Unless you’ve been living under a leopard-print pillow for the past month, you’ve probably already heard that four young men have accused Bishop Eddie Long of sexual coercion and abuse. With all the Bishop Long discussions that took place in the media, we felt that facts were getting lost. We decided to compile a list that sets those facts straight, as the Long fiasco moves along.
1. It’s Not About Homosexuality, It’s About Abuse
The Eddie Long drama is not just about his “hypocrisy towards gays,” it’s about his alleged abuse of children. What has homosexuality got to do with child abuse? The two are not related, people! Gay men who have consensual sex with other men should not be confused with sick pedophiles! If boys were coerced into sex by a man or a woman, it is ABUSE. That’s the ISSUE. Whoever keeps conflating pedophilia with homosexuality, needs to get a life, and a sociology book.
2. It’s Not (Just) About Money, It’s About Crime
When the boys came out with painful stories, some bloggers and talking heads kept talking about how much Eddie Long would have to pay those boys, if he were guilty. Very few people even mentioned the jailing of this alleged pedophile. Hence, we must now interrupt our regularly scheduled programming for a service announcement: These lawsuits aren’t just about lawsuit money, they’re about a sick, disturbing crime!
3. Bishop Eddie Long Has Been Accused in the Past
In 2007 and 2009, Reuben Armstrong wrote books that challenged and outed whom he felt were a group of “dirty” pastors. This group, which he detailed in his book, “Snakes in the Pulpit,” included Eddie Long. Armstrong said while interviewing with a radio station (98.7 Kiss FM, New York) in September, that even a personal bodyguard for Eddie Long had informed him about Long’s misgivings.
4. Brainwashed Adults Are Guilty Too
Did anybody watch the “sermon” Long gave to his congregation after being accused of pedophilia by several boys? Please say you threw up at the way those brainwashed adults were clapping for his Soul-Glo-dripping behind. That congregation completely disrespected his victims, if he did abuse them! He didn’t even deny the allegations, and they were clapping like sheep. All he said was: “I’m not the man the media is painting me out to be on the T.V.” ……..Uhm, and? Did you or did you not abuse those teenage boys?
Maybe less children would be victims of sexual abuse if adults would stop being so daggone brainwashed by people who create false notions of “power.” Save the kids! Amen.
5. There Is No Holy Explanation for the Pictures
‘Nuff said.
6. If He’s Guilty, It Wouldn’t Matter If the Boys “Stole” From Him
Accusations ran rampant in the media about how a boy he allegedly abused “stole” from him. Question: what does apple have to do with orange? Answer: Not a damn.
So, let’s focus on adjudicating the serious sexual crimes committed by “powerful” men who have access to children–and vulnerable adults.
Let’s not distract from the issue. Many media chatterers and bloggers brought up this silly point that one of the boys “may have” stolen from Long. Clearly, the bishop has not been stolen from enough, because his material wealth is greater than all of his followers’ assets combined. Just keep on padding your pastors’ pockets, people! Just keep making them rich! SMH.
7. That Said, He Is “Innocent Until Proven Guilty” (*side eye*)
…or so they say. You already know what you believe in this situation.
The bottom line is: when you send your little boy to church to serve a higher power you believe in, you don’t expect him and others to come out and painfully admit to being forced into sexual servitude to a man that may have exploited your God for his own power on earth. That is all.
