Eddie Long's Wife Splits: (Cuz She Can't Compete With All Those Young Men?)

Weeks after he allegedly paid a $15M hush-money settlement to the four young men who accused him of sexual coercion, the wife of publicly anti-gay Bishop Eddie Long has reportedly moved out the house. Black Media Scoop has the dirt:

The latest bombshell has hit his home life. BMS has learned that Bishop Eddie Long’s wife, Vanessa allegedly packed up her bags and moved out of the $1.5million dollar home. Long married Vanessa Griffin in 1990. She worked on the Board of Directors for the Faith Academy. She also headed many ministries, mostly those dealing with women’s issues. They have 3 children together Edward, Jared, and Taylor. BMS has also learned that she allegedly took one of the children with her to stay at an undisclosed family members home! Our source says Vanessa allegedly agreed to stick by Long until the sex scandal drama was over and then she’d leave. This is Long’s second go around at the chapel of love. He married Dabara S. Houston in 1981 and they have one son together Eric Long.

ATLANTA: Bishop Eddie Long Settles Sexual Coercion Suit With Four Young Men

It appears that Atlanta's Bishop Eddie Long has paid off the four young men who last year accused him of coercing them into totally gay homosexual sex. Long had regularly and viciously railed against LGBT people from his megachurch pulpit.

Barbara Marschalk, who represents New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Long Fellows Youth Academy, said she anticipates " the lawsuits will be dismissed, with prejudice, by close of business tomorrow." B.J. Bernstein, who represents the four men who sued Long, New Birth and LongFellows, also confirmed the lawsuits had been settled. Neither side would comment further and settlement terms were unknown. According to Bernstein's office, neither she nor the plaintiffs -- Maurice Robinson, Jamal Parris, Anthony Flagg and Spencer LeGrande -- would be available for an interview "on this matter, now or in the future. "

VIDEO: Once again, here's Cadillac Kimberly's now-classic rant upon hearing the news last fall. Totally NSFW and totally hilarious.

Atlanta Braves Suspend Pitching Coach Over Anti-Gay Slurs Directed At Fans

The Atlanta Braves have suspended their pitching coach after he heckled fans at a San Francisco game by shouting, “Are you a homo couple or a threesome?" and then simulating anal sex with a baseball bat.

The Braves have placed pitching coach Roger McDowell on administrative leave while they continue to investigate allegations that he directed anti-gay slurs toward fans at San Francisco’s AT&T Park. The Braves announced that minor league pitching coordinator Dave Wallace would fill in during McDowell’s absence. Braves general manager Frank Wren is scheduled to meet with the media at 4:10 p.m. The last Brave to miss game action for inflammatory remarks was former closer John Rocker after his 1999 tirade in Sports Illustrated. Rocker was originally fined $20,000 by Major League Baseball and suspended for a month, but his sanctions were reduced to a $500 fine and a two-week suspension by an arbitrator. McDowell issued an apology on Wednesday, saying “I am deeply sorry that I responded to the heckling fans in San Francisco on Saturday. I apologize to everyone for my actions.”

Celebrity attorney Gloria Allred yesterday held a press conference with one of the witnesses, who was attending the game with his young daughters. When the witness complained to McDowell about his language, the coach allegedly waved the bat at him asking, "How much are your teeth worth?"

UPDATE: GLAAD says the Braves need to do more.

“It remains to be seen whether the Atlanta Braves will take real disciplinary action and send a clear message that there is no place for anti-gay remarks or violent threats in baseball,” said GLAAD President Jarrett Barrios. “The Braves and Major League Baseball should follow the NBA and WWE by speaking out in support of gay and lesbian baseball fans and players around the country, and by taking steps to make the sport a safe place for everyone.”

Tony Perkins Vs. Coca-Cola

Ever since King & Spalding dropped their DOMA cases, word has been that their top hometown client Coca-Cola had some role in convincing them to pull out. Yesterday FRC president Tony Perkins hinted that Coke may be next on their shitlist. Via press release:

While this form of corporate terrorism may have paid off temporarily, even the press is chiding HRC for its own intolerance toward the legal process. But that doesn't faze homosexual activists. They were all too eager to take credit for their campaign of intimidation. "We did all of this, and we're proud to have done it," Sainz bragged. According to the email traffic, King & Spalding "was starting to hear from companies that... they might have to rethink their relationship with [the firm]."

Rumors are flying that one of those companies was Coca Cola. People closest to the story are suggesting that the soda king did most of the arm-twisting. "Sources... confirm that one of King & Spalding's top clients, Coca Cola, also based in Atlanta, directly intervened to press the firm to extricate itself from the case." A spokesman for the company refused to comment. But if the allegations are true, I guarantee that FRC won't hesitate to!

Bishop Eddie Long-Stroke Announces Late Night "Men Only" Prayer Meetings

"If you're a man. Come. And join us. Bring your friends." (Also: "Make sure you bring an offering worthy of the Lord.")

(Via - Rod 2.0)

The "Ex-Gay, Ex-Drag" Pastor

Pastor Ja'Von Crockett appeared on Atlanta television to let people know that he's no longer the fierce ball queen known as the Mother Cavalli. And he brought his "best friend" on the show for support.

Atlanta Mayor Apologizes For Eagle Raid

(Via - Georgia Voice)

Bishop Eddie Long Agrees To Mediation To Avoid Gay Sex Coercion Trial

Isn't THIS interesting?

ATLANTA: City To Pay $1M Settlement Over Police Raid At Eagle Nightclub

The city of Atlanta has agreed to pay a $1M settlement over last year's outrageous police raid of the Eagle, a popular leather bar where employees and patrons were forced to lie on a filthy floor as cops reportedly shouted anti-gay slurs. The Georgia Voice reports:

The Atlanta City Council voted unanimously this afternoon to approve a $1.025 million settlement in a federal lawsuit over the Atlanta Police Department's 2009 raid on the Atlanta Eagle, a gay bar on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The settlement must now go back to the federal judge for final approval. All parties in the case are under a gag order until the settlement is finalized. Before the vote, the council met in closed executive session to discuss the proposed settlement, which was reached Friday between city attorneys and attorneys for patrons and employees of the Eagle. The settlement resolution includes $1.025 million to go into an escrow account with Lambda Legal, one of two nonprofit legal groups that joined attorney Dan Grossman in representing the Eagle plaintiffs. The Southern Center for Human Rights also joined the case.

Those arrested on the night of the raid either had their charges dismissed or were found not guilty.

Atlanta Ruggers - It Gets Better

Black Gay News From No More Down Low

I posted the first episode of No More Down Low TV several weeks ago. This latest installment covers public displays of affection in the black gay community, the rise of YouTube star Antoine Dobson, and more. Part Two of this episode is here.

Cadillac Kimberly's Latest On Eddie Long

Her clip from September has one million views now.

ATLANTA: Eddie Long Files Court Papers Denying Sex With Young Men

Bishop Eddie Long yesterday filed court papers denying that he'd had sex with young men in his congregation. Long is being sued by four male parishioners who allege that he used his position as church leader to coerce them into sex.

In his responses, Long acknowledged he took the young men on trips and that he showed them affection, as in hugs, but denied any sexual contact occurred, the AJC reported. The men called Long "Daddy," "Bishop" and "Granddaddy," but Long said many members of his congregation called those names as well, the AJC reported. "Bishop Long admits that he mentors many young men from challenged backgrounds who have often been without the benefit of a male role model," according to his filings as reported by the AJC. The court documents describe Long as as a "bold revolutionary spiritual leader" who puts "special emphasis on outreach to men, reinforcing to men the importance of partnering with a ministry that will grow them spiritually." The accusations against Long were somewhat shocking to many because of Long's strong anti-gay views, including a ministry as part of his church that works to "convert" gay people. Long also led a march through the streets of Atlanta against gay marriage as well as other for other issues, including health care.

Another Accuser Of Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long Speaks To The Press

GEORGIA: Accuser Of Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long Speaks Out About Abuse

GEORGIA: Activists To Protest At Atlanta Office Of Sen. Saxby Chambliss

Angry about his inaction about an anti-gay death threat left on this blog, Georgia activists plan to protest at the Atlanta office of Sen. Saxby Chambliss this afternoon.

The Queer Justice League of Atlanta has called on Senator Saxby Chambliss to immediately respond to allegations that a member of his staff posted a defamatory remark on a popular LGBT-oriented blog. [Snip] Members of the Queer Justice League have called on the Senator to respond. Art Izzard, also with the organization stated: “We want an official, contrite apology for Senator Chambliss, to the LGBT community and to all Georgians. We also want Senator Chambliss to commit to engaging his employees in sensitivity training, to equip them to better handle the concerns of his constituents.” The group has requested an in-person meeting with Senator Chambliss on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 4:00pm to respond to their requests. They invite members of the LGBT community and their allies to join them in front of the Senator's Atlanta offices, located at 100 Galleria Parkway, Atlanta, GA 30339. A press conference will follow.

Queer Justice League spokesman Jeff Schade: "Senator Chambliss was elected to represent all Georgians, not simply those that represent his ideological or other views. The fact that he has chosen to try to ignore this very serious action by a member of his staff speaks volumes on his character and ability to be an effective leader for the state of Georgia."

CNN's Don Lemon Tells Eddie Long Supporters: I'm A Victim Of A Pedophile

CNN's Don Lemon surprised everyone when he came out last night as a victim of a pedophile. Lemon later tweeted: "Thank you all for your kind words. I had no idea I'd say that on national tv. It just came out. Sadly, it's the truth for so many young men."

Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long: I Plan To Fight The False Charges Against Me

Despite rumors that he planned to resign, today televangelist Eddie "Down Low" Long told the congregation at his Atlanta mega-church that he plans to fight the "false charges" against him.

He said his first responsibility was his family, and the some 25,000 members of the Atlanta-area New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. However, he joked that he would be "remiss" not to address "the world." "I've been accused, I'm under attack. I want you to know, as I said earlier, that I am not a perfect man," he said. "But this thing, I'm going to fight." "And I want you to know one other thing," he told the cheering crowd Sunday morning. "I feel like David against Goliath, but I've got five rocks and I haven't thrown one yet." He then turned on his heel and walked away from the pulpit, ending his 20-minute address.

Four young men are now suing Long for "coercive sexual abuse" and a reported 30 more are said to be looking to join the suit. In 2004 Long led his congregation on an anti-gay marriage march to the grave of Martin Luther King. Last week activist Michelangelo Signorile played a clip of Long preaching that homosexuals deserved to be put to death. Raw Story has the audio.

ATLANTA: Pastors To Gather To Pray For Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long

Atlanta's pastors are getting together for a "lock down" prayer vigil where they will ask Jeebus to watch over disgraced Bishop Eddie "Down Low" Long, his 22-room/nine bathroom mansion, and his $200K Bentley. Glory! Praise Hi$ Name! And send in another teenage hottie!

Ted Haggard Goes On CNN To Defend Fellow Hypocrite Bishop Eddie Long

Openly gay Pastor Troy Sanders responds to Haggard: "It didn't take a scandal for me to come out and walk in truth!"