LEADERSHIP: Boston mayor to skip GospelFest over Donnie McClurkin appearance

[Bluebear]

For some politicians who support the LGBT population, even "singing just one song" is too much.

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Every year Mayor Tom Menino's Officeof Arts, Tourism, and Special Events puts on its annual Boston GospelFest at City Hall Plaza.

And because the Gospelfest is a public and taxpayer-funded community event, it’s open to all -- even its African American lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities.

But with Pastor Donnie McClurkin, the poster boy for African American ex-gay ministries, who spews anti-gay religion-based vitriol, billed as the main event, many in the African American lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities will not be in attendance at this year’s event. And neither will the mayor.

Menino ranks among the most pro-LGBTQ mayors across the country. He refused to participate in Boston’s St. Patrick's Day parade when organizers barred an LGBTQ group from marching. And he was always an advocate for equal marriage. Menino has thrown his weight around and has used his power on behalf of LGBTQ civil rights, and have succeeded in doing so....

Ms. Julie Burns, the Director of Arts, Tourism & Special Events for the Mayor’s Office came late to knowing about McClurkin's anti-gay rhetoric. When Burns called me on June 24th about the McClurkin kerfuffle with the Gospelfest just weeks away she was apologetic.

“I learned yesterday -- through the Phoenix article regarding the City of Boston Gospel Fest -- of the depth and breath of Donnie McClurkin's views on the Gay community. I am embarrassed to say that I was not aware of this and we obviously should have vetted him further. Gospel Fest is in its 10th year and is arguably the largest Gospel event in New England. Minister McClurkin was recommended to us by a number of people and we were swayed by his artistic honors. Of course, this does not excuse the situation that we now find ourselves in! Please rest assured that Mayor Menino did not know anything about this and would never condone ‘hate speech’ of any kind, “ Burns wrote in an email to me.


http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=25354

[Starry Messenger]

1. Leadership, indeed!

:thumbsup:

[Bluebear]

2. Imagine that.

:)

[Starry Messenger]

3. That's what integrity looks like!

Love it! :)

[boston bean]

4. I really like Mayor Menino!

He's a good person.

[Bluebear]

15. Me too. Can't understand a word he says, but good people.

:)

[DeSwiss]

5. K&R n/t

[LWolf]

6. k&r

[katandmoon]

7. Why in the fucking hell are Boston taxpayers supporting ANYthing gospel related?

[pinboy3niner]

8. K&R

Good for Menino!

[Ian David]

9. That's nice. But THIS asshole is still Boston's official Chaplain for the police & fire dept...

http://www.massnews.com/past_issues/2000/8_Aug/rebbe.htm

[Smashcut]

10. That's not very "post-partisan" of him!

Excellent job, Mayor.

[Forkboy]

11. I like Mumbles Menino.

:thumbsup:

[MuseRider]

12. This is how it should be.

I would go a bit farther and try to get him taken off the ticket but it is probably too late and contracts have been signed. I wonder if the Mayor might be able to take control of the message?

Good for him. It has been a long while since that kind of integrity has reared it's head. Nice to see it is not dead.

[davidinalameda]

13. only if Obama had the same standards

should have realized back in 2008 that Obama was going to toss us under the bus

I wish I had

[Bluebear]

14. Donnie McClurkin was just the opening act.

:(

[Ignis]

16. K&R for leadership.

It honestly doesn't take much. Just stand up to bigots and we'll have your back.

:shrug:

[Bluebear]

17. Principles, not pandering.

:toast:

[xchrom]

18. Recommend

[gratuitous]

19. So, Menino didn't know about McClurkin's proclivities beforehand

But once his office found out, they said: (1) they should have vetted McClurkin further; (2) they had followed the recommendation of people they trusted; and (3) they were "swayed" by McClurkin's artistic honors. They then backed out. Let me repeat that: THEY BACKED OUT when they found out about McClurkin. They should have done more background. They disappointed the people - presumably allies and backers - who had recommended McClurkin. They took responsibility for not doing what they should have ahead of time, and then backed out. Because they didn't want to alienate the lgbtq community.

Anybody at the White House taking notes?

[Bluebear]

20. :crickets: from the White House

[dsc]

21. Good recovery from not having done due diligence on McClurkin

It would have been nice to see Obama do the same thing.