Homophobic Megachurch Pastor Eddie Long Dead At 63
Controversial megachurch minister Bishop Eddie Long died from cancer Sunday morning at age 63.
Long had been battling illness for some time, according to the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. Long told parishioners he was recovering from a “health challenge” after rumors circulated about his appearance.
Born in Huntersville, North Carolina, Long became the pastor of Lithonia, Georgia church in 1987, boosting its numbers from 300 to more than 25,000.
His charismatic sermons often condemned homosexuality: Long's ministry attempted to convert homosexuals into heterosexuality and, in 2004, he led 20,000 people in a march against marriage equality.
“It is the most unattractive thing I have ever seen, when I see women wearing uniforms that men would wear, and women fighting to get in the military...” Long once declared. “The woman gets perverted to turn towards women... God says you deserve death.”
But, in 2010, Long was accused by four male teens of bribing them with money, cars and exotic trips in return for sexual favors. Each boy filed a lawsuit, though all were settled out of court.
Speaking to his congregation, Long claimed that "being condemned from the four corners of the Earth" caused him to contemplate suicide.
But he credited the love of his congregation with saving him: "Regardless of what anybody said, love lifted me and carried me.”
In 2013, more than a dozen parishioners sued Long for reportedly luring them into a Ponzi scheme that left them broke.
More recently, Long was named in a sermon by gospel singer Kim Burrell that went viral this month. In it, Burell called homosexuality a "perversion" and said Long's condition "an embarrassment to the Church."
"Nobody would be making that you have AIDS unless a homosexual man didn't come out and reveal what you did behind closed doors," she claimed. The sermon led Ellen DeGeneres to cancel Burrell's appearance on her talk show.
Long's passing has been met with mixed response on social media.
His wife, Vanessa, said she was confident he was "resting in a better place."
“Although his transition leaves a void for those of us who loved him dearly, we can celebrate and be happy for him, knowing he’s at peace.”
He is also survived by four children and three grandchildren.
