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VIDEO: Dallas Pastor Claims HIV Testing Billboards "Promote" Homosexuality and Black Gay Men

Another day and another example of a pastor opposing HIV awareness because it allegedly "promotes" sexuality. The latest case is in Dallas where a pastor and a city councilwoman are complaining about the Greater Than AIDS billboard that features two men and the words "Update Your Status."

"When I saw it I said, ‘Now what are they up to? They trying to promote two men being together?'" said Bishop Eli Jacobs.

Councilwoman Vonceil Jones-Hill wrote that the billboard has several messages: presenting African American men who are homosexuals as acceptable, engaging in such conduct presents health risks, feel free to continue what you are doing but protect your health.

In Dallas County, nearly half of all new HIV infections are among African Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Black men who have sex with men account for 25 percent of all people living with HIV in Dallas County."

It's unfortunate that we are still having these discussions today with the soaring HIV rates in the Black community—and that includes heterosexuals and men who have sex with men. Do the pastor and the city councilwoman want people to be tested or not? Oh and hilarious that the sistah on the city council objects to the "message" that "African American men who are homosexuals [are] acceptable."

Watch FOX Dallas' video AFTER THE JUMP ..

Former NFL Player LeRoy Butler Provides Details on Anti-Gay Pastor

Former Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler revealed that he was fired from a church speaking engagement because he tweeted a congratulatory message to openly gay NBA player Jason Collins.

Butler spoke with Outsports about the incident. "That pastor was talking to me like I was the devil," said Butler. "Sometimes religious people think they’re better than everybody else and that bothers me."

"He started giving me all these scriptures about God looking down on gay people. I said, ‘Look, if you want to believe that, this is me coming to tell my story to these kids.' There’s only one thing my mom told me. Only God judges, not you. You can pick and choose what you want from the Bible but don’t tell me about it."

"It really bothered me that he was quoting all of these scriptures to make me feel bad. I said, ‘No, I stand as a man for the little kids who are hiding somewhere and need someone to speak for them.’ I went to church every Sunday growing up. And I love everybody. We may agree to disagree, and the church says one thing, and we can agree to disagree. But man, that pastor was talking to me like I was the devil."

On his willingness to play with a gay teammate:

"NFL players have told me they won’t play with a gay player. But if the top quarterback of the next 10 years comes out in his prime, you’re gonna accept it because he can throw for 4,500 yards and take you to the Super Bowl. If he can’t play, that’s one thing. But if he can play, you don’t care."

LeRoy Butler said that he was scheduled to give an "anti-bullying presentation" to the church. Butler will not identify the church or pastor but the noted the irony to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "If you ask for forgiveness and remove the tweet and you say something to the effect that you don't congratulate (Collins) then we'll let you do the engagement and get the speaker's fee," the anti-gay pastor told him.

Delete the tweet, ask for forgiveness, condemn the gay guy ... and then you can get paid, my brotha! Hallelujah!

LeRoy Butler played his entire 11-season NFL career with the Green Bay Packers from 1990–2001. He was four times All-Pro, four times Pro Bowl and was a key player on the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI championship.

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Church Cancels Former NFL Player's Speech

Church Cancels Former NFL Player's Speech After Support for Collins

Former Green Bay Packers All-Pro safety LeRoy Butler tweeted his congratulations to NBA player Jason Collins for publicly revealing that he is gay. And now: A Wisconsin church has cancelled Butler's paid speaking appearance.

Butler was scheduled to give an "anti-bullying presentation" and notes the irony to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Butler was told by church officials that they would cancel the presentation unless he removed the tweet, apologized and asked God's forgiveness. "This is what bothers me the most. They said, 'If you ask for forgiveness and remove the tweet and you say something to the effect that you don't congratulate (Collins) then we'll let you do the engagement and get the speaker's fee, and I said I'm not doing that," Butler said Wednesday.

"This is a man's personal story. I've always been on the record saying if there was a gay person in the Packer locker room, I would have played with them. All I care about is if you can run and jump, and can you win Super Bowls," Butler said.

Butler says the speaking fee was $8500 and that local sponsors "usually help the church raise money to cover his fee."

LeRoy Butler played his entire 11-season NFL career with the Green Bay Packers from 1990–2001. He was four times All-Pro, four times Pro Bowl and was a key player on the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI championship.

"Delete the tweet, ask for forgiveness, condemn the gay ball player .. and we give you the money!" Something tells me that is not very WWJD.

Tarell Alvin McCraney Debuts "Head of Passes" at Chicago's Steppenwolf

Brilliant. The Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright Tarell Alvin McCraney debuts a world premiere play at Chicago's prestigious Steppenwolf Theatre tonight: "Head of Passes."

The play recasts the biblical Book of Job "in Louisiana with Job as a woman whose birthday party is derailed when a hurricane strikes and family secrets come to light," reports the Chicago Tribune's RedEye. It was developed through the Joyce Awards, which provide $50,000 "grants to support new works by artists of color."

McCraney talks to RedEye about faith, sexuality and growing up in Black church:

"My grandparents were kind of shocked [after I was baptized at age six] but also relieved because I exhibited some homosexual tendencies very early. I think that made them nervous.

"But I also was a quick reader, a quick study, so intellectually, they kind of put me in this place—I think this happens in the black community often—which is, 'This very smart and ambitious but somehow effeminate young man is getting into church and starting to love what church has to offer. Let's push him in that direction so he becomes a pastor, so that he'll use God to deflect whatever other demons he's got to fight with.' Which is good, 'cause in life, I've needed that faith for many things. I'm so glad to have had it. It just didn't keep away the homosexuality [laughs]."

Philadelphia native Quiara Alegria Hudes also debuts The Happiest Song Plays Last tonight at the Goodman Theatre. Qudes is "also a 2009 Joyce Award-winner who wrote the script for Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights, and went on to win the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Water by the Spoonful."

The 33-year-old McCraney has sometimes been described as the "heir" to August Wilson's legacy. McCraney is a Miami native and graduated from Yale '07 MFA. The wunderkind dramatist became one of the first winners of Yale University's new Windham Campbell Prize earlier. That award has a $150,000 cash tag and has been described as "one of the largest literary prizes in the world."

McCraney's is best known for his acclaimed trilogy The Brother/Sister Plays. Other works include Wig Out!, American Trade and Choir Boy. The latter made its London debut in September 2012 and explores the competing roles of religion, Black cultural identity and sexual repression at a fictional African-American prep school.

Get it Tarell!

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CHICAGO: Black Clergy Coalition Urges Passage of Marriage Equality

It was two weeks ago when a small group of influential Black pastors in Chicago launched a radio and robo-call campaign to oppose Illinois' marriage equality bill. The robo-calls and radio spot feature the voice of Sen. James Meeks—the outspoken anti-gay mega-church pastor and former state senator—who has become the de facto leader of the Black opposition to the bill.

Another coalition of inclusive, Black Chicago-area clergy members announced their support for the marriage bill yesterday, report the Chicago Sun-Times, Tribune and Northwest Herald. The pastors called the bill "a bold step forward for equality."

The Rev. Carlton Pearson, a Pentecostal minister, called the issue a win-win situation and said there are far more black pastors in Chicago who support the bill but are afraid to come forward. "I think no one here is worried about whether there’s going to be backlash or not, or we wouldn’t be here," [said the Rev. Richard Tolliver, pastor of St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church on the South Side] said. "There will be people who are supportive. There will be people who are not supportive. Our hearts are where they are."

The Rev. Phyllis Pennese, the openly gay pastor of two south suburban churches, said she’s not worried about pastors opposing the bill: "There are more people behind justice than Rev. Meeks could ever drum up to be against justice regardless of what their faith tradition or what their faith commitment is."

One of the strongest statements in support of equality came from the Rev. L. Bernard Jakes of West Point Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago , who noted that many Black LGBT are "active in the African-American church", reported the Tribune. West Point MBC was once the home of gospel legend Albertina Walker.

"Many of the same-gendered loving couples love Jesus as much as I, and they believe in Scripture with the same fervor by which I believe.Their only legal lot in life is they are prevented from sharing in a life-long legal commitment with their partner — many of double-digit years. This is what makes it a matter of civil rights," he wrote.

The Illinois Senate approved its marriage bill by a 34-21 vote on Valentine's Day. The bill awaits a floor vote in the House. Speaker Michael Madigan has acknowledged that passage will be "very difficult.

Illinois' Black civic and political leadership was firmly behind the landmark 2010 vote on civil unions. Rev. Meeks was the only Black in the General Assembly to vote against that bill. Will the narrative change? Of the 20 members of the Illinois House Black Caucus, "only one of the 14 House co-sponsors is Black," notes the Tribune. Many Black politicians have reportedly said they "fear political repercussions."

Ministers opposed to same-sex marriage have warned legislators who vote for it to never come back to their churches, where politicians traditionally campaign on the final Sundays before an election. "It’s a little disheartening," said Democratic state Rep. Will Davis, a Black caucus member who has not made up his mind as he works out whether gay marriage is a moral or public policy issue.

"There are so many large-scale issues important to the Black community, but you’ve never heard from them," Davis said of the churches opposed to gay marriage. "This doesn’t create jobs. It doesn’t create opportunities and, for the most part, they are silent on helping African-Americans getting job opportunities in this state. They are silent on the increasing prison population.”

"When I saw that the lawmakers were excited about passing legislation about same-sex marriage, it’s a slap in the face of the Bible,” said Rev. Lance Davis, bishop of New Zion Christian Fellowship Covenant Church in Dolton."I didn’t see that kind of enthusiasm about stopping children from killing children in the streets."

A December 2012 Public Policy Poll showed that "60% of African Americans surveyed [in Illinois] supported same-sex marriage," reports Illinois Unites. "A recent Crain’s/Ipsos poll shows Illinoisans supporting marriage equality, with 50 percent in favor and only 29 percent opposed."

Illinois would become the second state after Iowa to approve equal marriage in the nation's heartland. Same-sex couples can now legally marry in nine states—Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington—and the District of Columbia.

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PHOTO: The Burgess-Allens

This is brilliant. EBONY has profiled Bishop Oliver Clyde Allen III (R) and Rashad Burgess as part of its series "The Coolest Black Family in America."

Bishop Allen leads The Vision Church of Atlanta, the well-known progressive and inclusive Pentecostal congregation. Burgess—an R20 friend—is Chief of the Capacity Building Branch for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The couple has been together since 2002, were married in 2009 and recently welcomed a new addition: Caylee LaTanya Burgess-Allen.

"I don’t think there’s any greater thing that a human being can do than pour into another human being and raise a child," said Bishop Allen. It fulfills your life."

The article is beautiful and the slide set is gorgeous. More HERE.

Rev. Meeks, Black Clergy Launch Radio Ad Against IL Marriage Bill

A small group of Black pastors in Chicago have launched a radio and robo-call campaign to oppose  Illinois' marriage equality bill, reports the Associated Press and the Northwest Herald. The robo-calls and radio spot feature the voice of Sen. James Meeks, the outspoken anti-gay mega-church pastor and former state senator.

The radio ads and “robo-calling” [target] residents in black communities urging them to ask their representatives to vote against the bill. A new group called the African American Clergy Coalition said it began airing 60-second commercials Tuesday on black radio stations and also plans a “street campaign” to supplement the telephone campaign. The phone messages feature the voice of former state Sen. James Meeks, who is senior pastor of Chicago’s Salem Baptist Church.

The pastors working to defeat gay marriage are joined in their opposition by Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, the Catholic Conference of Illinois and Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

The majority of Black legislators from the Chicago-area are expected to support the marriage bill.

The radio campaign actually began on Monday. Two ads aired during my Monday segment on WVON 1690, the well-known Black talk radio station. So far, the audio has not been posted online but I'll keep looking ...

Meeks was a candidate in the 2011 mayoral cycle but withdrew before the election.

Meeks opposition to Illinois' landmark 2010 vote on civil unions drew harsh criticism from fellow politicians, Black leadership and LGBT activists. Meeks—who has called homosexuality "an evil sickness"—was the only black legislator voting against the bill. Meeks also opposed Illinois' LGBT non-discrimination legislation and was the only Black in the General Assembly to vote against that bill, too.

Meanwhile: The Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus is lobbying today in Springfield, reports Kate Sosin at the Windy City Times.

The organization issued a statement on the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, highlighting disparities among Black LGBT people and pushing lawmakers to vote in favor of the bill. The statement notes that Black gay man face elevated discrimination and stigma.

"We have fought for issues of justice and equality as members of the broader LGBT community—from Stonewall, to the elimination of anti-gay policies, to the fight to reduce HIV incidence and other health disparities," the statement reads. "We also know the history of our culture—from the Middle Passage, to slavery, to Jim Crow, to voting rights. At one time in American history, slaves were considered 3/5 of a person and were denied the right to marry. Only within the last half-century were inter-racial marriages fully legalized."

The statement goes on to argue that marriage recognition will improve the lives of LGBT youth, offering youth the "hope for societal legitimacy." "For LGBT youth of color who face bullying and violence, marriage equality offers a new hope for achieving the ultimate aspiration for their relationships and a legal foundation upon which they can build happy, loving families," the statement reads.

CBGMC's has more on their lobbying day at their Facebook page ...

The Senate approved its marriage bill by a 34-21 vote on Valentine's Day. The bill awaits a floor vote in the House. Speaker Michael Madigan has acknowledged that passage will be "very difficult."

Illinois would become the second state after Iowa to approve equal marriage in the nation's heartland. Same-sex couples can now legally marry in nine states—Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Washington—and the District of Columbia.

 

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Low Enrollment Forces Eddie Long to Close Christian Academy

More problems for the scandal-plagued "Bishop" Eddie Long and the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Citing low enrollment and a poor "economy", the church has announced plans to close its Christian Academy at the end of the school year, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and WSB-TV.

Enrollment reportedly has dropped by almost 80 percent at the Faith Community Christian Academy K-12. The academy is located on the New Birth campus in Lithonia,

The academy closed in January 2012 due to economic troubles, but reopened shortly [later]. According to New Birth's website, the school opened in 1993 as New Birth Christian Academy, and at one time boasted an enrollment of more than 200 students. But a church spokesperson said the current enrollment is at about 40, not nearly enough to be able to keep the school economically viable. He said this is a growing trend among private Christian academies as more and more of them are hit with economic hardships.

The school closure is just the latest bad news for the megachurch that once boasted up to 25,000 members. Twelve former church members announced in January that they were suing Long and New Birth for "encouraging" them to invest millions in a Ponzi scheme.

The anti-gay televangelist was accused of luring at least five young men into sexual relationships in late 2010. Long was 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. Long reached an out-of-court settlement with the young men  in May 2011. Read the complaints HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Long's wife Vanessa publicly announced her plans to divorce in December 2011. The case was withdrawn in February 2012. Mrs. Long received a standing ovation from church members in September 2012 when she discussed why she remained in the marriage.

New Birth MBC maintains the school's financial problems are "not" related "to the controversy surrounding church founder Bishop Eddie Long and allegations of sexual abuse."

Keep telling yourself that, hon.

THE ATLANTIC: "An African Pope Won't Change the Vatican's Views on Condoms and AIDS"

PHOTO: AP

Hooray! My first article for The Atlantic: "An African Pope Won't Change the Vatican's Views on Condoms and AIDS."

Much of the successor buzz—and the bookie's odds, if you place any value on handicapping the cardinals at the papal conclave—has focused on Africa. Two men in particular: Ghana's Cardinal Peter Turkson and Nigeria's Cardinal Francis Arinze. Turkson, who was appointed by Benedict in 2009 to lead the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, has reportedly emerged as one of the leading choices. The National Catholic Reporter does a fairly good job explaining the frenetic media narrative when it profiled Turkson last week: "Nothing's sexier from a media point of view than the idea of a 'black pope.' The notion of what's traditionally seen as the planet's ultimate First World institution being led by a black man from the southern hemisphere has an undeniable magic." ...

Even if the next pontiff were chosen from Ghana or Nigeria it's extremely unlikely that he would be a progressive, of course. The arch-conservative German-born Benedict has appointed a majority of the cardinals who will elect his successor sometime in March at the papal conclave. It is also highly likely that even an African pope would continue Benedict XVI's and the Vatican City's refusal to encourage condom use in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This policy has had serious, long-lasting consequences across the global south—especially Africa.

Read the article HERE.

So excited to have become a contributor to this iconic publication. Look for more from me on politics, religion and sexuality at The Atlantic and TheAtlantic.com in the months ahead.

VIDEO: Detroit Pastor's Ordination Criticized as "Sexual" "Offensive"

The video of a prominent Detroit pastor's ordination ceremony has been criticized as "sexual" and "offensive." The internet buzz has become so loud that Bishop Wayne T. Jackson of Impact Ministries International Church claims that he is being "bullied" and has attempted to have the video removed from YouTube, reports The Detroit News.

Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

The clip shows Jackson praying and laying on top of the new bishops. The men are shrouded in red and white cloths during the ceremony. Jackson claims the ordination is similar to the ordination of Catholic priests. The video of the August 2012 ceremony has gone viral in the past week and now has 62,000+ views.

"I have done nothing wrong," said Jackson, a grandfather and married father of nine, said Tuesday. "This was done in front of a thousand people. It was not done in secret."

Jackson said detractors "took over" his Facebook page and posted insulting remarks about the ceremony. "This was really Internet bullying," said Jackson.

He said his attorney is seeking a cease-and-desist order to pull the video from YouTube. "They are using my likeness to spew hate," said Jackson, senior pastor of the church and founder of The Impact Network, a Christian broadcasting network solely owned by African-Americans. "This has been a main attack on homosexuals. If [the ministers] call themselves Christians, they should be leading people with love."

The Rev. Anthony Evans, president of the Washington, D.C.-based National Black Church Initiative, said Jackson "has a right to develop any ceremony he chooses" — but the practice is unusual, offensive and seems to promote homosexuality, a taboo in the black church.

Jackson's analogy to "bullying" is a disservice to the many, many people—especially LGBT—who have been bullied and harassed in the Black church. And it doesn't appear that Jackson or his ministry are inclusive or LGBT-affirming, so that comparison is just a smoke screen.

Carry on, bishop. Watch the grinding—oops, ordination "ceremony"— AFTER THE JUMP ...