‘Pray The Gay Away’ — Donnie McClurkin Accused Of Grooming, Sexual Assault By Former Male Protégé In Decade-Long Abuse Lawsuit
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Donnie McClurkin, the Grammy-winning gospel singer and pastor known for songs like “We Fall Down” and “I Call You Faithful,” is facing serious allegations of sexual assault in a new lawsuit obtained by NBC News. The lawsuit, filed by Giuseppe Corletto, accuses McClurkin of sexual assault over the course of more than a decade while serving as both his spiritual mentor and employer. It also contains an alleged email in which McClurkin apologized for his actions, calling himself a “dirty old man.”
Corletto alleges the abuse began after he sought out help from McClurkin in 2003, when he was 21 years old. At the time, he was struggling to reconcile his own sexuality and faith. According to the lawsuit, Corletto went to McClurkin’s Long Island, N.Y., church, Perfecting Faith Church, after reading the pastor’s autobiographical book, which described how God helped McClurkin overcome what he referred to as the “curse” of homosexuality.
At a church event, McClurkin spoke openly about his own experience with sexual assault, which Corletto says immediately resonated with him because it was “similar” to his own life story. Corletto was later introduced to McClurkin privately, and the pastor took an immediate interest in him. But what Corletto initially believed was a supportive mentorship, he now says he believes was grooming.
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The post ‘Pray The Gay Away’ — Donnie McClurkin Accused Of Grooming, Sexual Assault By Former Male Protégé In Decade-Long Abuse Lawsuit appeared first on MadameNoire.
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