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Bishop Yvette Flunder Responds to McClurkin's Attacks on Gay Youth

Donnie McClurkin's vicious hate speech at the recent Church of God in Christ convocation in Memphis has thankfully not gone unchecked. Yvette Flunder, the fabulously progressive orator and founder of the "radically inclusive" LGBT affirming City of Refuge Church, gracefully reached out on Facebook after McClurkin attacked gay youth and recently out gospel singer Tonex as "perversions" and "vampires".

Via Rev. Kendal Brown at DC City of Refuge, the bishop writes:

Pastor Donnie knows like I know that Tonex’ is more the ‘rule’ than the exception to the rule. What makes Tonex’ unique is not that he is a Gay gospel music artist and Pastor but that he told the truth about his sexuality, while not claiming to be delivered. I believe that these public hateful words directed to the Same Gender Loving community come from the need to instill fear of public ridicule in the hearts of those who may be considering coming out and come from folks who felt they were denied the opportunity to be authentic in their sexuality AND remain successful in the mainline church. I am not worried about Tonex’. He will feel the pain of rejection for a time but he will rise up and answer the prophetic call to be a liberator to his generation. My deep concern is for those young people who are part of the COGIC and for their families who have now been driven deeper into the closet by experiences like this. The closet is a dangerous place, where theological, and physical self-abuse runs rampant.

These young people love the church and feel the only place they can go is underground. I am encouraging these young people to find their voices and not run to the shadows to live in fear like my generation has. Watch the signs, change is possible. God is greater than any denomination and bigger than the narrow theologies that seek to hold us hostage. I am excited about our future and I am determined to let folks know that there are safe places to land.

Amen, sistah. There's a great Facebook discussion happening around Flunder's response. Join the conversation, share with friends, tag ... reach out to LGBT youth and remind them that they are loved.

City of Refuge Church DC and Its "Radically LGBT Inclusive" Message

There's been a lot of recent discussion on the many black gay men who remain in anti-gay black churches and either lead a schizophrenic identity or hope to "pray the gay away." But what about the black churches that are LGBT inclusive? ColorLines publishes a great profile of Rod 2.0 friend Rev. Kendal Brown and his "radically inclusive" LGBT affirming City of Refuge Church - Washington DC.

Each Sunday, in the desolate town of Lanham, Maryland, north of Washington, Brown preaches the controversial doctrine of Radical Inclusion, an emerging trans-denominational philosophy that aims to provide safe, affirming space for those wounded by “oppressive,” traditional religion. His church, the City of Refuge, reconciles this concept of GLBT-focused, "affirming" worship with Pentecostalism, a branch of Christianity known for a conservative doctrine as well as intense worship styles, like speaking in tongues.

On a typical Sunday, the turnout reflects the church's targeted base: the poor, same-gender-loving and transgender people, people living with HIV and AIDS, recovering drug users, and the formerly incarcerated. Many members arrived in Lanham only after years of painful searching for a place that fit.

"Most affirming churches... don’t offer the celebrated forms of worship that are grounded in the African-American tradition," says Brown, referring to the hand-clapping, foot-stomping, and gospel-singing that define Sunday services at the City of Refuge. Brown believes that many same-gender-loving Black Christians would feel out of step without “participatory” worship. "Affirming churches that lack traditional African-American worship,” he says, "set up yet another dynamic where [Black] GLBT persons have to leave another part of them at the door."

Brown tells Rod 2.0: "When we launched the ministry in January 2007, it was our hope that City of Refuge DC would become a diverse congregation where all persons are welcome.... I am grateful that it has become just that [and] celebrate the fact that all across this nation, affirming churches are becoming viable options for persons seeking inclusive and justice-oriented congregations."

The City of Refuge Ministry was founded by San Francisco-based Bishop Yvette Flunder. Refuge and Unity Fellowship Church—Rev. Kevin Taylor is an Elder at the New Brunswick, NJ church—are growing coast to coast. There are also mainline black churches such as Chicago's Trinity United Church and Atlanta's Tabernacle Baptist that welcome LGBTs. Question: With these growing numbers of black LGBT inclusive churches, why do some many of us choose to remain in abusive relationships with homophobic black churches?

On the Road to Refuge [CL]

White House Reception Recognizes LGBT Pride and Stonewall 40th

Forty years after the Stonewall riots sparked the gay rights movement, President Barack Obama hosts an historic reception for LGBT activists and their families to honor LGBT Pride and the 40th Stonewall anniversary. The speech, carried live on CNN and other networks, marks the first time a sitting president has given a live televised speech on LGBT issues.

The President, who has been criticized by many LGBT rights advocates for inaction on his many campaign promises, says his Administration has made some progress on behalf of gay Americans and will do more. Full remarks AFTER THE JUMP:

"I know that many in this room don't believe that progress has come fast enough, and I understand that," Mr. Obama said at a reception for LGBT Pride Month at the White House. "It's not for me to tell you to be patient anymore than it was for others to counsel patience to African-Americans who were petitioning for equal rights a half-century ago."

"But I say this: We have made progress," the president continued. "And we will make more. And I want you to know that I expect and hope to be judged not by words, not by promises I've made, but by the promises that my administration keeps."

Obama spoke about the "movement" created some 40 years ago: "The riots at Stonewall gave way to protests, and protests gave way to a movement, and the movement gave way to a transformation that continues to this day. It continues when a partner fights for her right to sit at the hospital bedside of a woman she loves; it continues when a teenager is called a name for being different and says, 'So what if I am?'; it continues in your work and in your activism, in your fight to freely live your lives to the fullest."

The list of attendees was forwarded by the White House Press Office to Rod 2.0. (Full list AFTER THE JUMP.) Invited guests included openly gay Administration officials such as Export-Import Bank Chairman Fred Hochberg, Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry and Asst. Labor Secretary Mary Beth Maxwell. Leading LGBT advocates such as Human Rights Campaign's Joe Solmonese, and Jarrett Barrios, the new president of Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

There were a number of prominent black and Latino LGBTs that should be familiar to Rod 2.0 readers: Phil Wilson, Black AIDS Institute; HRC's Donna Payne; Andre Leon Talley; Connecticut State Rep. Jason Bartlett; Denise Simmons, Mayor of Cambridge, MA;  Cornelius Baker, National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition; San Diego City Commissioner Stampp Corbin; actor Wilson Cruz; Bishop Yvette Flunder, City of Refuge United Church of Christ;  Earl Fowlkes, International Federation of Black Prides; Lupe Valdez, Dallas County Sheriff; and black Chicago lesbian leaders Mary Morten and Vernita Gray, interviewed in my Advocate cover story on Obama and Hillary Clinton.

An historic occasion and we should be mindful of the progress being made and how much further we have to go. It was also a pleasure to hear Obama allude to the black Civil Rights Movement. The occasion would have been more meaningful if there were more substantive policy initiatives to announce. The guest list was pleasantly diverse ... but very Stonewall 1.5. Online LGBT activists are leading the fight for equality and none were represented. Very out of character with the Facebook, YouTube and BlackBerry-driven White House.

WHEN YOU JUMP, Obama's full remarks and the guest list.

Report: Barack Obama Campaign REJECTS Michael Eric Dyson and TWO Black Gay Pastors

The hits keep coming for the ill-advised campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, which is in complete meltdown mode after booking a gospel revival tour in South Carolina and failing to background the participants. New reports suggest Camp Obama rejected at least TWO openly gay black pastors, and two straight allies, including the popular Rev. Michael Eric Dyson, as choices to open the concert series.

This news comes as the campaign releases an open letter by prominent black clergy and gay supporters which says the White House hopeful rejects the beliefs of alleged "ex-gay" Rev. Donnie McClurkin and "at the same time, a great many African Americans share Pastor McClurkin's beliefs."

The amateurish attempt at damage control was in response to the backclash against the headliners—alleged "ex-gay" Rev. Donnie McClurkin, notorious gay-basher Rev. Hezekiah Walker, and, popular gospel duo Mary Mary, who have compared gays to prostitutes and murderers. The inclusion of the Rev. Andy Sidden, who is white, to address homophobia in the black church has only heightened tensions between blacks and the gay community, and, outraged the black gay community.

Several sources inside and outside the campaign confirm the names of TWO openly gay black pastors suggested by the National Black Justice Coalition and the Human Rights Campaign were rejected in favor of Rev. Sidden. Those names are: Bishop Yvette Flunder, an outstanding pastor and orator from San Francisco and Bishop Tonyia Rawls of Unity Fellowship in North Carolina. In addition, Bishop Carlton Pearson of Oklahoma, whose inclusive ministry welcomes the LGBT community, was also rejected. A campaign source says Rev. Michael Eric Dyson, the so-called hip-hop intellectual, reportedly volunteered and was also rejected. Dyson is a prominent Obama supporter and very popular in hip-hop and with youth.

"We decided to go with someone local," says our source in the Obama campaign, who expressed concerns around finding a "local" gay pastor in Obama's own United Church of Christ. Yvette Flunder is a bishop in the United Church of Christ, so, this should have been a non-brainer. There were no such concerns around Hezekiah Walker and Donnie McClurkin who are in the Pentecostal Church.

The campaign's refusal to put a black face—especially a straight ally—to speak against homophobia reinforces stereotypes about blacks and drives a thicker wedge between blacks and gays. Presidential campaign veteran Keith Boykin: "I don't know if the Obama campaign realizes this, but inviting a white gay pastor to speak at a black gospel concert is not a smart move. Whoever is advising Obama really needs to reach out to people in the black community and re-think this whole approach."

Pam Spaulding is also outraged: "It boggles the mind that the Obama campaign would select a white pastor to deal with a situation that is awash in black homophobia," she says, explaining that the message "coming from a white pastor under these circumstances, can only be seen as paternalistic and patronizing; the shields of defensiveness will go up, the message will be ignored."

South Carolina-based Alvin McEwan blogs on black gays and religion at Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters. Let's give him the last word: "LGBTs of color haven't been just pushed to the back of the bus in this controversy. We have been kicked off of the bus and told to find our own way home."

More BARACK OBAMA.
More DONNIE MCCLURKIN.
More RELIGION.
More POLITICS.
More UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST.
More PENTECOSTAL CHURCH.

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Black LGBT Church Summit

Reason Number 10 why we'd rather be in Atlanta this weekend: It's the setting for a major discussion on lgbt rights among black faith leaders—not a small feat considering that the Bible Belt and the black church have not been known to be tolerant of the gays.

The Reverend Al Sharpton and the City of Refuge Ministries' Bishop Dr. Yvette Flunder are the main speakers in the two-and-a-half day event sponsored by the NBJC. Rev. Sharpton's speech was the keynote address this morning; he's been an outspoken proponent of trying to build bridges between the black church and gays. Bishop Flunder's ministry is associated with the United Church of Christ, which is tremendously supportive of lgbt. The weekend event is being hosted by ATL's historic First Iconium Baptist Church. Keith Boykin is at the conference and is filing reports between sessions, such as an in-depth analysis of the Sharpton speech and discussion points.

On a personal note, it should be fairly obvious that we regularly attend church services—the reconciling congregation of the United Methodist Church, which is fairly activist on social justice and lgbt. Religious items are regularly posted here and few people comment, as opposed to exposing this or that homophobic reverend. That's okay, This summit is so important because many black lgbt are hurting from the past and are looking for healing. But what so many of us forget is that you can't have a dialogue with the church if you aren't involved. It's so easy to sit in the comfort of your home and fire off emails and comments on reverend such and such or pastor so-and-so. But if you really want to get involved and are so inclined, there are gay-friendly churches, congregations, rabbis and pastors; you just have to look for them. That's exactly why Rev. Sharpton and Bishop Flunder are leading the dialogue with the pastors.

One More Postscript: On Saturday morning there's been considerable coverage of the summit. Numerous major media outlets fielded reporters to Atlanta. This is brilliant.

Black Churches' Attitudes (NYT) Black Clergy Tackle Homophobia (LA Times) Sharpton Kicks Off Summit (Keith Boykin) Meeting of Minds (SF Chronicle) Black Gay Group Reaches Out (Advocate) Black Churches Seek Answers (Detroit News)

The National Black Justice Coalition announces a major step toward building bridges within the black church. In January, a two-day interfaith summit is planned in Atlanta that will focus on homophobia and exclusion. The Rev. Al Sharpton and the Bishop Dr. Yvette Flunder will headline the gathering. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, Ambassador Andrew Young, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson have been invited.

Britain's new civil union partnerships bring more division to the already-fractured Anglican Communion. UK Gay.com reports many vicars within the Church of England continue to bless same-sex couples who have been partnered, despite warnings of disciplinary action. Some gay and lesbian clergy are also particpating in the civil partnerships.

Minnesota priest resigns over Vatican's ban on gay clergy.

A federal appeals court has rejected the asylum plea of a gay man from Zimbabwe—despite evidence that the petitioner had been imprisoned, beaten and tortured in his homeland.

Guatemala City: Two transgender women were shot in the head—one fatally. According to Amnesty International, the authorities are of little help because the suspects "were in police uniform."