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Here we go again.
In light of Bishop Eddie Long's recent sex scandal, controversial author J.L. King is making headlines again.
On an episode of 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' set to air Oct. 7, the New York Times best selling author revisits a topic from 2004 -- in which he appeared on the national syndicated talk show for his double life as a loving husband who engaged in homosexual affairs.
King, who penned the 2004 tome 'On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of 'Straight' Black Men Who Sleep With Men,' offered insight on the secret life of "down low" men. He became the face of undercover bisexuality in the African American community.
During an interview with BlackVoices.com last year, the Springfield, Ohio native said: "Among brothers and sisters, there continues to be a distrust of brothers by Black women. This distrust is one of the most noticeable areas in our community that need healing!"Off the strength of 'On the Down Low,' King was thrust into the limelight with television appearances on networks such as PBS, BET, CNN -- becoming the poster child -- if you will -- of the "Down Low Lifestyle."
In the wake of the Bishop Long scandal, he has resurfaced.
King's knowledge of the topic hits home for 'Oprah' guest, Bridget, who says she contracted HIV from her spouse due to, what she claims to be, his double life.
BlackVoices.com has obtained exclusive clips of the show. Excerpts are below:
J.L. King: A lot has happened in my life over the past six years. The first thing is I have accepted the fact that I am a black gay proud man. (Applause.) And the fear -- the fear is what kept me on the down low. The fear of losing my family. The fear of losing my children ...The fear of hurting my parents. The fear of losing my relationships with cousins and extended family and the church.
OPRAH: So were you lying to me then? When you said, you know, 'I am not a gay man, I don't define myself, it's not, you know, orientation and all that.' Were you lying to me or were you just in denial?
J.K.: I think I was a little bit of both. Denial, first because I didn't know that much about the gay culture. I didn't know that you could still be a father. That you still can have –
OPRAH: You didn't know there were gay fathers?
J.K.: I knew there were gay fathers but where I grew up at in the churches I attended I would hear every Sunday that God don't love you. That you are less than a man. That if you're gay, you're a pedophile. You know, I did not want to have that type of label on my life. I didn't want to hurt my family. And more importantly, I didn't want to face my ex-wife.
OPRAH: But did you think you were living a lie?
TO SEE MORE OF WHAT J.L. KING TELLS OPRAH, TUNE INTO THE SHOW OCT. 7.
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Comments: (142)
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By: AntBee on 10/06/2010 7:57PM
The so called men on the DL need to give us all a break!
Be the hell who you are and stop messing with unsuspecting women's lives.
Stop entering into relationships with women when you know you do not want them. Stop marrying women simply to hide your secret that you desire men.
Sorry, I can't feel any sorrow for any man who would deceive others for his own selfish pleasure/reasons.
If you are gay, then be gay and be with men who are like you!
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By: MigThor on 10/07/2010 9:56AM
AntBee, this is a powerful statement. But I think you should add that Black men should try to be true to their Black women, to any women their with (true meaning having sex with your partner only.) Being on the DL doesn't make one gay but bisexual. Men are men and will dip their wicks into anything their lusts lead them to, including horses. All of this acceptance of homosexuality started with the discovery of a "gay gene." All of a sudden, people can't help being gay. Yet, we forget that it was understood how some prisoners could be on the downlow in prison and most prisoners are black men. Many of you have fallen for the so called "gay gene" without knowing that this is conjecture only. Scientists never pinpointed what the gene is. So we need to quit believing that downlow implies homosexuality. The so called "gay gene" applies to homosexuals ONLY. No, if he's partners with another woman the Black man needs to control his impulses be he tempted (real or imagined) by another woman, man, child, or animal.
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By: clarke on 10/07/2010 9:41AM
AintBee, YOU ACT THERE AINT NO UNDERCOVER(DOWNLOW) LESBIANS OUT THERE.
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By: Mrs. DMS on 10/07/2010 12:49PM
While I totally agree with your entire comment, women bare the responsibility of OPENING their eyes to the truth on some of these men, while it may be painful, no matter how raw it can be. I pride myself on having a pretty good "gaydar" and I learned this from my mom, certain things to look for, no matter how sublte. I often see, especially in the black church, women are so desperate, NOT ALL WOMEN, but I see it often enough, to have a man, that they refuse to acknowledge very obvious RED FLAGS.
To the dudes. Stop this life of lying. Like AntBee has stated, BE YOU. I don't condone homosexuality no matter whose doing it, but hey, at the end of the day, don't have babies by a woman, string her along, when you know you would rather be with a man. I don't care what anyone says, and I know it's an unplesant topic, but if AIDS reportedly started as a gay white male's disease, and now somehow black women are dying overwhelmingly, it ain't because all black women are screwing gay white males. Come on people. You say keep it real, then let's do that.
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By: babara on 10/07/2010 8:44PM
I couldn't agree with you more!!,but these desperate women out here need to open their eyes and quit fooling themselves.if you pay attention to your mate,( man or woman) you can just about tell that something ain't right.
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By: ARNEADER on 10/08/2010 1:19AM
I saw the show today, who but my cousin whose been in and out of prison. Boy, he couldn't stay in the room and watch it. He's married and I do believe because he's served time twice he's been with a man and he's married! Bishop Eddie L. Long brought the subject back up!
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By: mancha de platano on 10/08/2010 8:40AM
Clap Clap Clap.........He is a coward. Narcissist as well. Look into what a narcissist is, and you will never become a victum of one EVER again. Go yto UTube, write in Narcissist, you will get a whole lot of details about them.
%75 of Americans are, wow.......
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By: john on 10/22/2010 7:52PM
you want the downlow men to come clean, what about the downlow women/wives/gfs? You talk about being honest to the women. Do you support DNA testing of all children to prevent non-biological men from being forced to be responsible for children not theirs? Would you support husbands not having to be responisble for non-biological children born during the marriage? Clearly, if you want honesty, you don't have a problem putting both men and women on the same level of honesty and truthfulness? I support the downlow brothers. They should have the same rights and privileges as the women who enjoy their double lives.
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By: IsThisReal? on 11/07/2010 1:11AM
John. I am on the same page as you. They should DNA test newborns. As far as downlow men and women they leave me speechless. I wish everyone the best but not at the price of pure lies. DL people keep it real the people your so worry about hurting is second to you feeling hurt.
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By: Hector aka BeanQueen on 10/11/2010 11:40PM
J.L. King looks soooooooooooo hot in that picture!
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