 |
 |
| Sen. Barack Obama has drawn criticism for appearing on a fundraising tour with ‘ex-gay’ gospel singer. (Photo by AP) |
|
|
| | |
| |
|
|
| | |
HOME > NEWS > NATIONAL NEWS
By: JOSHUA LYNSEN
COMMENTS |
| 
Sen. Barack Obama angered some of his gay supporters this week when his presidential campaign refused to drop an anti-gay minister from a fundraising tour.
Obama, who recently has fallen further behind Democratic frontrunner Sen. Hillary Clinton in polls, said he does not share Rev. Donnie McClurkin’s views on gay issues. But the minister remains part of the South Carolina tour.
“I strongly believe that African Americans and the LGBT community must stand together in the fight for equal rights,” Obama said in a statement. “And so I strongly disagree with Rev. McClurkin’s views and will continue to fight for these rights as president of the United States to ensure that America is a country that spreads tolerance instead of division.”
Ben LaBolt, a campaign spokesperson, said Tuesday that McClurkin “is still scheduled to participate in the tour” that begins Friday.
The decision angered some gays who have supported Obama’s campaign, including Rick Garcia, a longtime gay rights activist who helped start Equality Illinois.
“I thank God that the Rev. Fred Phelps doesn’t have a strong political base to follow him,” Garcia said. “If Rev. Phelps had a strong base, maybe Sen. Obama would hook up with him, as well.”
Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church members have protested at funerals for U.S. servicemen suggesting that they died because the United States supports gay rights.
LaBolt declined to comment on Garcia’s statement, noting that Obama “has been clear” he does not share McClurkin’s views.
McClurkin, a Pentecostal minister, acclaimed gospel singer and Grammy Award winner who will perform at the tour’s finale Sunday, has long espoused anti-gay views. McClurkin claims to be “ex-gay” and has said in numerous interviews that he was raped on two separate occasions — at ages 8 and 13 — by male relatives. After 20 years of attraction to other men he attributed to the abuse, McClurkin, who has never married, claims to have overcome homosexuality.
According to the Human Rights Campaign, McClurkin in 2003 accused gay Americans of “trying to kill our children” and in 2002 called homosexuality a “curse.”
McClurkin also told the Associated Press this week that he believes gay people need not be gay.
“I don’t believe that it is the intention of God,” he said. “Sexuality, everything is a matter of choice.”
Tom Chaderjian, one of the earliest gay supporters of Obama’s presidential campaign, said the move hurt his opinion of Obama.
“It does in a way because someone that’s trying to change politics as usual you think would steer away from someone like that,” he said, “even if it is a good political move in South Carolina.”
Chaderjian, who is vice president of Stonewall Democrats Illinois but emphasized in an interview that he was not speaking for the organization, said Obama must do more than issue a statement denouncing McClurkin’s gay views.
He said Obama should reaffirm “at the event itself” that he does not support McClurkin’s views.
LaBolt said that Obama was not scheduled to appear at the tour stop where McClurkin is performing. He did not say whether a campaign official would read Obama’s statement on McClurkin in the senator’s absence.
In an HRC scorecard released earlier this year, Obama supported many gay issues.
Although, like the other leading candidates, he declined to back gay marriage, Obama joined all other Democrats to support granting gays in state-sanctioned unions the 1,100 federal benefits they lack.
He also joined them in supporting adoption rights and open military service for gays, and increased funding to combat HIV/AIDS.
Chaderjian and Garcia said Obama still has their support, but a similar misstep in the future could spur a harsh reaction.
“I don’t think the campaign would like how I would react,” Garcia said. “But I’m confident that Sen. Obama will not get himself in this situation again. If I wasn’t confident, I wouldn’t remain as a supporter.”
|
