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The sex scandal of Bishop Eddie Long has taken the world by storm. Everyone is talking about it and my fingers are fatigued from constantly writing about it. Bishop Long has had four lawsuits filed against him, and he has also decided to step down as pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
One piece of evidence after another has emerged to show that Bishop Long could very likely have a second life that involves sexual interaction with young men. Quite a few men have approached the plaintiff's attorney, B.J. Bernstein, telling their own stories about having sex with Bishop Long. After speaking to others who are closely familiar with the situation, I have personally concluded that something very serious could be going on.
What is most surprising, however, is that according to a recent Aol. Black Voices poll, only 49 percent of respondents believe that Bishop Eddie Long is gay. In response to the question, "Do you think Bishop Long is homosexual?" 49 percent of the respondents said "yes." Another 28 percent said "who cares?" and 23 percent said "no."
So the results can be interpreted in a multitude of ways. On one hand, we could argue that the 28 percent who don't care actually believe he is gay. We can also say that the survey is undermined by the fact that it was released before all four lawsuits had been filed (only three were filed when the survey was created).
Another way to look at the survey might be to conclude that African Americans are in denial about the prevalence of homosexuality in the black church. It might also be the case that we put our pastors on such a high pedestal that we forget that they are human and flawed like everyone else.
Pastor worship seems to be as prominent as the worship of the higher power, when it comes to some megachurches, and logic can go out the window when we are in the presence of a charismatic figure who has positioned himself as our savior on earth. As a result, the churches become mighty, multimillion-dollar institutions and pastors become untouchable spiritual leaders with access to everything in the church including money, sex and everything in between. There's a thin line between a strong religious institution and a cult. If free ideas are suppressed and people are not allowed to question the message they are given, then there may be a greater focus on controlling human beings than empowering them.
The poll had 15,700 respondents as of September 25th. I fully expect that perhaps the numbers might change as information is released about the scandal. I certainly hope, at the very least, that this is not a case of black folks choosing to pull the wool over our eyes. There are certainly gay people within the church and many of them are pastors. It's time for the black church to have a serious conversation about homosexuality.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action Resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. 
Comments: (128)
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By: ron on 9/25/2010 12:17PM
The pastor is and has been a walking advertisement of a gay man. No straight man dresses as he does. He talkes a fine message but his walk and body language betrays him. He knows he is queer and has not been able to shake the demon.
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By: The truth on 9/25/2010 12:54PM
ACTUALLY...
Your own data shows only "(23%)" THINK he's not gay.
The one's without blinders on know the real deal.
One typically would not concern themselves with who is/is not gay, but when you openly protest against it and (How did you put it)
Position yourself to be our "savior on earth"
(I think I just puked in my mouth!)
You've got alota splaining to do Lucy!
That is if you're able to climb from beneath that pile of rubble after your house comes a tumblin' down.
And good Dr. Why would we have to have "serious conversations about homosexualality?
Let's just continue to live and let live and do what we can on a personal level to eliminate HATE of any kind.
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By: ARNEADER on 9/25/2010 2:32PM
Dr. Boyce part of my family lives in Snellville (a section that was formerly Lithonia), I called over there and asked them what the people in ATL were saying about Eddie Long. My relatives were like “Nawl, I don’t believe that’. I have one BROTHER that was here when all the hell broke loose with Eddie Long. He argued me down Bishop Eddie Long buys cars for a lot of the members, Bishop Eddie Long works out, and Bishop Eddie Long takes people around the world to see sights they would never see, Bishop Eddie Long etc. NONE of my relatives attend Bishop Eddie Long’s church. The people OVER there in ATL are in such a denial about Eddie Long it is S.A.D. Eddie Long has done so MANY good things for the citizens, community, black family, and black church that they CANNOT believe it. If Bishop Eddie Long had committed ADULTRY with a woman NOBODY would care. Because this involves boys EVERYONE is in an uproar. Bishop Eddie Long is a FINE, HANDSOME BLACK MAN he doesn’t look the part of someone who would molest children. There was a commercial on TV that said child molesters look like everyday people. Eddie Long DOES NOT look like a child molester.
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By: Misst on 9/25/2010 4:53PM
@Arneader--you are 100% correct. I live in Snellville and it's amazing at the level of denial that Atlanta residents are in over this scandal. My question now becomes "what were Longs real motives for doing good in the hood?" Was it really the work of God, or were his motives simply for self advancement. After all he says that New Birth is an "international corporation" FIRST and foremost, and so far, he has been the ONLY one who has prospered from it all. Oprah has done just as much (if not more) than Eddie Long, but I bet if scandal was at her doorsteps, people would be very quick to judge and condemn her. But because he is a supposed "man of God" people cannot wrap their minds around the fact that not only is a homosexual (which is minor in my opinion), but that he could be a pedophile. What's going on at New Birth is no different than what's going on at the Catholic Church and other churches across the world. It's time for people to take off the blinders, stop drinking the kool-aid, and stop being infatuated by shallowness.
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By: JoniD on 9/25/2010 5:54PM
I couldn't agree with you more. The pictures that he took of himself and emailed to his lovers were telling enough!!
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By: vdog on 9/26/2010 9:26AM
With all the FINE SISTAS in Atlanta who can't find a straight man any dude down there who messes around with men AT ALL is GAY.
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By: Joyce Gunthrop on 9/29/2010 3:03PM
Humans have forgotten what is important in today's world. We have become self exumed that we forget to follow God's message and not the being delivering the message. He is not perfect as none of us are. He has to atone for his own sins - not us for him. So why should you care if the Bishop is gay or not. Involve yourself in more meaningful issues and concerns and leave the rhetoric alone. Live you own life and withdraw from the temptation of condeming others. Bottom line is we all will have to answer for our sins before God one day and that time is fast approaching! Get a life of your own and just maybe someone will write about you. It is human to err but much more worthy to forgive then to condemn.
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By: F. A. Goodwin on 9/30/2010 11:40AM
How can you take an online survey to heart as to how Black America feels... did you stop to think at least 50% of Black America is still computer illiterate and have no plans of ever becoming computer literate...
F. A. Goodwin
Author of You Reap What You Sow
http://fagoodwin.webs.com/
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By: lolo on 10/01/2010 1:53AM
Eloquently put. Indeed, muscle shirts in the pulpit? His tendencies and flamboyance far outweigh any sense of propriety expected of a spiritual leader.
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By: rightorwrong on 9/25/2010 12:23PM
Dr Boyce you seem to be having a field day with this story, almost every story covered about this and other gay issues you seem to be hitting the front page with your critism and comments, the Lord will expose every church who they claim to represent him if they are proved false he will expose that two, Gene Robinson, the catholic priests, evangelical church's, prosperty doctrine, in fact any church, if their is a christian sister you perhaps like in the church and won't go because the church is a black church, their are good and bad church's look at the church doctrine closely, is the church focused on christ? or their surroundings then you decide.
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