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Rev. Irene Monroe is a Ford Fellow and doctoral candidate at Harvard Divinity School.
In this interview, Irene will discuss her views on LGBT outreach to the African American community, “ex-gay” gospel singer Donnie McClurkin and the efforts of white evangelical politicians to lure black preachers.
One of Monroe’s outreach ministries is writing religion columns. She writes “The Religion Thang,” for In Newsweekly, the largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender newspaper that circulates widely throughout New England, “Faith Matters” for The Advocate Magazine, a national gay & lesbian magazine, and “Queer Take,” for The Witness, a progressive Episcopalian journal.
Her writings have also appeared in the Boston Herald and in the Boston Globe. Her award-winning essay, “Louis Farrakhan’s Ministry of Misogyny and Homophobia”, was greeted with critical acclaim.
Monroe states that her “columns are an interdisciplinary approach drawing on critical race theory, African American , queer and religious studies.” As an religion columnist she try to inform the public of the role religion plays in discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.
This piece is worth expanding into a broader series and/or study a/o conversation.
[...] Video: TWO Interview with Rev. Irene Monroe: Homophobia and Donnie McClurkin. View Video [...]
Where was Irene when McClurkin was singing in Boston — sitting around waiting for others to protest for her? She didn’t show up, but incited riotous behavior. Being homosexual has nothing to do with color or race. Get over your OWN insecurities.
Personally I wish Irene had attended the protest, but she and several other African-American religious leaders did what they felt was appropriate: They boycotted Gospel Fest, as did Mayor Menino.
And when McClurkin first came on stage, near the end of the event, several people in the audience walked out — telling protesters that they were leaving because of McClurkin.