Trial Date on Sexual Coercion Lawsuits Against Eddie Long

Atlanta-based anti-gay mega-church Bishop Eddie Long will face the four young men who are suing him for sexual coercion in court next summer, unless the cases are settled through mediation before then, reports WSB and the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Judge Johnny Panos scheduled  a February mediation session and tentatively set a trial date for July 7.

How much do you want to bet this never makes trial?

Long is accused of luring young men into sexual relationships and using church funds to give them cash, gifts and cars. The four men—Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande—have filed sexual coercion lawsuits against Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. All  are former members of New Birth. Two live in Georgia, one in North Carolina and the other in Colorado. Two of the four accusers have never met the others. Read the complaints HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

"Long has denied the allegations. The church, which is also listed as a defendant, has admitted that the four young men took trips with Long, but did not confirm or deny whether any sexual acts were performed during the trips. Attorney Bonnie Bernstein, who represents the four plaintiffs, had little to say in court, but lawyers from both sides said they will be calling up experts. It wasn’t decided whether the different cases will be tried separately or if they will be tried together. Both sides said it will be a pretty involved case if it breaks down to each case. Tried individually, lawyers expect each case to last at least a week."

The four accusers say the anti-gay mega-church pastor befriended them when they were aged 14 to 16. Long seduced them at ages 16 or 17 and used Scripture to justify male-to-male sexual activity, the complaints say. The complaint by Spencer LeGrande alleges that Long drugged him with a sleeping pill. 

In addition to being one of the nation's most prominent pastors, Eddie Long is also among the most vocal critics of gay rights and same-sex marriage in the Black church. In December 2004, one month after voters approved an amendment to the Georgia state Constitution that banned gay marriage, Long led a 25,000 person march against gay rights and marriage equality. Long has routinely railed against gays from the pulpit, although it's well-known in Atlanta's Black LGBT community that many Black gay men attend Long's anti-gay mega-church.

Comments

[Trey]

I'll be very surprised if this makes it to trial. I see Long and his goons trying to settle this one out of court. Either way, it's a no-win situation for Eddie Long because settling out of court is an admission to guilt-no matter how he tries to clean it up. Going to court will mean that more ugly details will come to light that I'm sure Long doesn't want to be disclosed.

[mjolnir202]

"How much do you want to bet this never makes trial?"

Oh Rod, you're so cynical. LMAO Eddie Long said he still had some stones to throw and we all know that Daddy Long likes to get his rocks off, I mean, throw stones, I mean...anyway...

@Trey: I hear what you're saying, but Settling IS a win for Eddie Long. The more lurid aspects of the case will remain hidden, the culpability of not only Eddie Long, but the church's inner circle won't be further exposed. The congregation will welcome him back with open arms, blame whatever transgressions might have occurred on Satan and Demons. Seriously. Have you never heard the supersticious nonsense many black church folk mumble on the regular? It's like we're living in medieval Europe. Black church folks are some of the stupidest people you'll ever meet. It's a willful stupidity, mind you. They can have a PhD. and in Atlanta, there's a good chance they do, but when they enter church they leave their brains in their car trunks. They worship their pastors more than Christ.

Eddie Long is probably hoping Februaryn just hurry up and come so he can get this troublesome thing out of the way. That way he can plan a getaway the DR or maybe Jamaica. The do have some nice nude beaches in Negril and some 'friendly' locale$ who walk the beach, and most importantly, have no standing in American courts.

[JBK!]

I wonder what Scriptures he used.

[chamblee54]

The dude needs to wear a jockstrap.

[Ben in Atlanta]

Dean Lawrence Carter from Morehouse is guest speaking this Sunday at our 10 and 11:30 am services in the Richard H. Rich Theatre in the Woodruff Arts Center. He spent a couple of months hanging with us in one of our classes which we had to hold in the MCC church sanctuary. Our classroom was too small. I believe he's still technically Baptist but does seem to be down with Interfaith. His talk is titled "Becoming a Non-Violent Rebel". If in town and curious, join us.

[Nathan James]

The Bishop Long case will likeky end up with a settlement, the terms of which will be:

Bishop Long and New Birth Missionary Church admit no wrongdoing,

The four plaintiffs are awarded considerable sums, conditional upon their silence,

New Birth Church and Bishop Long will go back to their lives, as if the allegations brought never occurred. Bishop Long will continue to seek out and use teenage boys for sex, just not from within his own flock, all the while still decrying homosexuality from his pulpit in the most base abd vile terms imaginable. "Look at what those demonic gay boys tried to accuse me of!"

When the case is settled, that noise you'll hear is me, banging my head into the wall.

[Iamproudtobegay]

I am proud to be gay. When you accept your sexuality, you are less likely to be secretive and psychotic about your sexual relationships. I am also Black, Christian and a college graduate.I am proud of that too. By the way, God knows that I am gay !!!! lollollollollol