"Ex-gay" pastor will perform at Boston GospelFest

Despite public outcry, Donnie McClurkin remains on the event's lineup.

The City of Boston drew criticism in June following the announcement that Pastor Donnie McClurkin -- who claims to have been saved from the "curse" of homosexuality -- would perform at the 10th anniversary of the Boston GospelFest.

After fielding public outcry from the LGBT community, an attempt to find a suitable replacement, and phone calls with McClurkin's management team, Julie Burns, the Director of Arts, Tourism & Special Events for the Mayor's Office, confirmed that McClurkin will perform at GospelFest on July 18 at City Hall Plaza.

"I spoke to [McClurkin's] manager to let them know what was happening up here," Burns told Bay Windows. "They absolutely one hundred percent agreed that Pastor McClurkin will not talk about his personal story or his views on people's sexual orientation, and that he is here solely for the purpose of singing gospel, and he wants it to be a positive, inclusive event."

McClurkin, who claims to have been saved from the "curse" of homosexuality and regularly gives homophobic sermons, is perhaps best known for his involvement with Barack Obama's bid for President of the United States. During the 2007 primary season, the future president appeared with McClurkin at several venues in South Carolina. Following public outcry from the LGBT community, McClurkin was hastily removed from the campaign's performance roster.

A peaceful demonstration has been organized by Join the Impact - MA (JTIMA) to coincide with McClurkin's GospelFest performance. "We will not be disruptive, but we will be empathetic that the lies and hatred about LGBT people McClurkin peddles are not welcome in the Cradle of Liberty," JTIMA organizer Don Gorton said. "He wants to impart his homosexual self-loathing to vulnerable teenagers. We will counteract his intolerance by affirming the worth, dignity, and equality of all -- including lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgenders." Gorton said that protestors will organize at City Hall Plaza at 5 p.m. on July 18 with signs "challenging McClurkin's defamations of the LGBT community."

Rev. Irene Monroe, a regular Bay Windows columnist, offered her assistance to Burns and the Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events in selecting a different performer. She provided them with a list of ten additional gospel performers of McClurkin's "caliber," but told Burns in an e-mail that "there is no top singing African American gospel singer who's publicly an ally to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities." Monroe is also working with Gorton and playing a leadership role with the scheduled demonstration. "I applaud Don for his vigilance on this issue and his persistence to talk and protest openly about homophobia," she told Bay Windows. "Having spoken to several prominent African American ministers of Greater Boston -- and their churchgoers -- who said they will attend GospelFest in light of the information I've told them about Rev. Donnie McClurkin, and their responses that expressed neither sorrow nor shame, I applaud Don Gorton's upcoming actions."

Sue O'Connell, Bay Windows co-publisher, was also contacted by the Mayor's Office for her opinion on the matter.

McClurkin attributes his homosexual attractions and desires to having been raped by male relatives at the ages of 8 and 13. "The abnormal use of my sexuality continued until I came to realize that I was broken and that homosexuality was not God's intention...for my masculinity," the Grammy winner wrote in his 2001 memoir Eternal Victim/Eternal Victor.

The Nation, a Barbados newspaper, reported that during a 2008 concert in the country, McClurkin told the audience that "[i]n homosexuality, there's always someone to abuse you." The singer went on to compare gay men and lesbians to "drug leaders, prostitutes, [and] gang members," telling the crowd that he considered himself a sincere, compassionate man ready for heterosexual marriage.

Burns told Bay Windows that Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino wasn't involved in the selection of GospelFest performers and therefore, won't be attending the event -- the first time he'll be absent from GospelFest in nine years. "He wants to make sure that people know that this is not okay with him," Burns said.

Burns released the following statement:

I would like to thank the community leaders who have contacted my office in the last few weeks for sharing their perspectives on this annual and beloved gospel tradition in the City of Boston.

The mission of the Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events is to foster the growth of the cultural community and promote participation in the arts and public celebrations. We produce dozens of free events throughout the year featuring different genres of music to celebrate the cultural diversity of our city.

GospelFest is one of our largest events, and, arguably, the largest free gospel show in New England. In its 10th year, we have endeavored to bring the best talent possible.

This year, based on recommendations from the Christian community, we selected Donnie McClurkin. His artistic credentials are unquestionable. He has won three Grammy awards, ten Stellar awards, two BET awards, two Soul Train awards, one Dove award, and a NAACP Image award for his work.

When I learned of the statements attributed to Pastor McClurkin I was both personally and profoundly dismayed. My office clearly did not do the due diligence required for a public event on City Hall Plaza. Mayor Menino was not involved in the selection of Pastor McClurkin and any blame lies entirely with me. The Mayor has been a strong advocate of not only LGBT rights but rights of all people and messages of intolerance are not acceptable. As a result, Mayor Menino will not attend this event.

This event, in partnership with the faith-based community, has always been presented as a celebration of gospel music. I have spoken with Pastor McClurkin's management to express my concerns in continuing with this performance. He has agreed to participate in the spirit of celebration, tolerance, and inclusion. Pastor McClurkin's intentions are to come to Boston to sing his gospel music and he has no other agenda.

The Director of the Mayor's Office of Arts, Tourism & Special Events said that the debate over McClurkin's performance at GospelFest will encourage the office to work differently in the future. "We will absolutely spend much more time on due diligence," Burns told Bay Windows. "The mission of this office is to provide quality entertainment to everybody. Obviously we didn't take the necessary steps this time, and for that, I certainly apologize, and I can promise that it won't happen again."