In shocked silence, I have unable to decide what to say about yesterday’s announcement that the Saddleback Church pastor who equated gay marriage to pedophilia and incest will be delivering the invocation at President-elect Obama’s inauguration.
Arguments citing Rick Warren’s prominence and desire to fight AIDS and climate change did little to allay LGBTQ community feelings of being “thrown under the bus” due to political expediency and capital.
Nor was I comforted by the fact that Billy Graham spoke at Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Remember, we are still struggling to repeal Clinton’s gloriously thought-out “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Bill may be a charmer but he’s only marginally been on our side.
What did finally make me feel a little better, and restore some hope to Obama compared to our last Democrat in the White House, was Obama’s addition of gay-rights supporter Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.
If what the pundits say is true and it would have wreaked havoc to un-invite Warren, then an addition like this was the only thing Obama could have done. And I don’t think anyone else thought of it. Will this president really be smart and charismatic enough to truly unite the continually feuding opinionated Americans? He really just might.
Another charmer, however, also gave a good argument on the Rachel Maddow show last night. Ken-doll-faced Gavin Newsom, who is so wholesomely handsome that he’s also rather creepy, managed to condemn the choice of Rick Warren while being ridiculously nice and polite to both Obama and Warren. And while the clip of his commentary wasn’t to be found, here’s Rachel’s slightly more pessimistic take on the choice:
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So, let’s get this right. You want Obama to suppress someone’s religious freedoms and right to free speech, because you don’t agree with his condemnation of the gay and lesbian lifestyle based upon his religious beliefs. But all citizens in the US are to accept your lifestyle, whether the citizens agree with it or not? There seems to be much conflict in that convoluted logic and the approach is hypocritical.
Lumpy-
There is a difference between bestowing an honor on someone and actually taking away civil rights. No, I do not believe I should not allow Rick Warren to marry or live his life. Nor would I want to force him to have a gay person speak at his church. That would be hypocritical.
Pallin’ around with bigots.
I am a gay man in this world that just elected a person that was suppose to bring change to this country and hopefully to the world. I believed so much in President Elect Obama and the promise that he was bringing to this country (after eight long miserable years of a dumb and stupid President) that I campaigned for him. Talking to every person that I met, worked with and loved, (Family and Friends) that I find picking Rev. Rick Warren to speak on his behalf, on the most important day in what was to be this country’s turning point, is even more despicable then have a President that sends your brave men and women to their deaths. That this is not a turning point for this country but a failing point that we as people should stand up and SAY’ ” Hell no to the unfair and mis treatment of others.” I feel that we have fallen from a place counties, men and women look to to find peace and hope. We are now at the place were fear and despair are the key players. I can only say this, that I hope and pray to the one person in this world (that we all believe in) to stop this madness before it continues any further.
I am a gay man in this world that just elected a person that was suppose to bring change to this country and hopefully to the world. I believed so much in President Elect Obama and the promise that he was bringing to this country (after eight long miserable years of a dumb and stupid President) that I campaigned for him. Talking to every person that I met, worked with and loved, (Family and Friends) that I find picking Rev. Rick Warren to speak on his behalf, on the most important day in what was to be this country’s turning point, is even more despicable then have a President that sends your brave men and women to their deaths. That this is not a turning point for this country but a failing point that we as people should stand up and SAY’ ” Hell no to the unfair and mis treatment of others.” I feel that we have fallen from a place counties, men and women look to to find peace and hope. We are now at the place were fear and despair are the key players. I can only say this, that I hope and pray to the one person in this world (that we all believe in) to stop this madness before it continues any further.
I have to admit… i am pretty downhearted about the whole thing. And I also have to admit that i kind of have given up hope at this point that Obama will really work to change things for LGBT Americans during his time in office. I even resisted for quite some time reading about the whole thing and the Melissa Etheridge connection because of this communication I received. I guess time will tell on the whole deal.
I often feel cynical myself but I don’t think Obama has turned his back on us completely. He really is just a grand unifying force and it can be hard for us to put past aside in order to do so. We’re not all ready to forgive, nor should we be, but Obama might be some level of calm to our (righteous) activist anger.
Thanks for your note on this Alley. I’m willing to wait and hope…