D.C. Coalition: Remove Bishop Owens from Mayor’s Interfaith Council
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News Release

For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Brian Watson
admin@dccoalition.com


 

DC Coalition Denounces Bishop Owens’ Homophobic Sermon and Calls for His Removal from the Mayor’s Interfaith Council

 

WASHINGTON, DC, May 8, 2006 – The DC Coalition of Black Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Men and Women denounces the April 9th sermon of Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr., pastor of Greater Mount Calvary Church and calls for the bishop’s removal from Mayor Anthony Williams’ Interfaith Council.

In the Palm Sunday sermon, entitled “Fan or Follower,” Bishop Owens denigrates gay men by questioning their manhood.  The Bishop stated, “It takes a real man to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior.  I’m not talking about no faggot or no sissy.  Wait a minute!  Let all the real men come on down here and take a bow…All the real men – I’m talking about the straight men.  You ain’t funny and you ain’t cranky, but you’re straight.  Come on down here and walk around and praise God that you are straight.  Thank him that you’re straight.  All the straight men that proud to be a Christian.  That are proud to be a man of God.”

Bishop Owens’ offensive April 9th sermon reeks of bigotry, ignorance, and hatred.  It served to alienate and insult gay men on the basis of their sexuality, while advancing heterosexuality as the only acceptable orientation.  The sermon’s essential message was if you are openly gay, then you are worthless; if you are gay and in the closet, then do not come out.”  The Coalition denounces the sermon because its hateful rhetoric has a negative impact not only on the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community (LGBT), but also on our entire city.  When gay men are repeatedly exposed to attacks of this nature, it has a negative impact on their self-esteem and leads to isolation from family and friends.  The result is that more young men and women suffer from depression and leads some to commit suicide or inflict harm on others.  Moreover, the depression and isolation causes many LGBT men and women to abuse illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.  The sermon is particularly reproachable because it was delivered in a place of worship, a place that many people go to cope from the discrimination that society inflicts on them.  The sermon attempted to erode and minimize the faith that gay men have in God.  As one gay attendee at the service stated in the Washington City Paper, the sermon suggested “it is impossible to be gay and serve God.” (Jones, Washington City Paper). 

Mayor Anthony Williams’ Interfaith Council was formed to foster understanding and inclusion among people of different faiths and identities.  By contrast, Bishop Owens’ April 9th sermon evinced his own hatred of and ignorance about people who are different, which go against the very tenets of the Interfaith Council.  While the D.C. Coalition understands freedom of speech, such bigotry continues to undermine an already-fragmented Black community.  Therefore, the D.C. Coalition calls for the removal of Bishop Owens from the Mayor’s Interfaith Council.  Keeping Owens on the Interfaith Council suggests that the Mayor and the remaining council members condone the Bishop’s statements and expressions of bigotry in places of worship in general.  We strongly urge that Mayor Williams rescind Bishop Owens’ membership (whether it be honorary or full-fledged) on the Interfaith Council immediately.

 

The D.C. Coalition is an all volunteer community-based organization whose mission is to abolish discrimination, nurture positive attitudes, and build a strong political base for the community while stressing the beauty of black culture.  We seek to achieve this through community political forums, educational workshops, symposiums, and social activities. We can be reached at admin@dccoalition.com .


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