Obama 'strongly disagrees' with gospel singer on homosexuality

Homosexual activists are calling on Obama to cut ties with a Grammy Award-winning singer who says God delivered him from the homosexual lifestyle and can do the same for others. Donnie McClurkin, an ordained minister, is among several gospel singers scheduled to raise money for Obama at a concert in South Carolina this weekend.

McClurkin, who is also a pastor, says of homosexuality, "I don't believe that it is the intention of God." But he says the issue is what people do rather than what they are. But in a statement, Senator Obama (D-Illinois) said he "strongly disagrees" with McClurkin's views and "strongly believe[s] that African Americans and the LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] community must stand together in the fight for equal rights."

Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., of the High Impact Leadership Coalition says Obama is probably "not really as aware as he should be" that the black gospel industry is riddled with homosexuality.

"I think that Obama is going to get his come-uppence in this regard and will have to have a reality check," says Jackson. "So yes, he hasn't thought it through; yes, McClurkin is not going to back down; and yes, there are going to be sparks in the gay and lesbian community."

Obama's campaign, says Jackson, is in desperation mode and that Obama himself is trying to "come back to the black church." He argues that the presidential hopeful is demonstrating true hypocrisy.

"Obama has got a real problem in that he is trying to go into probably the most conservative Christian environment that you could go into, and that would be [among black churches in] the Bible Belt South," he explains. "He's already losing ground behind Hillary Clinton -- and I think what we're finding is that ultimately the faith question is going to begin to affect this election in a much more dramatic way."

Jackson says he finds it "funny" that Obama is "risking acceptance with black church voters" by supporting the homosexual agenda -- even though the homosexual community has not viewed him as their top choice for president anyway. And he argues that Democratic candidate "showed his true colors" by refusing to speak at the Values Voters Summit this past weekend, yet chose to take part in a Democratic forum in August that was devoted exclusively to homosexual issues. (See related story)