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Full Page Ad Responds to McClurkin: "Black & Gay is Beautiful"

Black gay activists take out a full page advertisement in response to Donnie McClurkin's hateful "ex-gay" and 'anti-gay" rants. The advert runs in today's Metro NY. Click for larger version.

Pastor Joseph Tolton of Rehoboth Temple wrote the official response on behalf of New York’s black gay men and counters the "hypocrisy in the pulpit" and "spiritual" violence of McClurkin and homophobic black churches. It reads in part: "For those of us in faith who have always loved the black church, the defining issue of our lives has been the churches damning stance on homosexuality. As children, the condemnation broke our spirit. As adolescents, this ridicule broke our hearts. As young adults, this disdain has attempted to drive us to the brink. Spiritual violence is wrong and it kills the spirit. The black church must find new ways to talk about sex and sexuality."

At the recent Church of God in Christ's Holy Convocation Youth Service, the allegedly "ex-gay" delivered an incendiary rant against gays and gay youth in particular. Said McClurkin: "I see feminine men, feminine boys, everywhere I go. These young girls are just as bad as the boys in homosexuality, you don't see it. They can hide ... but there are some evil young hard butch girls."

Tolton adds this message to McClurkin: "You are not a man who loves men because of being molested as a child. That grave and despicable tragedy broke your spirit and damaged your mind; however, it did not have the capacity to change your DNA."

Pastor Tolton is seen in the center of the photo. From left to right: Actor Cornelius Jones; Activist Sheldon DeSouza; Michael Whittaker; Tolton; HIV activists Gaynel Sheffield and Pat Desrolers; and openly gay R&B singer Nhojj. Bravo to Pastor Tolton and these activists. Donnie McClurkin's experience was the exception and not the rule. This is much more accurate picture of our black LGBT community—diverse and confident.

Thanks ANDRES DUQUE!

"Greet the Press", NYC Pride Event on Black Gays and New Media

Pride week kicks off in New York City with "Greet the Press", a panel discussion on the lack of black gay, traditional media outlets—and how many new media and social networking platforms are filling the void. The event was produced by Dwight O'Neal, Cornelius Jones and Nathan Scott (right), who also hosted, the New York City-based promoter and co-host of The AND Show, the popular black LGBT YouTube channel.

Panelists included: Derrick L Briggs, co-star of the new independent film Finding Me and host of ADTV on YouTube (bottom photo, black shirt); Sheldon DeSouza of the Black Gay Network; GBMNews.com's Antonie Craigwell; Dex Star G, photographer and blogger; blogger Maurice Runea; and DJ Baker, host of the popular Da Doo-Dirty Show podcast.

Baker, seen above with the microphone, tells Rod 2.0 that last night's event was "great" opportunity to network "but we needed more youth in the building, some new faces." Baker adds: "Our community has yet to [determine] how to gauge youths' needs. We know they are out there working on [media] projects. We need to stop talking about working together and start doing."

Author and activist Nathan James also attended the event. James tells Rod 2.0: "The exploration of new forms of media communication and its relationship to the LGBT community of color is crucial to an understanding of who we are. Kudos to 'Greet The Press' for raising our awareness."

One of the standout discussions was lead by Sheldon DeSouza, above, who calls attention to a disturbing exchange on Wendy Williams' radio show. A 23-year-old black gay man called last month and asked radio personality Wendy Williams for "advice" on how to deal with a male love interest who is HIV positive. DeSouza explains: "Wendy said, 'You're 23, you don't need to be dealing with that. If I were 23 years old ... you have your whole future ahead of you. You don't want to deal with that." DeSouza says Williams laughed and conducted a random poll of her staff and asked if they would ever date someone HIV positive. DeSouza called into the show and was reprimanded on-air for challenging the radio personality's "advice." Listen to that "advice" here.

AFTER THE JUMP, video of Sheldon DeSouza describing the outrageous "advice" on HIV and relationships given by Wendy Williams, nominated by LOGO for their NewNowNext Awards. Why so many black gay men idolize this hateful woman escapes me.

Top Two Photos: "Greet the Press" on Facebook
Last Two Photos: Dex Star G