Our love affair with Julian Bond, the civil rights hero and former NAACP chairman, is no secret: love, love, love, love this man. Now, more reason than ever: Bond isn’t hiding behind some secret religious code to defend Eddie Long. Instead, he’s calling out the embroiled pastor for what he is: a “raging homophobe.”
But, says Bond: “You hope these charges are not true because it’s bad news for his family, bad news for his church.” However, “if they are true, it’s typical of people who are raving homophobes who are secretly homosexual. They have this self loathing, self hate, and they have to let it come out some way.”
And Bond, who has every credential imaginable to make this assertion, says Long’s hosting the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr.’s widow Coretta was a disgrace. “I knew her, and I knew she was a big defender of gay rights, I knew that Bishop Long was a raging homophobe, and I knew that she’d be twisting in her grave if she were buried there, and I’d be twisting in my grave eventually if I went to the funeral there, so I stayed away.”
What’s so great about Bond coming out against Long? Well his eloquence, for one. But with his criticism, Bond is greenlighting others in Black Inc. or Gay Inc. who might otherwise defend — or stay silent — on Long’s bigoted hypcrosiy. That’s a win.
How about we take this to the next level?
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How do we nominate him for 2012?????
TruthBeTold
I’m still not into Bond or an organization like the NAACP who states Who cares what Michael Vick did ? They’re ONLY dogs. What a bunch of lame-os with no integrity or sensitivity to the greater world around them.
whatever
@TruthBeTold: Around the same time Vick imbroglio was happening, there was a trial of some workers or guards at some private juvie camp, who were accused of beating to death a black teen who was an imate there. The guards were convicted of beating/killing, but got either probation or a very light sentence.
There is a feeling among many in the black community, not unjustified, that the lives of dogs, especially in this country, are worth more than black youth. I guess I can see where he was coming from.
Mike in Asheville
This one bugs me BIG TIME. Not Julian Bond, a true American hero, but Queerty for its either “fuck the story, lets bait the headline” or just insipid headlines with insipid puns.
I’m referring to your “love, love, love” Julian Bond. Now that’s an interesting use of the word love. Because if you click on the first “love” link, you go to a story that infuriated me when it was originally posted. That story was about how Julian Bond, as president of the NAACP, testified before the New Jersey legislature and made his very eloquent and unequivicable support for marriage equality. But Queerty’s headline for that post: “Julian Bond: Civil Unions Separate but Equal” implying that Bond supported civil unions because, though separate are equal. When in fact Bond testified that “separate is never equal” and that civil unions were not the same as marriage.
**************
In deed love true believers of true equality, and Julian Bond is one. But don’t besmirch those heroes with intentionally misleading headlines just to get “clicks”.
McMike
Classic. Could Mr. Bond please drop the term “raving homophobe” just a few more times in this interview. It’s funny because the last time he says it he has this twinkle in his eye which, IMO, is a slight satisfaction at seeing the downfall of a man whom he despises.
drums
Can we get someone to link to this article every time those racist trolls show up to post about how all Black people are homophobes?
Ogre Magi
Sounds like a cool guy!
counterpoll
Pastor Long’s recent accusations may well be more a function of his status as a key Evangelical religious leader than his status as an African-American man. His stance against same-sex marriage, his belief in homosexuality as a sin/temptation echo other fundamentalist evangelical Pastors who are caucasian.
Although many readers and commenters on this blog choose to focus on his race, what we seem to be dealing with is a breach of trust in so-called “spiritual leaders” who preach one thing on Sunday yet live quite another the rest of the week.
I hope the truth will come out, based on evidence. We ought not to assume his guilt based on his race, but based on facts.
Evangelical/fundamentalist pastors who suppress their own sexual identity are more likely to engage in ‘behind the scenes’ activity than those with a more mature/scientific view of human sexuality.
Julian Bond seems to be approaching the ‘scandal’ without automatically assuming guilt or innocence based only on race/religion.
He seems to be a voice of reason amid a sea of people who automatically take sides based on racial/religious biases.
LMNNYC
Speaking of Black men NOT being homophobic, Al Sharpton has also been an outspoken opponent of homophobia in churches, particularly Black churches.
jonny
I believe eddie long was involved in some chinannigans.What most people forget is that even preachers are human and sin.I try not to and its impossible.I sin less though,and try not to beat myself up when I do.
There is no bigger man than one that fesses up to his transgretions and makes amends.God forgives even tiger woods,michael vick and Anyone who asks god into their heart,and for forgiveness for their sins.Once I see how I have sinned,will sin again I feel I can no longer even begin to judge others,Our job if we are christians is to help and pray for those who do sin,even the worst child molester,dog fighter,adulterer etc….Let he who is without sin,cast the fist stone jesus said.Its time to empty our pockets of stones,no man here is worthy to throw them,and they are a burden to carry.When you let go of hate and let love in,you get a new set of eyes,and a new heart,its why its called born again!