Accused Bishop Eddie Long is a "Raving Homophobe" Says Julian Bond
Bishop Long and Dubya
A December 2004 march in downtown Atlanta called for a return to family
values in the African American community, as defined by Eddie Long, leader
of a Lithonia mega-church called New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Those
values included straight marriages only -- and denounced gay relationships.
Now, the leader of that anti-gay march is accused in four lawsuits of
seducing teenage boys.
"He said that homosexuality is worthy of death. He is a raving homophobe,"
said civil rights legend Julian Bond, who was visiting Atlanta for an awards
banquet.
The one-time Georgia legislator says he knows Bishop Long only by
reputation.
"Well, you hope these charges are not true because it's bad news for his
family. It's bad news for his church," said Bond of Bishop Long.
"If (the allegations) are true, it's just sort of typical of people who are
raving homphobes who are secretly homosexual. And who are homophobes because
they are filled with so much self-loathing and self-hate that they've got to
let it come out in some way, and it comes out in homophobia," said Bond, who
is now a gay rights activist.
Bond was an early leader in the civil rights movement, alongside Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. He's also a co-founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center,
which "characterizes (Long) as one of the leading homophobes in black
America."
When King's widow Coretta Scott King died in
2006, her funeral was held at Bishop Long's church. Julian Bond boycotted
the funeral because of the location.
"I knew her, and I knew she was a big defender of gay rights. I knew that
Bishop Long was a raving homophobe. And I knew she would be twisting in her
grave if she were buried there. And I'd be twisting in my grave if I went to
the funeral there. And so I stayed away," Bond said.
Julian Bond calls the charges against Bishop Long destructive -- but not
necessarily to the cause of gay rights.
More:
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=155554&catid=3
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Together, we can change the world, one mind at a time.
Have a great day,
Tommy
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