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Mo'Nique on Gays and the Black Church: "God Don't Make Mistakes"

Remember that must-see episode of The Mo'Nique Show where Mo'Nique and veteran R&B singer Miki Howard discussed gays in the black church? Mo'Nique, who was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her dynamic role in Lee Daniels' Precious, talks more about the hypocrisy of the black church toward its many gay and lesbian members in an interview with BET's a Clay Cane at Advocate.com. It's a great interview.

Recently on your talk show you had R&B singer Miki Howard as a guest. Both of you said you grew up with gay people in church and there wasn’t anything wrong with it. That was so refreshing to hear. Could you elaborate on your experiences with gays in the church?
I actually was not a person that grew up in church — that’s what Miki was saying and I was agreeing. Now, I know a lot of folks that go to church and are gay. I tell them, “God don’t make no mistakes, baby, and we keep using it when it’s convenient.” If we are all made in his image, there are no mistakes. I think it’s absolute foolishness, just in my humble opinion, when people make statements like, “It’s blasphemy and you’re going to hell!” Really? And I’m a child of God — do you think God set me up? I’ve never bought in to it. With gays and church, I think there are so many of our brothers and sisters that’s in pain because they go to a place to receive nurturing, the love of God, and you start hearing that you’re going to hell because of who you were made to be. I just don’t buy that!

On homophobia in the black church:

I interviewed Lee Daniels in September and he said he feels very much alone in the black community being openly gay. We know not all black folks are homophobic, but what do you think it will take for some sectors of the black community to have a shift in consciousness when it comes to the gay community?
Love. That’s it; there is no special formula. People that have a platform, if they start speaking about love — we are creatures that latch on, may it be negative or positive. So imagine that if in all of the black churches they started saying, “Let’s love each other unconditionally. Let’s not judge.” That’s it! You can have members be openly gay! Not “Well, we think Troy is gay, but you know! Yes, he switches, but we’re not gonna say nothing!”

He’s the choir director!
Baby, he’s the choir director! You’re telling people to love life, but you’re telling them to live a lie. If we’re given these platforms and we are truly vessels of God or the universe — the God that you think you’re representing — that gay person is his child as well. You’re telling his child, “You’re going to hell.” I don’t think God is appreciating how we continue to separate his children. I just don’t think he’s appreciating that or she’s appreciating that or they’re appreciating that — whatever that beautiful thing is, I think they’re saying, “You know what? We gonna slap the shit out of somebody because we love all of them!” [Laughs]

In your role as Mary Jones in Precious, when you walked away from that final monologue, did something in you say, “I wore that out!”
Nope. When Lee Daniels said, “Cut,” we left it right there. My husband was like Mama — just be it, don’t judge it, and leave it right there. We didn’t celebrate after that scene. It was like, “All right, baby! I’m gonna catch my flight!” That’s what it was.

"God don't make no mistakes." Love. It.

Mo'Nique also won the Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Awards for her role as Mary Jones in Precious. 

Read the entire interview at Advocate.com.

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WATCH: Mo'Nique: "Gay and in the Black Church? God Loves You"

A treat last night on The Mo'Nique Show. The veteran R&B singer Miki Howard discussed her new autobiography Always Had Shoe and performed her fabulous hit "Love Under New Management." Howard talked about growing up in gospel music and the black church and "the first thing"" she wanted to discuss: Gays in the black church. Rough transcript as follows.

MIKI HOWARD: "One good thing I want to talk about is the gay aspect to our church. We don't talk about it in our community. I grew up in James Cleveland's church in LA and it was gay back then, really gay. And we weren't didn't know that people thought was bad, that outsiders thought that was bad. So that's one thing we talk in the church and explore, and how I came to be me."

MO'NIQUE: I applaud you for addressing this ...because people don't want to talk about it and for not judging because most times we run from it.t (TO CAMERA) And for all of our gay brothas watching, we love you this is the no judgment zone. You are always welcome and you are always loved. If you're in the church and you're gay, God is not judging you. Be who you wanna be."

MIKI HOWARD: "They gave us encouragement. They taught us how to walk"

Howard referenced the late and legendary gospel singer Rev. James Cleveland, who was closeted and his 1991 death has been attributed to HIV/AIDS.

Earlier in Mo'nique's "no judgment zone", she gave a shout-out to lesbians. "Sistahs, if you are laying next to your man right now give him a kiss. Or next to your woman.. no judgments here, as long as you got somebody."

It's about time someone mentioned on national television that the black church and black gospel music are "really gay" and they should not be ashamed. There are so many talented black gay men in the church and black gospel music. Unfortunately many are told otherwise and most believe they should remain (semi) closeted. The segment begins at 27:30. The oh-so-fabulous and very gay friendly Brian J. White is the guest in the prior segment. Via Clay Cane watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...