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Tuesday, April 05, 2011
It's the issue the black church just can't seem to get away from-homosexuality- and gospel singer Dejuaii Pace, of the Anointed Pace Sisters, may force the church to once again confront the issue.
In an exclusive interview on The Root.com, Pace, the daughter of a Pentecostal minister and a member of one of the most beloved family gospel groups of all time reveals she is a lesbian and has been coping with a food addiction as a result of being unable to live life authentically. Pace will share her story as one of eight cast members on the new OWN Network show "Addicted To Food" airing tonight.
From The Root.com
The Root: Before you taped Addicted to Food, had you ever shared with anyone that you were attracted to women?
Dejuaii Pace: When I joined my church about 15 years [ago], because I wanted to be up front with my pastor, I told her that the attraction was there but I was denying that I was attracted to that [gay] lifestyle. I acknowledged it to myself in 2006 when I really took a deep evaluation of my life.
I was not married, was not dating and had not dated. And I was like, why is it so? And I just took a deep look at myself and realized that I've not been attracted to men ever and had just been friendly with them. At the end of the evaluation, I told myself that I had to acknowledge it.
I didn't tell anyone [in my family] I was a lesbian until December 2009, when I felt sick and tired of my life and wasn't happy. And I told one of my friends. I said, "Listen, I need you to help me to come out, because If I'm going to be happy, I've got to face this thing." About 98 percent of my friends are in "the lifestyle," and they knew I was struggling with it.
TR: For a lot of churches in the black community, homosexuality could be staring them in the face, whether it's the choir director or even the pastor, and people will pretend it's not there and speak against it. You seem very passionate about changing that type of behavior. Are you doing anything to help do that?
DP: I feel that is the beginning of what God is calling forth at this time. I do not have all of the answers. For me, I am taking it day by day.
I want my soul mate. However God brings that about is fine with me. I know that God loves me, and he has created me, and this thing is here. I feel that it is part of my destiny to find out what is really going on. Because I cannot say it's against God, and I cannot say God is for it. All I'm saying now is that we cannot tell people what we've been telling them. I have friends who've stopped going to church because of that.
In the interview Pace reveals she is a 45 year-old virgin who has never been intimate with a man or a woman. So how will the church react to her coming out? Will it be the usual fiery condemnation reserved specifically for gays and lesbians ( while adulterers and baby mama's and daddies get a pass) or will Pace be welcomed into the fold because she has remained "pure" and not given into "temptation"?
Dejuaii Pace becomes only the second high profile gospel artist to come out following the firestorm of controversy after B. Slade (formerly Tonex') came out in 2009. Loldarian.com spoke with B. Slade regarding Pace's decision to come out and his concern for her well being was evident.
"I just hope I can reach her as support because I know the hate and fear this article will produce", says Slade.
Dejuaii Pace has provided the black church another opportunity to address (homo) sexuality but I'm not holding my breath for them to approach it any differently than they have in the past. Sadly, it will be business as usual.
Watch Dejuaii Pace in the trailer for Addicted To Food below:
15 Comments:
While I applaud her for not compromising her virginity, I am disappointed that she is accepting her feelings as potentially being who she is. There's nothing wrong with coming clean, in fact that's what God wants us to do. He wants us to confess and keep it 100 with Him. But we should never cope with or accept the iniquities that we're born with. It's unfortunate that we are born with various tendencies because of sin that has cursed generation after generation. But thank God for His son Jesus who shed blood so we can be redeemed from the curse and set free of generational curses. The only way to overcome her homosexual feelings is for her to renew her mind DAILY, multiple times a day in fact. My pastor Creflo A. Dollar suggests that before we eat a meal, we should get in the Word for a spiritual feeding first. Then, we can feed our stomachs. His point is that we have to consider the Word as the necessary food for our soul (the mind) and nourish it as often as possible. It is the only way to renew your mind and survive spiritually in this world plagued with sin.
Get in your Word my sista; everyday, three times a day. This will enable you to constantly walk in the spirit, not the flesh and your mind WILL be renewed. The day you stop renewing your mind, is the day you begin to go backwards.
April 05, 2011 12:11 PM
If you don't expect the church to do better it wont do better
April 06, 2011 9:32 AM
I love the black church honestly but its time we stop frontin like gay people don't exist! practice what you try to preach, embrace love and tolarance!
April 06, 2011 9:37 AM
The black church is just an extension of the black family you know as a people we just don't talk about things...if we ignore them we think they don't exist.
April 06, 2011 9:37 AM
Good for her to have the courage to do this, the true test will be how she will be treated, although for the life of me, its not unknown who is gay in any black church in this country.
April 06, 2011 9:38 AM
I just think it is sad that she is a 45 year old virgin. I think she has denied herself true love and intimacy because of the church. Otherwise, I think it is good she is coming out. All should. There would be no black church without gays.
April 06, 2011 9:38 AM
WOW! I used to attend a well-known church here in the ATL back in the 90's whom the Paces used to associate with. Who would have ever thought that she was family. I can imagine what she was going through during those years. I'm VERY PROUD of her. Now, WE as an LGBT Community need to stand behind her and support her courage. :)
April 06, 2011 9:39 AM
She has missed out on about 25 years of possible happiness with someone...thats hard!!!! smh sad
April 06, 2011 9:39 AM
You go Boy!!! Love your blog!!!
April 06, 2011 9:40 AM
My true feelings and desires for women were brought out by someone at "the black church", I also know several females/males that it has also happened too! I stand behind her and encourage her all the way. I am still praying on the day I can fully reveal my status and be happy instead of running away cause "the black church" condemns me as a child of God. God loves us all and has created us all so why are they casting stones? It's a fearful step but she can get through it, cause only God is going to judge! "The Black Churc" has so much to learn from history of condemnation! What are they actually believing? (SELF)
April 06, 2011 7:17 PM
To the person who commented on the "disappointment" with Dejuaii's coming out, GET A LIFE! Your response is exactly what she doesn't need to hear. As a person with a pentecostal experience, I can assure you that I'm not suffering any type of generational curse. If you can't define what that is and how they come to be, don't mention it. To many, our BLACKNESS is a generational curse. We love to talk about how much God is The Creator, but are quick to throw him into a box of noncreative imagination. If He can create more than one type of rose, then I'm sure that He's not stuck in the binaries of gay/straight and black/white. I pray that Dejuaii finds peace within herself and finds a MORTAL love here on earth to keep her company. And nobody cares what your pastor says especially if he is still asking for people's W2s when they join to calculate their tithing.
April 08, 2011 11:15 PM
I can't say I believe her story totally. How can she have 90% gay friends and have never tried it herself? She admitted in the interview that she lied to her family when they asked her why she hung with gay friends. I'm not sure she is being truthful about not being with woman though I do believe she may have never been with a man. One can't be delivered if the truth is not totally revealed.
Ms. Alexandryte
http://atoast2wealth.com
April 11, 2011 1:54 AM
Wow ... religion is what has pushed me away from my family.
April 12, 2011 5:18 AM
God can and will deliver you from those fellings for other women, He did for me. I did have to fihgt because the devil wanted me to believe that it was alright to be that way. Don't take counsel from those who just don't want to surender themselves under the Mighty Hand of GOD. Dejuaii, I'm not condeming you in the least. I want you to be encouraged and know that because you have been blessed with such anointing and calling to sing for GOD'S glory,the enemy with your friends who are still in that lifestyle. Read Romans 1st Chapter. I will pray that GOD will bring you out victorious.
April 12, 2011 3:36 PM
All I have to say is yes GOD Love's everyone but the Bible GOD's Word says that that is an abomination to him let's not forget that. Sodom and Gomorrah.
October 09, 2014 9:13 PM
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