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Prop 8 advocate to deliver Obama invocation
Gay rights groups are voicing their opposition to the choice of Rev. Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at President-elect Barrack Obama’s inauguration.
Warren is the outspoken evangelical pastor of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. - one of the state’s largest megachurches.
He was a major supporter of Proposition 8, the measure that amended the California constitution to ban same-sex marriage in the state.
“There is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population,” he said during the Prop 8 campaign “This is not a political issue - it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.”
When LGBT activists demonstrated at Saddleback following the passage of Prop 8, Warren accused gays of attempting to take away his constitutional right to practice religion.
During the presidential election campaign, Warren hosted a presidential forum with Obama and Sen. John McCain. Warren did not endorse either presidential candidate.
People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert said Warren should never have been selected to deliver Obama’s invocation because of his support for Prop 8.
“[T]his decision further elevates someone who has in recent weeks actively promoted legalized discrimination and denigrated the lives and relationships of millions of Americans,” said Kolbert in a statement.
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, in a letter to Obama, called for the invitation to Warren be rescinded.
“We have been moved by your calls to religious leaders to own up to the homophobia and racism that has stood in the way of combating HIV and AIDS in this country. And that you have publicly called on religious leaders to open their hearts to their LGBT family members, neighbors and friends,” Solmonese said in the letter to the President-elect.
“But in this case, we feel a deep level of disrespect when one of architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination. Only when Rev. Warren and others support basic legislative protections for LGBT Americans can we believe their claim that they are not four-square against our rights and dignity. In that light, we urge you to reconsider this announcement.”
More
http://www.365gay.com/news/prop-8-advocate-to-deliver-obama-invocation/
He was a major supporter of Proposition 8, the measure that amended the California constitution to ban same-sex marriage in the state.
“There is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population,” he said during the Prop 8 campaign “This is not a political issue - it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.”
When LGBT activists demonstrated at Saddleback following the passage of Prop 8, Warren accused gays of attempting to take away his constitutional right to practice religion.
During the presidential election campaign, Warren hosted a presidential forum with Obama and Sen. John McCain. Warren did not endorse either presidential candidate.
People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert said Warren should never have been selected to deliver Obama’s invocation because of his support for Prop 8.
“[T]his decision further elevates someone who has in recent weeks actively promoted legalized discrimination and denigrated the lives and relationships of millions of Americans,” said Kolbert in a statement.
Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, in a letter to Obama, called for the invitation to Warren be rescinded.
“We have been moved by your calls to religious leaders to own up to the homophobia and racism that has stood in the way of combating HIV and AIDS in this country. And that you have publicly called on religious leaders to open their hearts to their LGBT family members, neighbors and friends,” Solmonese said in the letter to the President-elect.
“But in this case, we feel a deep level of disrespect when one of architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination. Only when Rev. Warren and others support basic legislative protections for LGBT Americans can we believe their claim that they are not four-square against our rights and dignity. In that light, we urge you to reconsider this announcement.”
More
http://www.365gay.com/news/prop-8-advocate-to-deliver-obama-invocation/
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If I pointed out the hypocrisy, it would not be sufficient.
At a Human Rights Campaign fundraiser in Chicago last year, one of the speakers told the crowd that the best way to promote LGBT rights in the United States was to elect Barack Obama. I know that the HRC acted on that claim, campaigned actively for him and organized for others to donate to his election drive.
More
http://www.365gay.com/blog/ruby-sachs-barack-slaps-the-lgbt-community-in-the-face/
far more than that.
It is an act of spiritual violence against lesbian and gay American citizens and a profound betrayal of the philosophy of inclusion and unity espoused by President-Elect Obama.
“The Presidential Inaugural Committee, at the direction of President-elect Obama…will organize an inclusive and accessible inauguration that…unites the nation around our shared values and ideals.”
Shared values and ideals? Let’s let Rick Warren speak for himself.
Here’s Rick Warren equating marriage equality for same-sex couples with incest and pedophilia:
“The issue to me, I’m not opposed to that as much as I’m opposed to redefinition of a 5,000 year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister being together and calling that marriage. I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that marriage. I’m opposed to one
guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage.”
Of course, the Judeo-Christian definition of marriage that Warren refers to in the first part of this quote were essentially property contracts that did involve “one guy having multiple wives” - but that’s beside the point of this piece.
More
http://www.365gay.com/opinion/mcelrath-rick-warren-obama-really/
The selection of Pastor Rick Warren brought objections from gay rights advocates, who strongly supported Obama during the election campaign. The advocates are angry over Warren’s backing of a California ballot initiative banning gay marriage. That measure was approved by voters last month.
But Obama told reporters in Chicago that America needs to “come together,” even when there’s disagreement on social issues. “That dialogue is part of what my campaign is all about,” he said.
Obama also said he’s known to be a “fierce advocate for equality” for gays and lesbians, and will remain so.
Obama inaugural committee spokeswoman Linda Douglass told 365gay News:
“Rick Warren has been a leader in the evangelical community for HIV/AIDS, poverty and other issues upon which he and President-elect Obama agree. But they do not agree on LGBT issues. . . .His inaugural program reflects the diversity of opinion.”
More
http://www.365gay.com/news/obama-defends-choice-of-anti-gay-pastor/
But, now, Obama has invited him to give a prayer and everyone is focussed on this. I personally feel that it is a waste of time. Mr. Warren will give a prayer for less than three minutes - OBAMA'S CABINET are more permantent fixtures that will ENACT POLICY AND STUFF. Where is the protest ... the focus ... the diligence about the cabinet? the war position? the economy? So far, identiy policitics is not working for the "Left" in America. Let it go ... focus on something that is uniting ... something that is winable. Try healthcare or transparancy in government ... ending war in Iraq ... spenging bailout money on high-speed rail. Get a strong agenda and unite around that. Now is the time. If we fail to do this, the investment class, the petroleum industry and the defense industry will keep laughing in our faces - gay or straight.
One can be moderate on some issues but have horrible opinons on others. Would one allow a racist, sexist or antisemitic preacher to speak because they were good on environmental issues and economic equality issues?