By: Taren Vaughan
Donnie McClurkin gay stance gets him dropped from Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial concert? Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin has been very open about his past struggles with homosexuality after being molested as a young boy and said God delivered him from the lifestyle he was leading. As there are people who appreciate Donnie’s honesty and his willingness to tell his story, there are those who have not taken well to some of the comments Donnie has made in reference to his beliefs about homosexuality. The gospel singer was scheduled to headline a concert during an event in Washington, DC in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. And according to a report from the Washington Post, Donnie decided not to show up to perform at the concert per the mayor of DC’s request:
Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, who has said God delivered him from “the curse” of homosexuality, did not appear in a Saturday evening concert celebrating the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, after several gay rights activists objected to his participation in the event.
McClurkin was scheduled to perform in the D.C.-government-sponsored concert with other singers at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial during the “Reflections on Peace: From Gandhi to King” event. But at the request of Mayor Vincent C. Gray (D), who fielded concerns from activists Friday, the Grammy-winning singer decided not to perform, according to the mayor’s office.
Donnie McClurkin had a different story to tell about the situation though as the singer says he was asked not to attend the event.
In a video statement he posted online on this past Saturday, Donnie says:
“I’m sending out this social cam. I’m a little disgruntled. But more than anything else, to rectify something that’s been done and address it…The mayor of DC, I think his name is Mayor Gray, uninvited me from a concert that I was supposed to headline today, commemorating and commencing the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement. I was asked not to attend although I’m considered the headliner of the concert…Last night on the way to the airport, we received a telephone call from promoters who had received word from the mayor’s office that I was not welcome and uninvited the night before the concert. Quite unfortunate that in today, a black man, a black artist, is uninvited from a Civil Rights Movement depicting the love, the unity, the peace, the tolerance…They waited until the last moment to demand that I be taken off of the concert. Discrimination, bullying is still a part of this. It’s bullying, it’s discrimination, it’s intolerance and it is depriving someone of their civil rights when they’re told that they can not come to an event and by coming it would cause a disruption…”
Check out the video of Donnie McClurkin speaking about the situation below. What are your thoughts on Donnie McClurkin getting dropped from the concert in DC?
This isn’t right. Smh.
What we need is tolerance on both sides.
Wait did Donnie ever say some hateful stuff about gays? I can’t think of one time in which he did. He may not agree with the lifestyle but that doesn’t mean he hates gays. The mayor was wrong.
WOW. Totally unnecessary. It’s one thing if he bashed gays and spoke hate…but he didn’t.
Things have changed. Now if you don’t agree with something, that makes you a bigot. Smh.
Yeah the mayor is stupid. There was absolutely no need to uninvite him.
Wow really?! I have to side with Donnie on this one.
It’s kind of hard to have a concert about civil rights and tolerance when one of the performers is openly against gay rights/marriage. The mayor did the right thing. Donnie may not ever understand it, but right is right.
I strongly disagree. The only thing Donnie has ever said is that God delivered him for homosexuality. That’s it. He shouldn’t be treated like this from those words alone.
I agree nowadays you can’t say anything remotely against homosexuality or you will be shut down that is wrong. People have the right to have their own opinions and beliefs without consequences.
I agree …and not only will be understand this some day soon …but those who side with him will too.
I disagree with you as well. The mayor did not do the right thing! This is a free country and when you start “closing” people out because they have a different opinion than you, or your friends, then you are basically discriminating too! Why would I just want an “amen” corner? It seems like all that matters is Gay rights. I know a few people that are gay, and I dont sugar coat nothing in front of them. Why should I walk on eggshells because you are super sensitive about your sexuality? The way I look at it, you must feel some type of way because you are that sensitive. Because if I didnt care what people thought about me!!!
That’s very low of the mayor. But I’d expect nothing less from the less than classy city of DC.
Wait I’m confused so they are dropping him because him as a christian doesn’t agree with the homosexuality lifestyle. What do you expect from a christian.
Thank you.
thank you!!!!
Isn’t he still on the down low?
Um I’m pretty sure he’s always been open about his Christian beliefs. If that’s how they feel about it, why invite him in the first place?
This!
It’s sad that we can’t disagree for religious reasons without someone labeling you as evil and a bigot.
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Learn to google, he speaks out lies against the gay communitiies because of his deep closet issues, he has no place In an event about civics rights treating everyone equal.
This is sad and it projects Washingtonians in a bad light. I am a from DC and have talked with a could people I know who are in asme sex relationships, family and friends. I myself minister to them on an ongoing basis and they were very upset when I told them f this incident. They all said how much they love Donnie McClurkin and how they would have been right there worshipping with Donnie. they were also upset that this incident was done, supposedly at the request of “the gay community” which they said doesn’t include them. Another thing we spoke about is the term ” gay community” and how it’s just another form of separation. They expressed their disagreement with the fact of being put into another box after trying to be accepted as a “person”.
Donnie, please know that Mayor Vincent Gray was NOT speaking on behalf of ALL DC residents, regardless of sexual preference. One person even said to me how in living the same sex lifestyle how they would have NEEDED to hear from you, even that much more.
we live in a political society, where everyone has to be careful not to step on each others toes. Donnie’s personal christian views are strong as with many, although some chose not to speak on it. He Did, which in turn when you have a Mayor that has some issues going on behind him and soooooooo much with LGBT group. The Grey Camp thought best to pull anyone who may have expressed their opinions publicly and his celebrity status does play into part. This is the decision of politics and Yes it was tacky!!
I absolutely and positively LOVE Donnie as a minister, a singer and as a man. His honesty is beyond admirable and I will always respect him for it. With that said, I understand how his words can be received as hateful speech. Calling homosexuality a sin and a curse is demeaning to gay people who take pride in who they are. Donnie also opposes civil marriage for gays, which means he is in favor of suppressing their civil rights. It is difficult to have someone so against homosexuality appear at a civil rights event. This is like having someone who has Black friends and who likes Black people individually, but who feels we shouldn’t have equal rights or that we are an inferior race (as many believe we are cursed) speaking at a civil rights rally.