WATCH: Gay Member of New Birth Baptist Church Speaks Out

An interesting new development in the case of Bishop Eddie Long, the Atlanta-based anti-gay mega-church pastor accused of luring young men into sexual relationships and using church funds to give them cash, gifts and cars. The four men have filed sexual coercion lawsuits against Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Read the complaints HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

It's common knowledge in Atlanta's Black LGBT community that many Black gay men attend Long's anti-gay mega-church. One of those gay men is finally speaking out. Samuel Brown was interviewed by BET News and says he has been a member of New Birth MBC since 1993 ... and it's "insulting" to him that Long is apparently being hypocritical.

"He was unable to say that he was 100 percent guilt-free, and it was insulting to me to not come out and be straight-forward. Basically him and his lawyer crafted a statement where he didn't have to hit the situation head on. The reason Bishop Long is so popular in Atlanta and all over the world is his transparency. He preaches about it in his sermons. He will say things that other people won’t say. He will push the envelope on a lot of things. So with him speaking so strongly about transparency and now not being able to deliver a clear-cut answer, it doesn't sit well with me."

Samuel Brown explains why he and other Black gay men attend services at New Birth.

BN: Do you think New Birth Church would have allowed you to be a member if they knew you were gay?

SB: Probably not. But at the same time, there are a pretty large number of congregants in the church that are gay or appear to be gay that I know of personally as well.

BN: Do you know why other homosexual Christians would become members of a church that preaches sermons condemning their lifestyle?

SB: The majority of the homosexual, gay members of the church that are at New Birth, most of them 'fall in line' with the teachings. They feel like it’s wrong, they are sinning, they are sinners and it’s something you have to get rid of.

It's a massive exercise in denial when a gay man would say that it's "insulting" that the anti-gay pastor doesn't practice what he preaches ... but it isn't "insulting" to attend a church that offers ex-gay workshops and where the pastor rants against gay rights. Unfortunately this is all-too common in the Black church, where gay men overpopulate the choirs and usher boards and silently enable the homophobia from the pulpit.

For what its worth, Brown and his partner tell BET News that they are finally "thinking" of leaving New Birth. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

BET's full report is HERE ...

Comments

[Antwan]

Oh honey those church queens are a mess. They are exactly the reason why we are in this mess. And what bs for this queen to say that he didn't pay any attention to Eddie Long's rhetoric.

[Antwan]

Oh and welcome back Rod, you were missed! :0

[Harper]

well, if the church didn't know about him before, they surely know about him know.

and attending that gay hating church for almost 20 years? those self hating church queens are a mess.

[Samuel Brown]

Hold-up fellows:
This is what was left out of the equation regarding the Gay member from New Birth who spoke out...

He wrote a personal testimony called Son of a Bishop, My Testimony (his parents are ministers) He has a blogsite www.sonofabishop.blogspot.com where he refutes the abuse of scripture traditionally used by preachers to condemn homosexual people. His blogsite is their to correct those who abuse scripture and also their to help heal those who has been abused by religion and religious leaders. He recently wrote an open letter to Bishop Long that included this statement:
"I've often said to my close friends that I sincerely feel that you have and could offer a positive and greater revelation on the subject matter of homosexuality in the church-world however, I've felt that you were too concerned and afraid of the masses and your traditional Christian Fundamentalist peers. I've also mentioned to my close friends that I share each blog post that I write for this blog site; I share them with you, your wife and other New Birth staffers via email and I hope and trust that my sharing has had a little something to do with the respect that you have been displaying in recent years to the many same gender loving members in your congregation."

Samuel Brown stayed their at New Birth to make a point by sending his very passionate blog post to Bishop Long, his wife and staff for the last few years to enlighten them and let them know that we do not fall for the scripture twisting and abuse of tradition that berates SGL people. He was concerned about his SGL brothers and sisters who sat their uninformed and to afraid to speak out.
Please spend some time on his blog site and you will completely understand. He is certainly not a queen.

[Derrick from Philly]

Well, Rod, thank you again for bringing us news that we can't find on any other gay blogs or news services. We're not that important to them, I guess.

I don't wish most of these church queens any payback or harm or unhappiness because they all seem kinda' mentally disturbed anyway. Or rather, are they living in a fantasy world--you know like, "when I turn forty I'm going to stop all this homosexual sin that I'm committing...(and later)when I turn fifty I'm gonna' stop all this homosexual sin I'm committing....(and later)when I turn sixty I'm gonna' stop..." you know, until they head off to glorious choir in hell.

Well, I can't hate them too much. If I wasn't a drunk I'd have probably been a church queen. Praise the Lord for booze!

[arac@berkeley.edu]

When are LGBT folks going to realize that God does not belong to straight folks? If you really understand the power of spirit, God, if you will. You understand that God does not discriminate, people do. People need to control people. Sexuality and gender has been used by religious entities to control gays and lesbians and women. Long has power in New Birth and exercises it over his LGBT members, women and preys on vulnerable male children.

[troy]

Something needs to be said about individuals who stay with a church for YEARS while everything but the real message of GOD and Love is twisted into something convenient that benefits the sacred Pastor.
Would Jesus have sex with underage boys while married to a woman and taking his own followers money to support his two sided lifestyle.
Just who was Mr. Long and how did he get a free pass to corrupt young people and steal their state of mind? Why the silence from everyone everywhere. Rev. Powerful Almighty?

[Former COGIC]

>>>Samuel Brown stayed their at New Birth to make a point by sending his very passionate blog post to Bishop Long, his wife and staff for the last few years to enlighten them and let them know that we do not fall for the scripture twisting and abuse of tradition that berates SGL people.

ROFL. That's not what Samuel Brown told BET News. So my question is to Samuel Brown, how is that working out for you? Is New Birth more publicly accepting of gays? NO.

Did you convince Long and New Birth not to oppose gay rights or march against gay marriage? NO.

Did you convince other gay men at New Birth to come out? Did you even tell straight people that was your partner? NO

Did you challenge Eddie Long at his church or even expose his closeted sexuality? NO

You tell yourself whatever fantasy you need to. But after 17 years, Samuel Brown as ZERO accomplishments for LGBTs at New Birth. You sound like the Log Cabin Republicans and every other churcy queen in COGIC.

You're 'trying to change the church from within'. Whatever, man.

[A. Ronald]

Why do so many black gay men in Atlanta attend gay hating churches? Why won't they go to welcoming and affirming churches? Rev. Dennis Meredith's Tabernacle Baptist in Atlanta is very welcoming to black LGBT and the service is very traditional.

It's like a black person joining the KKK. Srsly.

[Trey]

@ Samual Brown. I'm not gonna come at you the way some of the others have because I have been in your position; however, please know that you you cannot change the mentality of a church like that alone. It would take ALL of the LGBT members to walk out and then he'd be left with next to nothing. If you are seriously considering leaving; more power to you because that's the best and loudest way to make a statement in this type of situation. Also, coming forth to do that interview was a great move and says something to the rest of the closeted members there who were either on the fence or too afraid to even consider making a move.

[FREELEO]

We are all going through a growth process. Let's be gentle with our brothers and sisters who are openly gay and choosing to fight for equality in their own way.

I respect those who are openly gay for staying in a place where they know they aren't welcomed by all. I feel it is very similar to those brothers and sisters who set in at lunch counters in the 60s even though they were met with hostility. They have a right to be there.

As far as I'm concerned, that man got on BET and told the world that he and his husband attend that church and we aren't going anywhere. I wonder how many of us would make such a public statement? While many of us don't understand why they stay, I respect and love them.

[Former COGIC]

@ Freeleo:

It takes a helluva lot more courage to leave an abusive relationship to stay in one. I grew up in COGIC and stayed there until I was 30, and I have seen hundreds of black gay men remain at churches where they are not loved and not wanted.

17 years is a really long time to be in an abusive relationship. And to make it worst, Brown and his partner CHOSE to attend this church and sat through the gay bashings and Eddie Long's march against gay rights. Hell, they might have even attended the march.

They have a RIGHT to be at that church but the church does NOT want them for who they are. Comparing them to freedom riders and civil rights workers of the early 1960s in an insult to those of us who actually fought for civil rights or equal rights and had to shed some blood or tears.

I understand that everyone has their own journey to make, but please tell me how staying closeted in an antigay church, while the church fights against gay rights and offers exgay workshops, is revolutionary or freedom fighting? I applaud them for finally speaking out 17 years but they still rationalize Eddie Long's "rhetoric" by saying they didn't realize "believe" he meant it, because they say gay men in his inner circle. That makes it even worse.

[FREELEO]

As you said Cogic, we all have a journey. It took you until you were 30 to realize something I knew by 17. Now that you are finally free, how can you be so judgmental of those who haven't found their way out or choose to stay?

Whether you know it or not, there were those who thought the sit-ins were a waste of time. The more radical fringe wanted to take up arms and fight for civil rights "by any means necessary." I stand by my comparison.

That brother has somehow managed to stay in that church WITH HIS LOVER, write about his experience, and announce to the world who he is on national television. I don't know a lot of gay brothers in or out of church who have done that. Who are we to judge?

Some of us have been so impacted by our experience with the church that we carry those same judgmental ways with us even after we leave. Others are still so damaged that they carry the title of their church affiliation in their screen names. Let it go and move on. No man can walk your path for you..

[Dallas Cowboy]

Freeleo, I agree that we all have our own journey. But I see absolutely no comparison between a lunch counter protesters in the 1960s to a gay man in the 1990s and 2000s who chose to attend a rabidly antigay church, never lifted a finger to help gay people being hurt by this church and never spoke up until now. One appearance on BET News does not make one a civil rights leader, luv.

Rev Kevin E Taylor, Bishop Yvette Flunder and many other black openly LGBT have walked through fire and demanded churches recognize them. Singing in the choir with the other church queens and pretending not to hear Eddie Long's 'rhetoric' and gay bashing is NOT a profile in courage.

[FREELEO]

Dallas, I agree. All of those names you mentioned have done wonderful work and have received some notoriety.

I don't believe I called Samuel Brown a civil rights leader. I said he took a stand, luv. Even he is rethinking his choice to stay in that particular church. There are those who don't walk through the fire but sit in it every Sunday. I will not judge them.

[kevjack]

You know, something happened to me in 2010-- I just got tired of dealing with church queens and their mess. I am now convinced that they are the #1 threat to us as black gay men. Why?

1) Because people commonly use these church queens as examples of how gay people "know what they are doing isn't right" because a church queen NEVER speaks up about gay-bashing, the homophobia, and the outright hate that gay people have to deal with.

2) Many church queens openly participate in the gay-bashing! They are some of the most hateful queens out there. Their self-hate makes them hate gay men in particular. They are quick to throw out homophobia as a cover for their self-hate.

3) They love the closet and defend it by all means necessary! They love to say how people "do not know their business" but everyone in the world knows you are a big queen and those who hate gays love that you are so ashamed of yourself that you refuse to live honestly.

4) They buy into the hype that their "acceptance" by the church makes them better than openly gay men. They openly try to exploit divisions in the gay community.

5) Despite their desire to feel "better" than the openly gay men, these men are the first to show up at the club and run and chase after men. For all of their talk about being "better" I have found them to be the nastiest sex hounds around.

6) In general, church queens are quite messy and need to be avoided.

7) Their having to divorce their spiritual life from their sexuality creates a situation where they don't see their sexuality as part of themselves. This is why they feel they can deny it-- they see their sexuality as something that they can put into a box and take out when they want. This only fuels the homophobia because those who hate us are convinced that our sexuality is a "small" part of us that can easily be "corrected."

8) It's 2010-- if you are still a member of a hateful church you need a serious wake-up call. Grow up, grow a pair, and actually LIVE that faith you have been talking about for so long. All that running, jumping, shouting and singing and you are still not free-- how sad, pathetic, and low.

Just my two cents...

[Trey]

@Kevjack: you hit it on the head! Man I have come to the exact same conclusions this year. I'm really seeing it because it seems that I'm at odds with almost ALL of my church friends because I refuse to go with them on their self hating journey. They wanna take some good out of the traditional church and stand on it as a reason to stay. It's not enough for me.

[Chitown Kev]

@kevjack

The thread can close now!

This church queen is a hot mess.

[alicia banks]

thanks rod!

why???

it is like being a masochist for jesus... a black member of the kkk

wtf???

too many other churches that respect homos to pay gay tithes to!!!

http://aliciabanks.xanga.com/732742147/savage-sanctuaries---their-own-receive-them-not/

[Black Pegasus]

@KevJack

Thank you for that post my brother! I most certainly agree! In fact, I know of a Church Sissy who has an active profile on BGC Live (a Black and Latino GAY site), while he is supposedly an up and coming Bishop at a church in my city. After I made the connection, I was appalled! He's on BGC with one body pic (face hidden), and if you click on his Church Web Page, you'll see the hypocrisy staring at your face.

The Evil Sadist in me wants to OUT the queen, but that wouldn't make me any better than their ilk.

[Mel Smith]

Powerful comments.

[sheeeeeeeeeeee]

there's a lot of condemnation being flung around up in here. & the 1 person who is offering a bit of empathy got shouted down.

fine. we could continue to act like church queens are hateful and messy. but if the rest of us "out" god fearing homosexuals r so. . .in the spirit. . .how is it we refuse to see our BROTHER'S pain (i mean i can't imagine self hate as pleasurable) we we so quick to say call them out they names and caste them out (and we prob should ask what we casting them out of. . .cause ummmm. . .)

for my money. that's just as hateful. or maybe i'm as naive as freeleo in thinking it ain't our right to condemn the next man no matter how enlightened we are when we are on our knees. . worshiping.

[jbyrd]

Ummmm... has "Bishop" Long been "transparent" with the church financials, at least? Methinks not...

I'm sorry, but the fact that you are a semi-closeted member of this farce of a church and you now feel the need to speak out, POST-SCANDAL, is ridiculous. Stockholm syndrome kids, look it up...

[Wondering]

There is no love or respect among some of the gay men that post here? Live and let live?

[FREELEO]

If we are going to start labeling people with syndromes then this particular diagnosis must be applied evenly across the board to all black christians. After all it was christianity that taught us to be good slaves to our christian masters; treat woman and children as property; and be ashamed of our bodies. It would not be just the gays in church but blacks in church that suffer from Stockholm. It would be folly to belong to a faith such as this regardless of how the theology is taught. If that's the case then atheist are the only ones who have it right.

Initially, my point was to question why so many gay brothers were bashing those brothers in the church; particularly those who are in there and know they are gay, and are attempting to reconcile their faith with their sexuality? As long as those brothers aren't telling you not be gay or attacking the gay community, they should be afforded the opportunity to process their emotions.

Every time we use phrases like "church queen" we should try to remember the times when we were called names that hurt. Stop attempting to make theses brother feel "less than" and help them feel loved and accepted.