homo demons
The sign is seen outside Atlah World Missionary Church in Harlem Facebook/Atlah

A pastor in New York has claimed Barack Obama is releasing "homo demons" who are trying to steal black men from black women.

Pastor James David Manning caused controversy by unveiling the bizarre anti-gay and racially divisive message outside the Atlah World Missionary Church in Harlem.

The sign which is situated in a predominately black neighbourhood of New York reads: "Obama has released the homo demons on the black man. Look out black woman. A white homo may take your man."

Manning, who has been openly critical of Obama in the past, blames the president for encouraging black men to be gay so white homosexuals can "scoop" them up, leaving black women without a husband.

In a video on his website explaining the sign, Manning says black American familes are suffering a "catastrophic crisis" due to the absence of males in homes.

He adds that black women are finding it difficult to marry because of the number of black men in prison, and the effects of a "homosexual demon" influencing men to become gay.

"Obama has released these [gay] demons particularly upon the black males, this homosexual demon, to enforce as many black males to subscribe to ideas of a homosexual, perverted, LGBT as possible.

"Of the few black men that are left, they are being scooped up by white homos, leaving the black women in more dire straits."

Manning cites the recent examples of basketball player Jason Collins and NFL player Michal Sam – two black athletes who recently announced their homosexuality – as proof

He said: "Two blacks that have come out of the closet and have received national acclaim from Obama, from Michelle 'the fistbumper' Obama, from Oprah Winfrey, from all black people encouraging more black men to come out of the closet."

He then says how "no white homosexuals have come out" in US sports, despite former Leeds United footballer Robbie Rogers revealing he was gay in 2013.

Carmen Neely, president of PRIDE, a Harlem-based LGBT group, described Manning's sign as "shameful."

She told the New York Daily News: "This demonisation is such a stark contrast from the positive progress that has been made between black churches and their same-gender loving congregants."