BMI STATEMENT ON KIM BURRELL GAY CONTROVERSY -- IS THIS PUNISHMENT TOO HARSH?
buzzz worthy. . .
The start of 2017 has gone from bad to worse for gospel singer Kim Burrell. In retaliation to her controversial stance on homosexual relations, the Houston based pastor has been the subject of backlash both on and offline.
During a New Year Eve service Burrell stated homosexuality is a sin and a perversion. The video of the service went viral and the story made national news headlines in mainstream media. Her career has taken a major hit. First she was dis-invited from performing music from the movie "Hidden Figures" with Pharrell Williams on Ellen. Then her radio show was cancelled. Today, music rights organization BMI joined the chorus of detractors issuing a statement saying Burrell will not take part in the upcoming Trailblazers of Gospel ceremony,essentially ousting her as an honoree.
The BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music ceremony is an annual event exclusive to industry professionals that is designed to celebrate the music nd songwriting talent of accomplished gospel acts. The event is highly anticipated. This year along with Marvin Sapp, Kim Burrell was to be a recipient of the honor. Each honoree is honored by being serenaded by their peers.
BMI did not indicate how eliminating Burrell from the program will affect its format or whether she will be replaced.
Is Burrell being treated unfairly s someone exercising religious freedom or is she guilty of spewing hate speech?
The statement from BMI follows in its entirety:
The start of 2017 has gone from bad to worse for gospel singer Kim Burrell. In retaliation to her controversial stance on homosexual relations, the Houston based pastor has been the subject of backlash both on and offline.
During a New Year Eve service Burrell stated homosexuality is a sin and a perversion. The video of the service went viral and the story made national news headlines in mainstream media. Her career has taken a major hit. First she was dis-invited from performing music from the movie "Hidden Figures" with Pharrell Williams on Ellen. Then her radio show was cancelled. Today, music rights organization BMI joined the chorus of detractors issuing a statement saying Burrell will not take part in the upcoming Trailblazers of Gospel ceremony,essentially ousting her as an honoree. 
The BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music ceremony is an annual event exclusive to industry professionals that is designed to celebrate the music nd songwriting talent of accomplished gospel acts. The event is highly anticipated. This year along with Marvin Sapp, Kim Burrell was to be a recipient of the honor. Each honoree is honored by being serenaded by their peers.
BMI did not indicate how eliminating Burrell from the program will affect its format or whether she will be replaced.
Is Burrell being treated unfairly s someone exercising religious freedom or is she guilty of spewing hate speech?
The statement from BMI follows in its entirety:
BMI STATEMENT ON KIM BURRELLJanuary 6, 2017 -- BMI’s Trailblazers of Gospel Music is an annual celebration of gospel music and its many talented songwriters. Given the controversy surrounding this year’s co-honoree Kim Burrell, we have asked her to not take part in the ceremony in order to allow the focus to remain on the songwriters and their music. BMI was founded over 76 years ago with an open door policy to welcome songwriters across all genres, and that same spirit of tolerance, diversity and inclusiveness continues today.
