Kirk Franklin is pushing a message of love and inclusion, even as he remains in headlines over stark, public allegations from his eldest son.

The gospel star sat down with Carlos King and spoke about everything from growing up without a father (even though he lived 10 minutes away), what has gone wrong with his estranged son Kerrion Franklin, and his feelings on homophobia. 

Franklin told King, “If homosexuality is a sin, then adultery is a sin, fornication is a sin, divorce is a sin, and none of them are bigger than the other. That's why I have never understood homophobia.”

Franklin continued, “I don't understand how we do not see ourselves as sick patients that all need the doctor. I don't understand how I could ever have time to have conversations about who you [are] sleeping with.”

Franklin’s beliefs as a Christian man center around love and inclusion. He said, “I can't condemn you and invite you at the same time. I'm trying to win people. I'm trying to win my son. I'm trying to win my family. I'm trying to win people to Jesus, man. I'm trying to show people the love and grace of God.”

Franklin’s reference to winning his son is all about his strained relationship with his firstborn, Kerrion, who identifies as bisexual. “I have an older son now that I love dearly and I am seeing him deteriorate and I can't do anything to help him because he has to want to help himself. I've spent the money. I've done all the rehabs. We've done the begging. We've done the pleading. I've done the fighting. I've done the cussing,” he laughed, referring to a leaked call between the two, where Kirk was indeed cussing.

Headlines and social media posts swirl around this tumultuous relationship, and Franklin refuses to shy away from the criticism, and despite it all, he wants his son to know, “There is a community of people that cannot sleep until he wins. We will not be okay until he's well.”

He said, “I told my son, ‘There will never be any situation in your life that I will ever ever stop loving you. I will love who you love and I will stand where you stand.’” 

He added, “We may not always agree. And that’s ok. But love will be the leading narrative.”

Franklin led with love in the conversation and shared that his son is a genius and “beautiful soul.” And he wants him to know, “There is unlimited love available to him and he knows it. It's there. It's there from mama to daddy to pawpaw and nana. That's my firstborn and I miss him. We miss him.”