August 12, 2013

The following excerpts are from Angela Loo’s article “Ex-gay gospel singer banned from King commemoration” on WorldMag.com: “Washington, D.C., Mayor Vincent Gray uninvited Grammy-winning gospel singer Donnie McClurkin to a concert commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington Saturday because of his testimony about walking away from homosexuality.”

“‘There should be freedom of speech as long as it’s done in love,’ McClurkin said in an online video to his fans. ‘It’s bullying, it’s discrimination, it’s intolerance, and it’s depriving someone of their civil rights to be told they cannot come to an event and by coming it would cause a disruption.’”

“He said it was ironic that the event was titled ‘Reflections on Peace: From Gandhi to King’ yet an African-American man was asked not to attend because of politics.”

“The trouble started Friday when gay activists approached Gray complaining about McClurkin performing at the government-sponsored event. Doxie McCoy, a spokeswoman for Gray, told The Washington Post that the singer decided not to perform: ‘The Arts and Humanities Commission and Donnie McClurkin’s management decided that it would be best for him to withdraw because the purpose of the event is to bring people together.’”

“But McClurkin said it was not a mutual decision, he was informed the night before the event that he would not be performing. He said the concert promoters and local pastors fought hard to allow him to perform, even offering to cover the expense of his performance, but the mayor refused.” …