Donnie McClurkin Cut From MLK Concert for Gay Stance
Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin was banned Saturday from performing at the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial concert because of his stance on homosexuality.
The Washington Post reported the Grammy-winning singer was set to perform for the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, but a handful of gay rights activists objected ahead of the event. McClurkin has testified that God delivered him from being gay.
A spokeswoman for Mayor Vincent Gray said the singer decided not to perform because the purpose of the event was to bring people together.
But in a video statement, McClurkin said the mayor’s office “uninvited” him.
“[It’s] 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,” he said.
“These are bully tactics simply because of stances that I took, never ever demeaning, never ever derogatorily addressing any lifestyle,” he said. “But this is a civil rights infringement situation.”
McClurkin said pastors who spoke against the mayor’s move were ignored. He has asked for prayer as he plans to fight the action against him.
