Originally published: Sept. 24, 2010, 5:15 p.m.
Updated: Sept. 26, 2010, 11 a.m.
A Charlotte man has sued New Birth Charlotte with allegations that its bishop, Eddie Long, coerced him into a sexual relationship when he was 17, The Associated Press reported Friday.
New Birth Charlotte is a satellite church of Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga. Long faces similar lawsuits and allegations from three other young men. Together, all four claim Long coerced them into sex when they were only 17 or 18.
In 2007, the Southern Poverty Law Center named Long “one of the most virulently homophobic black leaders in the religiously based anti-gay movement.” According to RawStory.com, Long gave a sermon at his Lithonia church saying about gay and lesbian people, “God says you deserve death.”
A writer at AOL Black Voices reported Friday that Long would resign his position at the church after his sermon on Sunday, Sept. 26. When that day came, however, Long addressed his church and held a press conference where he vowed to fight the allegations. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a run-down of the morning’s events.
What a despicable man. All the born again, right wing Republicans who lambast the gay community should be investigated by a gay outing service. Let them know that they will be found and exposed.