This is what it would look like if Karma and Schadenfreude had a baby together

Harlem’s infamous “Jesus Would Stone Homos” hate church has been ordered to public auction due to over $1M in unpaid bills. Many of you here on JMG immediately suggested that the community rally to buy the property for the Ali Forney Center. You may be able to help that dream come true. From AFC founder Carl Siciliano: “The biggest reason our youths are driven from their homes is because of homophobic and transphobic religious beliefs of their parents. Because of this, it has been horrifying for us to have our youths exposed to Manning’s messages inciting hatred and violence against our community. It has meant the world to us that so many Harlem residents have stood up to support our young people, and are now urging us to provide urgently needed care at the site of so much hatred. If we are able to obtain the space it would truly be a triumph of love over hatred.”

The ATLAH Worldwide Missionary Church may be many things (few of them good or redeeming), but being representative of the teachings of a loving, benevolent God isn’t anywhere on the list. “Reverend” James Manning, a man of God only in his feverish, hyper-hateful and homophobic imagination, is notable only for his ability to outrage and attract attention. Sadly (for him and for ATLAH), he’s not so good at managing the financial affairs of his “church.” It’s a case of karma coming home to roost as it tees up a golden opportunity to revel in some well-deserved schadenfreude.

Rather that delve in the dark, nasty depths of Manning’s “theology” and his truly disgusting and hateful pronouncements in the name of Jesus Christ, how about we focus on the good that can come out of ATLAH’s downfall? Just a few blocks from ATLAH is the Ali Forney Center. AFC is a 24-hour drop-in center that serves more than 1000 homeless LGBT youth annually. Carl Siciliano has identified an opportunity to further AFC’s mission while making a clear and unmistakable statement that hatred can’t thrive in their community. AFC’s now running a fundraising drive with the goal of buying ATLAH and converting the “church” into housing for homeless LGBT youth and space for a business run by the young people AFC serves.

It’s a good cause, one deserving of widespread support. AFC hopes to raise $200,000, which they’ll use to attract government funding and matching donations from other sources. If they fall short, donations will still be put to very good use. You need not be LGBT to support AFC’s campaign; you need only be supportive of equality, humanity, and the need to ease the travails of LGBT youth.

It’s not often I advocate for my readers to donate to a cause…but this needs to happen. I tossed a few bucks AFC’s way; can you do the same? Wouldn’t it be great to see a building dedicated to hatred and homophobia be converted into a place of love, tolerance, and acceptance?

You can check the progress of the campaign here. Let’s help AFC do some good work as they show that love will always triumph over hate.