It is always a tragic and traumatic thing when heros fall. When they fall, the world doesn’t feel “safe” again. I know we all have a story of when the world stopped becoming “safe” for us. Therefore, the exposure of Bishop Eddie Long must be addressed with a bit of sensitivity for the many lives his voice gave strength & meaning to. Long was one of the few voices that answered Dr. Cornel West’s call for leadership that addressed the nihilism of Black america. So my heart, support, prayers, and love goes out to all those who are grieved by this event.
In addition, Let’s be real. This is no accusation. Bishop Eddie Long *DID* have sex with these men. What really bothers me with the Black church is all these responses of, “I’m praying for Bishop Long” or “I pray he makes it through this”. Really!? I swear sometimes we (because I am a member of the Black church as well) are the most hypocritical people alive.
Bishop Eddie Long is a pimp.
By definition that means ‘someone who manipulates others for sex’. Now of course pimps usually make some sort of financial profit, but Bishop Long used his money as influencers to have sex with these men: Bentleys, his private jet (ridiculous to think a pastor actually has one), money, etc. We need to quit babying this subject. If he was Don Juan, Snoop Dogg, etc., the Black church wouldn’t even be praying at all. We would’ve pointed a finger & accused them of being the very actions they perform.
Now let’s get to the ‘meat & potatoes’ here: Why is the media coverage framing homosexuality as such a tainted subject. I mean, would there be as much shock & all if Long was sleeping with women? History tells me no. Not one comment from the Black church has been towards Mrs. Long. Whether with a man or a woman, cheating is cheating and I’m sure she is hurting right now. Why not direct the prayers towards her? Where is her voice in this? Instead, the focus is on homosexuality in such a negative way that it reinforces the very ideologies that fueled two men to beat Matthew Shepard to death.
It’s time to accept this: Black Gay Men go to church.
They’re deacons, choir singers, ushers, teachers, and in this case…a pastor. We need to quit hiding this fact. Remember Bishop T.D. Jakes son? Yea, I haven’t forgot and I encourage a little googling. We never really talked about him. What about Ted Haggard? We ostracized that moment as an “over there” problem: meaning white folks. But now it’s here in our circle and it’s time to really deal with it.
It’s time to confront the homophobia of the Black church and encourage, support, love, and INVITE our LGBT brothers and sisters. As far as Long is concerned, whether you’re Don Juan or Eddie Long…a pimp is a pimp.
And just an afterthought, I also have to hold these men accountable as well for they knew WHO they were sleeping with & I highly doubt they were severely “coerced”. What is making them come out now about this is a mystery. But it also seems like they may be pimping as well.
This is a sad case of how a lack of love for others and a inflated love for self destroys communities.