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I have to start this article with an apology. Earlier today, I mentioned that many black public figures were hesitant to speak out for or against Bishop Eddie Long in his most recent sex scandal. Well, I was wrong.
One leader who hasn't held his tongue is civil rights leader Julian Bond. CNN is reporting that Bond called Eddie Long "a raving homophobe." Bond's remarks came years ago, when the family of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. chose New Birth Missionary Baptist Church as the location for the funeral of the late Coretta Scott King. Bond said that King's widow supported gay rights and would never have chosen a pastor like Long to speak at her funeral.
Bond had more to say recently about the charges against Long:
"You hope these charges are not true because it's bad news for his family, bad news for his church. However, if they are true, it's typical of people who are raving homophobes who are secretly homosexual. They have this self-loathing, self-hate, and they have to let it come out some way."
So, there you have it, black leaders are beginning to speak out about Long, and the message is not a favorable one. Long has been attacked for his close affiliations with George W. Bush and the work he has done to alienate the gay community through the years. The possibility that he might be secretly gay is nothing short of explosive.
One can only imagine the degree of personal anguish Long may have been experiencing through the years, hoping that his secret would never get out. If it is the case that Long happens to be gay, this could turn out to be the most liberating experience of his life. It might also be liberating for the black church, which continues to grapple with how our spiritual beliefs mesh with the realities of the world.
Some of the questions that the black church may have to answer are these: what if someone is naturally attracted to members of the same sex and can't get rid of this attraction through prayer? Should they spend their lives pretending to be something they're not? Should they simply teach themselves to want something they don't want? What are the answers here?
While it's easy to say that a person should simply shut off and ignore their sexual desires, we might need to realize that sex is probably the most natural thing that human beings do. We all exist because someone else decided to have sex with another person. There's no venereal disease on earth treacherous enough to stop people from trying to have sex. Men in the White House have risked national security and millions of dollars in order to get naked with another person. These same principles also seem to apply if you're gay, so I don't expect that simply asking people to "turn off the sex button" is going to work. Maybe we can be more creative.
Julian Bond, Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Jesse Jackson and others are open and honest enough to accept the gay community in to the black experience and the black church. Perhaps we should all embrace the idea of a fair and open black community, where being different doesn't automatically lead to condemnation. Those who are marginalized become a threat to us all, because nothing good happens in the dark.
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: (36)
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By: Oyayo on 9/28/2010 6:33PM
First let me say, I support gay rights in everything. Secondly, I don't support eddie long or his gay bashing because that's undercover homosexuality in my opinion. And lastly I just CANNOT believe how gullible those church members are! It just boggles my mind about how utterly STUPID some black people are! The denial of being gay,the support of george bush, his silence about the war in Iraq.And we wonder how jim jones was ABLE TO LURE ALL THOSE BLACK FOLKS TO SOUTH AMERICA WITH POISONED KOOL-AID!!! MY PEOPLE WAKE UP,THIS CHRISTIANITY NONSENSE IS WHAT IS TRULY HOLDING US BACK!
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By: ARNEADER on 9/28/2010 7:55PM
WOW! Dr. Boyce! Eddie Long's homosexuality is his CHURCHES BUSINESS! Because he is a LIAR and the truth ain't in him! Living a double life! I was feeling real bad that my ex pastor had sexual harassment charges against him, stole the GOD'S money and left us in NINE million dollars in debt! Eddie Long made me feel better about our Jack Leg pastor! My ex pastor is a millionaire now. Our local newspaper did a story on him and the church after Eddie Long's news story broke out.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20109260349
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20109260350
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By: The Truth on 9/28/2010 8:42PM
When a married man/woman thinks of sleeping with others, but does not act upon it, does that make them an adulterer? YES or NO?
Does thinking one can have anyone they want then do so in their own mind make them a whore or dog, even when they didn’t openly act out their feelings? YES or NO?
Would having homosexual thoughts and desires while remaining in the closet and outwardly professing you’re not make you less of an advocate if you were never found out? YES or NO?
Does anyone not acting out bad thoughts feel they have to (and do) act shocked and surprised when overheard others getting caught doing something bad? YES or NO?
Does having bad racial thoughts impressed upon ones mind from child-hood make one a racist if they don’t act that way outwardly? YES or NO?
Should a person be considered a true racist if they say racist things in the audience and confidence of piers, but openly profess and act as though they aren’t while pressing they’re sick and tired of it? YES or NO?
Who would know?... How would they know?
In some cases I could not call them racist and may consider they’re trying to get people pointed in the right direction but lack possession of thought to exactly where it is they are going and the damage they may be doing while en route.
How many realize you’re not perfect , but make strides trying to get as close as possible?
Are you?....Do you?...
Sometimes people slip and their entire facade comes crumbling down.
Other times people continue carrying their facade and even manage to take it to their grave, securing their perceived perfection for all time.
Sometimes one comes along who truly is perfect and without sin...If you think it’s you, you’re wrong.
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By: jdFL on 9/28/2010 9:51PM
It's not just Christianity...its all organized religion. It's all a sham. Organized religion is all about ego, power, and money. It really makes me sick how black people allow themselves to be suckered by jerks like Eddie Long!
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By: xtreme negro on 9/28/2010 6:35PM
Step down Eddie,even Mr.Bond is on to you.You told me your Guilty when you spoke sunday morning.Go get some help!
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By: barbara on 9/29/2010 8:38AM
spoken,so truely. when he spoke sunday,that was enough for me to believe he was guilty. he did not say he was innocent,just said he was going to fight this thing,what thing? the demons inside you or the charges leveled against you? but most importantly how can you call yourself a man of god or a christian and preach hate.all of us are god's children,gay or straight.he loves us all!!
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By: Izeaun on 9/30/2010 8:01AM
@Barbara....Indeed! I now believe something inappropriate did happen. Vehelmently denying the allegations...that is what DIDN'T happen; which convinced me that he is probably guilty of something.
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By: Marcia Kia Simpson-James on 10/04/2010 6:37AM
So Eddie Long confessed to his congregation that he molested and in effect raped those very young Black men? Please tell us more?
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By: BG on 9/28/2010 6:59PM
In the end, may be what we ought to be dicussing is whether he cheated on his dumb wife who went standing on the podium with him.
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By: fishsticks on 9/29/2010 1:46PM
REV JESSIE JACKSON SR, REV JESSIE JACKSON JR, REV AL SHARPTON, NOW EDDIE LONG. What does these COMMUNIST people have in common?
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