August 11, 2013
Ex-Gay Gospel Singer Doesn't Play MLK Concert
Robert Nesti READ TIME: 1 MIN.
WASHINGTON -- A gospel singer who says God delivered him from being gay did not perform at a concert the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.
The Washington Post (HTTP://WAPO.ST/15OFZCE ) reports singer Donnie McClurkin was scheduled to perform Saturday night to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington, but several gay rights activists objected ahead of the event.
Doxie McCoy, a spokeswoman for Mayor Vincent Gray, says the Grammy-winning singer decided not perform because the purpose of the event was to bring people together.
But in a video statement linked to McClurkin's Twitter page, he says he was "asked not to attend" and was uninvited. McClurkin says there should be freedom of speech "as long as it's done in love."
Robert Nesti can be reached at [email protected].
