president of the Los Angeles chapter, over his support of same-sex marriage and efforts to fight Prop 8. Lee says it's a civil rights issue. "Two men or two women together does not effect my relationship with my wife and children. African-Americans, more than any other people, have the moral obligation to speak out against injustice. We can’t just speak out on issues concerning black folks."

SCLC's Clay echoes NAACP's Benjamin Jealous and says the SCLC "has never had the conversation about gay rights."

Money quote from Princeton's Melissa Harris Lacewell on the SCLC's anti-gay bias: "Simply put a national civil rights organization that takes a "neutral position" on an issue of basic civil rights does not deserve to exist." When will black civil rights organizations "have the conversation" and address the bigotry and inequality in their own neighborhoods? And what would the Dr. Martin Luther King, who said "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere", say his daughter's anti-gay views should preclude her from leading the organization he founded?

SCLC Tries to Recapture MLK's Mission [AJC]
5 Candidates on Short List for SCLC President? [MH]

You May Have Missed ...
SCLC Leader Criticizes Anti-Gay, Black Pastors [R20]
Blackout on Proposition 8 [Advocate]
"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights [R20]
Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral [R20]
Gay-Bashing" at Bermuda Mega-Church [R20]
MLK Observances Will Include Coretta [R20]
Black Church "Use Scripture to Reject Black Gays" [R20]
NAACP Doesn't Take a Position on Gay Marriage [R20]
NAACP, Julian Bond Call for Overturn Prop 8 [R20]
NBJC First Black LGBT Group to Address NAACP [R20]
Obama to NAACP: "Gays Still Denied Their Rights" [R20]
NAACP's Benjamin Jealous in NYT [R20]
"Noah's Arc" Actor Doug Spearman, Black Ministers Urge "NO" on Prop 8 [R20]

Coretta Scott King on Gay Rights

For the second year in a row, many observances of Martin Luther King Day will include tributes to Dr. King's widow, Coretta Scott King, who died almost a year ago on January 31. Until she was impaired by stroke, Coretta Scott King frequently spoke out in favor of LGBT civil rights. This morning there is actually a very nice tribute to Coretta Scott King's gay rights activism on Queerty.

“Like Martin, I don’t believe you can stand for freedom for one group of people and deny it to others", she would tell black civil rights leaders angered by gays and lesbians comparing their struggle to their own. She would quote her husband and say, “I have worked too long and hard against segregated public accommodations to end up segregating my moral concern. Justice is indivisible."

She also fought off bigots who would co-opt MLK's message and try to make it their own. In 2002, anti-gay advocates sought to repeal Miami-Dade County’s equal rights law by sending out fliers saying that King would be outraged at its gay-inclusive nature. Coretta responded through a statement put out by the King Center for Nonviolent Change saying, "I appeal to everybody who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbians and gay people."

When George W. Bush came out on the White House lawn and, in a bid for reelection, told the press he supported a Constitutional ban on gay marriage, Coretta again spoke up and reminded America of King's legacy: "Gay and lesbian people have families, and their families should have legal protection, whether by marriage or civil union. A constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages is a form of gay bashing and it would do nothing at all to protect traditional marriages."

It's remarkable how Dr. King's message of peace, love and fairness for all has been co-opted by the social conservatives and prominent anti-gay voices such as Rick Warren, who is speaking today at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Many old guard black pastors were angered by Mrs. King's words—including her younger daughter, the rabidly anti-gay Rev. Bernice King—but she called her critics "misinformed" and said that her late husband's message was one of equality and inclusion. Mrs. King and civil rights leader Julian Bond often reminded critics  the 1963 March on Washington was organized by Bayard Rustin, an openly gay man. Coretta Scott King's longtime personal assistant was also an openly gay man.

What Would MLK Said About Gay Rights? [Queerty]

You May Have Missed ...
"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights [R20]
Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral [R20]
Gay-Bashing" at Bermuda Mega-Church [R20]
MLK Observances Will Include Coretta [R20]

Yolanda King Remembered at Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church

Hundreds gathered in Atlanta to pay their last respects to Yolanda King, the eldest daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. The memorial service was held at the Ebenezer Baptist Church, where her father and grandfather preached.

Yolanda King continued the family legacy of activism and change as an actress, producer, motivational speaker and activist. She and her mother, the late Coretta Scott King, were strongly committed to civil rights for gays and lesbians ...

Unlike Yolanda's sister, the Reverend Bernice King, who is a well-known fundamentalist minister and anti-gay activist. To her left is the anti-gay Bishop Eddie L. Long. Their mega-church, New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, is one of the largest churches in the Atlanta area. At the rear is Dexter Scott King, Bernice and Yolanda's brother. Another brother, Martin Luther King III, was also present.

Among the many high profile mourners were former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young; Rep. John Lewis, (D-Atlanta); the Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights activist and talk show host; and Juanita Abernathy, widow of the Rev. Ralph Abernathy.

Cicely Tyson, the Academy Award-nominated actress, offered a dramatic reading of a poem urging Yolanda King's family and friends not to grieve. "Do not stand by my grave and weep. For I am not there. I do not sleep. I am the diamonds glinting on snow."

Yolanda King died May 15 in Los Angeles after collapsing. She was only 51 years old.

Video: Yolanda King Remembered [WXIA-TV]
Yolanda King Eulogized at Father's Former Church [Dallas Morn News]

Some Background:

Gay Rights Ally Yolanda King Dies at 51 [R20]
"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights [R20]
Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral [R20]
Gay-Bashing" at Bermuda Mega-Church [R20]

Gay Rights Ally Yolanda King, Daughter of MLK, Dies at 51

Unfortunate news to begin our day: Yolanda King, the eldest daughter of the late Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died of apparent heart failure.

King followed the follow tradition of advocating for racial and social equality and was a well-known motivational speaker. In addition, she was an accomplished producer and actress, appearing in films such as Ghosts of Mississippi and portraying Rosa Parks in the 1978 TV miniseries King.

Yolanda King and her late mother (both seen in 1963 photo at left, Yolanda wears blue) often spoke out in favor for the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. Gay rights activists are shocked and saddened by the loss.

Julian Bond, the chairman of the board of the NAACP, says she like a daughter to him. "In Atlanta, she was my neighbor and my children's playmate. She followed her parent's social justice tradition in life.

Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese hailed King as "a passionate advocate for justice and equality for all people. She was a true friend of the GLBT community."

H. Alexander Robinson, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, the nation's largest black LGBT lobbying group, says Yolanda King's short life "should also serve as a catalyst for the continued push for civil rights for all people including gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender individuals. This too was Yolanda's dream and journey and she expressed it beautifully as a motivational and inspirational speaker."

King passed away in Santa Monica, California. She is survived by her brothers, Dexter and Martin III, and a sister, the Reverend Bernice King, who is well-known fundamentalist minister and anti-gay activist.

Pro-Gay King Daughter Dies [Gay City News]

Some Background:

"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights [R20]
Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral [R20]
Gay-Bashing" at Bermuda Mega-Church [R20]