Obama Angers Gays With Choice of Gospel Singer

A Grammy-winning gospel singer who claims homosexuality can be “cured” is scheduled to perform this weekend at a show organized by Barack Obama's campaign, setting off a political brouhaha in the gay community. Obama’s camp has rejected calls to drop Donnie McClurkin, the Chicago Tribune reports, but the candidate said he “strongly disagrees” with the reverend's views.

McClurkin claims he fought gay “demons” for 20 years but is now comfortably straight. One gay-oriented blog said the move is “a huge misstep" in terms of Obama's support among gay voters. But a gay Obama campaigner sees a pickle for the candidate either way: He’ll anger evangelicals if he cancels the famous vocalist's appearance. (More Barack Obama stories.)