Fresh off the heels of a lengthy profile in The New Yorker former gospel singer turned recording activist Ton3x continues to open up about his spiritual journey and his sexuality in the new issue of SWERV Magazine, an SGL publication based in Washington, DC.
The incredibly talented and bold singer also publicly addresses comments made by gospel industry colleague and "ex-gay" Donnie McClurkin during the recent Church Of God In Christ Convocation in Memphis, Tennessee. McClurkin railed against gays and lesbians to a crowded church referring to them as "vampires" while also invoking Ton3x's name to illustrate "how the church had failed".
Ton3x has demanded an apology and doesn't mince his words when asked about his feelings towards McClurkin. SWERV Editor-In Chief L. Michael Gipson gets the scoop.
From SWERV Magazine:
LMG: The New Yorker has quoted you saying that “Donnie McClurkin owes you an apology” for including your name in his now infamous condemning outburst against homosexuality to a roomful of children and teens. Why do you think he included you and what would an apology mean to you if Donnie continues his crusade to sow more seeds of uncertainty in the lives of teens struggling with their own histories of sexual abuse and their sexual identity?
Ton3x: I just handed him a Grammy a few days ago. He gave me this big old bear hug like we were ‘boys’. I gave him a gingerly tap on the back to be polite and professional, but I wasn’t feeling him then and I’m NOT feeling him now. I don’t respect disrespect. How phony can you be to throw me up under the bus at the C.O.G.I.C. Convocation and turn around and hug me like I’m your brother in Christ? You don’t ever have to worry about me carrying on a legacy of self -hatred and personification of the very thing that I’m bashing someone else for. I know he must be in a weird place, but don’t ‘come for me’ because I know who I am in God and I know that God knows how everything is going to end and I trust God enough to be honest about where I am.
He still has yet to apologize for using my name to state his claims about gays in church. He called me confused and wounded. Uhm, no. He’s confused and trying to deflect the bullets on to someone else to cover up his own sexual insecurities.
The bible says work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. I’ve never had a beef with this man. He was in San Diego in September 2009 defending me and telling people to keep their mouth off of me (and I have the footage to prove it), yet in the next breath (because I’m a trending topic on twitter) you put me OUT there like that? Be a MAN and come to me if you got a problem. I’m only addressing this issue publicly because I was bashed publicly and a ‘fake hug’ ain’t gonna fix it.
Somewhere behind all of McClurkin's fake proselytizing to please straight hypocritical Christians is a man dying to break free from the chains he's placed on his own life. I'm almost certain he envies Ton3x's ability to reconcile his sexuality with his faith. Sadly, that's something Donnie McClurkin has never been able to do.
Some background:
Loldarian.com Exclusive: Recording Artist Tonex' Addresses His Critics, Coming Out, & The Hypocrisy of the Black Church
Gospel Artist Tonex Opens Up About Sexuality
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