Faggot. Homo. Queer. At the dawn of a pastor’s hypocrisy, I hope our leaders in this country (whoever they might be) look beyond the surface of a situation and excavate deeper into truth and understanding. Not only truth about any particular person’s action, but truth and understanding about a group of people and what that group does and does not stand for.

In the last week the internet has been filled with derogatory terminology about gay men specifically, but on a broader basis, the LGBT community as a whole. Faggot, Homo, and Queer have been spewed across television and internet screens while being cocooned into negative connotations to not only strike down a pastor, but to also demonize a whole community of people that believe homosexuality is not an abomination. Yes, in case you want some type of preface this is yet another, “It is not about Eddie Long” blog. And I only feel the need to write this type of narrative due to that fact that many people continue to use “this situation” (and others like it) to perpetuate a hateful derogatory stereotypes  about the LGBT community.

It has come to my attention that every time pedophilia, rape, or sexual assault occur within the confines of two people of the same gender, much of society seems to equate these three things with being homosexual. In other words, when people think of me being gay, they will associate me with also being a pedophile or rapist. I want to take this moment to break down this stereotype and disassociate this myth.

It is not the first time it has happened. This stereotype goes way back to Sodom and Gomorrah, when the city demands that Lot bring them the two male visitors so that they may rape them. Lot instead sends the men his two daughters. Many say God destroyed the city because of homosexuality, but I would argue that the city was destroyed (if not literally destroyed, at least in theory) because these men WERE RAPING PEOPLE, both male and female. My church growing up would use this story as a premise to prove how God hates gays (Which I believe to be absolutely ridiculous). This confusion of rape and homosexuality repeats itself throughout history. Even with current events involving the Catholic Church Individuals attempted to berate the church for their homosexual act, and attach evil of stealing a child’s innocence onto the idea of being homosexual. This distinction seems to be intentionally blurred to enforce homophobic dialogues around the country.

For those who are not updated on the current undertakings involving Eddie Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, allow me to give a short synopsis of what has taken place over the last week. Four young men from Long’s youth congregation have stepped forward and accused him of sexual abuse or forcing sex upon them.

Long’s response:”I want you to know, as I said earlier, that I am not a perfect man. But this thing, I’m going to fight,” he said. “I feel like David against Goliath, but I’ve got five rocks and I haven’t thrown one yet.”

By this point and time I think I have made it clear as to what I think about Eddie Long. I am not sure if he is guilty of any particular crime of not, but I am convinced that he did have sexual interactions with these young men. And I’m not sure if I have forgotten the law or not but I thought a person under 18 couldn’t have sex with someone twice their age. If he did have sex with these four people, then would it not be statutory rape? Does anyone agree with me?

Anyway, this is not about Long, this is about how society continues to find evidence to demonize and scrutinize the LGBT community. How no matter the context people always seem to find a way to bring it back to gay people being evil. I don’t expect this stereotyping to end any time soon, but I hope people will start to shed light onto situations like this and call people out on their sometimes blatant, sometimes subliminal homophobia.