"Bishop" Eddie Long: priceless rant, and much more

Update 9.25.10: A Fouth Lawsuit Against the "Bishop" Spencer LeGrande, a member of New Birth Charlotte, says in a lawsuit he engaged in sexual activities with Bishop Eddie Long while the two vacationed in Kenya when he was 17. LeGrande, of Charlotte, N.C., alleges in a civil suit filed Friday in DeKalb County that Long gave him an Ambien, a popular prescription sleep aid, followed by a "prolonged hug," kissing and rubbing, according to the suit. The suit claims the two shared a bed for the remainder of their trip. "Bishop Long categorically denies the charges," church spokesman Art Franklin said Friday. LeGrande, like the three other young men who've filed suit against Long, is represented by attorney B.J. Bernstein. Two of the alleged victims, Maurice Robinson, 20, and Anthony Flagg, 21, were linked to a June robbery of Long’s personal office at the DeKalb church. Robinson and Anthony Boyd, who were captured on surveillance cameras, took an iPod, iPad and jewelry, according to a police report. Flagg was never charged. Spencer LeGrande was 15 when he met Long, the suit alleges. LeGrande and his mother were among the founding members of Long's satellite church in Charlotte, N.C., Bernstein told the AJC. Their first meeting was an emotional one, according to the suit. LeGrande, moved by one of Long's sermons, approached the pastor and began to cry. Long hugged the 15-year-old, assuring him, "I got you" ... "I will be your dad," the suit states. Soon after they began talking regularly by phone. LeGrande, who says he was showered with gifts, including a Dodge Intrepid, was expected to "have no girlfriends." In return his tuition and expenses at Beulah were covered, the suit alleges. The freshman college student was allowed to live, rent-free, in the Harwell House, owned by another New Birth minister. After a few months, LeGrande was moved into a church-owned community center on Parsons Road. The suit alleges the two had sex in that home along with other church properties, including the bishop's private office. Their relationship crumbled in early 2009 as LeGrande became "disillusioned and confused by Long’s actions and began pulling away from [the bishop]," according to the suit. Around that time, LeGrande dropped out of Beulah University and sought to distance himself from his spiritual mentor. Even through Jasmyne Cannick and Keith Boykin exposed Bishop Eddie Long's hypocrisy years ago, everyone seems shocked by these latest allegations against Atlanta's favorite Jesus PIMP. The above rant is my favorite pull no punches take on the situation. One of my favorite porn stars turned blogger Kevyn M doesn't take sides, but he does give the good Bishop too much of a pass. The one thing Keyvn M left out is that Eddie Long is rabidly ANTI-GAY. He preaches fire and brimstone upon the heads of gay people, and marches to keep gay Americans as second-class citizens. That's the real point here. So in essence, if these allegations are true, then the "Bishop" is the most reprehensible, self-loathing Jesus Pimp there is. How many pastors buff up, slip on spandex and text pics of themselves to their young male "spiritual sons"? All Eddie Long cares about is power, fame, money and apparently - dick. The man is a liar. The man is also a part of the reprehensible anti-gay movement which inspires hatred and violence against gay people in America. How many little gay boys have offed themselves after listening to gays being vilified from pulpits like Eddie Long's? How many Carl Walker-Hoovers are on these hate-mongers hit list? And I disagree with Kevyn on another point, this scandal couldn't happen to just anybody. Most of us live authentic lives and don't go around condemning people for openly doing what we secretly do ourselves. There are plenty of sayings to cover this situation: Chickens coming home to roost being my favorite (for several reasons). Unfortunately the 'faithful' are too eager to forgive and forget, so Eddie Long probably won't be taken down by the cognitive dissonance of his preachings and practices. Regretfully, redemption and stupidity go hand and hand. Eddie Long's Longfellows Youth Academy, where young men begin their "masculine journey" will take on deeper meaning after all is said, done and swept under the pew. I wonder if Eddie Long ever heard of Carl Walker-Hoover? Check out the video below and know these things happen because of homo-hatred from the pulpit. See also: Rod 2.0 Read Jamal Parris' complaint against Eddie Long Eddie Long Case Should Mark the End of Black Church Homophobia The Bullycide & Same-Sex Marriage Apathy Connection Whence Cometh Evil? Why Visibility is Da Bomb

Comments

[Son of Baldwin]

Tell it. Tell it. TELL IT!

[Greg]

Great article.As Son of Baldwin said, "Tell it. Tell it. TELL IT!"

[thirdnlong]

I can not judge him because I am not God. What I do want to say is God will reveal. What saddens me is that the church is clapping and giving him praise when the truth has yet to be revealed. It seems as though the congregation is brain washed. If he is guilty, he may get away with it, but the real test is when he goes home with out the congregation clapping and hollering and tries to sleep at night; can he deal with himself, can he make peace in his heart, soul and mind. The biggest issue is, CAN U DEAL WITH SELF. What about the children, how do they feel, do they have anybody shouting and clapping with them. Bernice King was on the pulpit begging for money for the church, is that for its defense fund ? It needs to be put all in the hands of God, trust and believe he will shut it down if he has too. I have watch Long on TV for years and never seen his wife, now all of a sudden he wants to walk in with his wife. If you watch the video it looks forced and staged. She can smile and act like nothing is happening but she is the main one who knows the truth. She knows where her husband has been and with whom. Let God be the judge and every man a liar.

[Taylor Siluwé]

Yes, lets not judge, just expose the truth.

Let his congregation know that blind faith makes people gullible, makes the guilty feel more invincible. Lets make Eddie Long the poster boy for religious condemnation from the pulpit all the devastation it leaves in its wake.

Lets make this about the little boys who hang themselves rather than hear the word "faggot" one more time.