Gay Minister to Open Obama's Gospel Tour in South Carolina

In response to an uproar from gay activists, Democrat Barack Obama's presidential campaign on Wednesday added a gay minister to the lineup for its weekend gospel tour.

Gay activists had criticized Obama's ''Embrace the Change'' tour in South Carolina because the performers included gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, who says homosexuality is a choice and has called it a "curse."

Obama's campaign invited the Reverend Andy Sidden, a South Carolina pastor who is gay, to appear on Sunday in Columbia. Obama discussed Sidden's inclusion Thursday with Joe Solmonese, president of the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign.

In a statement, Solmonese said he thanked Obama for including Sidden but told the Illinois senator he was disappointed McClurkin will remain part of the program.

''There is no gospel in Donnie McClurkin's message for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies,'' Solmonese said. ''That's a message that certainly doesn't belong on any presidential candidate's stage.''

McClurkin is a Grammy award-winner who performed at the Republican National Convention in 2004. He told AP Radio in an interview in September that he was ''once involved with those desires and those thoughts,'' but God turned him away from them.

Obama has spoken out against homophobia, including homophobia among blacks. He supports civil unions for same-sex couples but not the right for them to marry. (Nedra Pickler, AP)