For McClurkin, maintaining a strong heterosexual identity has been a continual struggle.
"It was a progression of years around '88, '89. It's not like you just stop smoking," McClurkin explained. "There are still some thoughts. You're subject to the memories of the past. But I understand who I am now."
Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin - who'll perform Thursday night at the Republican Convention before President Bush's acceptance speech - is ex-gay and proud.
Actually, the 44-year-old McClurkin calls himself a "reformed bisexual." "I was involved at one time in bisexuality, but it was God that delivered me from that," McClurkin told Lowdown.
"There is a way out, there is change, there is another way," added the Grammy-winning artist, who's the father of a young son as well as the pastor of the Perfecting Faith nondenominational church in Freeport, N.Y.
"Those that want help, I am here to help. There may be someone at the convention that the message could reach."
link
This is one of the saddest people I've ever heard of. I can't believe they chose this guy to sing at the convention -- and on the night of Bush's speech, too. What happened to all that talk about "freedom" (but not marriage) for gays? Is this the real face of the GOP? Teaching gays to hate themselves and to treat who they are as some kind of addiction like smoking? It makes me so sick. God, I feel sorry for this man's son.
(I know there are already a few diaries on McClurkin, but I hadn't seen any where he actually implies it's a struggle to be straight.)