Though speaking in a calm, measured voice, pastor, singer, and “ex-gay” proponent Donnie McClurkin was visibly angry with the mayor of Washington, D.C. for booting him from a concert honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.
McClurkin was supposed to be one of the acts at “Reflections on Peace, From Gandhi to King,” a concert on Saturday honoring the 50th anniversary of King’s March on Washington. But the night before, representatives from Mayor Vincent Gray’s office said McClurkin should not attend because over a dozen people had complained about his past homophobic messages.
Donnie McClurkin
McClurkin believes he “turned” gay because of childhood molestation, but was able to reverse his orientation through will and prayer. His belief that gays can become straight caused much controversy when he was involved in a 2007 event with then-presidential candidate Barack Obama.
In a video about his removal from the peace concert, McClurkin, with New Age music playing in the background, said he suffered discrimination by being let go from the roster.
“It is intolerant, these are bully tactics, simply because of stances I took. Never, ever demeaning, never, every derogatory of any lifestyle. But this is a civil rights infringement situation. Imagine that, in the 21st-century, 2013, I, a black man, have been asked to not attend because of politics.”
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