I finally got around to reading the Out magazine piece about Michael Irvin, and here’s my only question: Did Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter’s House megachurch in Dallas give Irvin his blessing on this? In the story, we learn that Irvin considers Jakes his “spiritual father” and that it was under Jakes’ counseling that Irvin finally came to terms with his brother’s sexual orientation – and his own homophobia. But Jakes isn’t exactly the type of pastor about whom you’d expect to hear that. He’s made some pretty bigoted statements over the years, calling homosexuality a “brokenness” and saying he wouldn’t hire a sexually active gay person. In fact, Jakes seems like exactly the type of person Irvin is referring to in this passage:
Irvin wants to eradicate homophobia in every corner of American society. He points to churches that have skewed the word of God to persecute those who don’t share their dogma; he shakes his head at the black culture he says has gone adrift in a sea of homophobia; and he said it’s time to end the second class–citizen status of gays in the eyes of the law.
“I don’t see how any African-American with any inkling of history can say that you don’t have the right to live your life how you want to live your life. No one should be telling you who you should love, no one should be telling you who you should be spending the rest of your life with. When we start talking about equality and everybody being treated equally, I don’t want to know an African-American who will say everybody doesn’t deserve equality.”
One one hand, Irvin considers Jakes his spirtiual father, but on the other, he says he doesn’t even want to know an African-American person who doesn’t support LGBT equality — which, based on past statements, would be a fairly accurate description of Jakes. I’m curious as to whether the author of the Out story, Cyd Zeigler, asked Irvin about this seeming incongruency, and if so, what Irvin said. Here’s one possible explanation: A few years back, Jakes’ son was arrested in a gay sex sting at Kiest Park in Dallas. Has that changed Jakes’ views about gay people, just as Irvin’s brother’s sexual orientation changed his? If so, is Jakes going to speak up about it like Irvin has? And if not, is Irvin working on Jakes? If Jakes, one of the most influential African-American pastors in the nation, were to come out in support of LGBT equality, it would be just as significant — if not more — than Irvin doing so. We’re all ears, bishop, all ears.
It is trully gutsy for an uber-macho Dallas Cowboy like Mr. Irvin to appear in Out magazine and make the public remarks he did. It speaks highly of his character as a human being. Given his past history, is living proof that people really can grow and mature over time. The same may very well be true with Rev. Jakes. In 1981, I worked on a campaign to defeat a citizen’s initiative to remove sexual orientation from the City of Austin’s Fair Housing Ordinance added by the council that year. The inititiave was launched by legendary Texas hate-monger Steven Hotze now of Houston and a pastor of a local Baptist Church. The pastor remained for a couple of years Austin’s most visible anti-gay leader. Then in the mid 80s he moved his church to north Austin and nary a homophobic word was ever heard from him again. I knew the pastor’s daughter pretty well from High School – we graduated in 1980. Sometime in the late 80s, I went to lunch at a small diner off South Congress and lo and behold there she was with another woman. It certainly wasn’t difficult to figure out the nature of their relationship. I sat with them and she related the painful story of her coming out to her parents, how hard it was for her father to accept but that he eventually arrived at the conclusion that there really is a Christian commandment to love. Coincidentally, all of this happened about the time he gave up his gay-baiting. Whether it is a gay person, African American, Mexican immigrant or even a Republican, it really makes it alot more difficult to hate someone when you really know, like or love them.
@Gary: If we had a comment of the week award, you would win it.
Michael Irvin should be ashamed of himself.
Being gay and being african american have nothing in common. Being black is not unnatural while homosexuality is. He is also endorsing something that his belief does not. He is false.
Having a gay family member doesnt mean that one has to agree with the lifestyle choice. Sure you love the person but the lifestyle is still against what is natural for humans and The Most High.
This lifestyle is brokeness and someone is not a bigot for saying it. How can gay people cray about acceptance and tolerance and then call people insulting names what they dont agree with your choice? I find it to be very immature and I believe you should stop.
@ Paul N,
Please step in to 21 century , FIRST- it is a life, not a lifestyle, so please, use what little intelligence you have accordingly.
TWO, your lack of any truth in your statement shows you have no fear of being and out right liar, so thanks for proving just what a fool you are
What I find amusing is how quickly a person who defends his/her beliefs and opinion on homesexuality is ganged on, ostracized, humiliated, made to feel as though they have committed and unforgivable sins and in regards to public figures forced to undergo diversity counseling and made public apologies. HOWEVER, when a person criticizes a Christian religion, makes fun of it, etc. Nothing is done, its as if it is acceptable. If you want respect for your ‘lifestyle’ choice then respect others choices to not agree with that lifestyle. Just because we as Christians do not condone homosexuality nor should we if we live our lives according to the bible it does not mean that we are homophobic or full of hatred. Because if it does, then those of you bash Christianity and other religions are full of hatred as well. If you have chosen to live your life in a homosexual relationship then that is your choice to do so, and it should not affect you or anyone else who agrees or don’t with it. AND just because it is not acceptable in the 21st century does not mean that everyone is accepting of it, and they have a right to feel that way without fear of retaliation.
Ah, Felicia. If only you only really lived as you say you do. If you allowed gays and lesbians to live our lives in peace and not legislate discrimination against us, that would be fine. Then no criticism of your “lifestyle.” How amusing you can live with your heterosexual privilege and criticize those you legislate against.
Oh Felicia, you poor dear. So picked upon for being such a good Christian. Why every week brings a new story of a hapless Christian victim of a hate crime. Why Christians can’t go anywhere in this country without being assaulted on the streets for their faith. Christians can’t broadcast on radio and T.V., Christians can’t put bumper stickers on their car without risk of being attacked by an angry mob; the Governor of Texas has to hide his Evangelicalism or lose at the polls; no Christian can put up a cross or religious symbol at their desk at work because they’ll get fired; and of course no politician ever shows up at a church during campaign season because everyone knows you can’t get elected in this country if you’re a Christian. It’s just so tough being a persecuted Christian in America with the constant drumbeat of criticism from polticians, media taling heads and gays.
I agree with Felicia, and let me add that we are living in the last days and Jesus himself has warned us that we will be persecuted for His righteousness, we have to continue to preach the good news about Jesus christ that he died for our sins and the sins of the world, he died for liars, murders, adulterers, and homosexuals and sexual fornicators we all need to accept His free gift of Salvation for I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentiles For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17
I just want everyone to know one thing. I love Jesus and I am saved. Jesus and God loves everyone, however hates the sin. The Bible clearly states that homosexualality is wrong. It is a sin. With that being said, lying, stealing, murder, envy to name a few are sins also. God hates those too. God loves the homosexual just as the loves everyone. We are all sinners and fall short of the Glory of God. Jesus came and died for us because we all are sinners! Not just the gays and lesibans. I know I sin but I ask my Lord and savior to forgive and help me to walk in His way. We are to love everyone as Christ loved the Church. Jesus died for gays like he died for me. We all need to ask God for His forgiveness. I do not support gay marriage, I try to live the way the Bible tells me to. we need to love the person you do not have to love the sin. I think gay people should be treated with dignity and respect but I think marriage should be protected to be the kind of union the Lord intended. People for some reason get hung up on the homosexual issue. Everyone should say a prayer and ask God for His conviction. Even if you do not believe in Him, what would it hurt?
@ DE DE(Everyone should say a prayer and ask God for His conviction) OH, is this the same god that KILLED every
infant ,toddler, teenager, mother, father, brother, sister, and grandparents. The same one that serial drown every pregnant mother, homeless child or adult, every special needs person. You know the people your bible calls his children and every other animal on the planet except a few people on a boat and some live stock. OH YES OH YES lets pray to the greatest mass murder of humanity ever known.
Oh and lets not forget it promised to not to do it again with water, so the next time it gets a wild hair its going to roast the planet with fire. OH THAT GOD. Better watch your back DeDe it just might decide to turn you into a pillar of salt just for looking where it does not want you to. then I would have to use you to soak my feet after a hard day of wondering in the desert for 40 years. oh yea that what I want to do.
Now I know you dont have the courage to answer me back but thats ok, your kind rarely does, and when they do they say they will pray for me. Now thats twisted.