Gay Bishop to Offer Inauguration Prayer

The openly-gay Bishop Gene Robinson, a New Hampshire bishop of the Episcopal Church, has announced that he will be delivering a prayer at this coming Sunday’s kick-off for the inauguration activities. The event will be held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Many members and leaders of the gay community have voiced loud criticism since it was announced a few weeks ago that President-Elect Obama had invited the vocal, anti-gay Rick Warren to deliver the invocation for the actual inauguration.

Rev. Robinson had equal criticism about Warren’s selection in an interview with Beliefnet.com: “I actually have a lot of respect for Rick Warren; amongst evangelicals, he's taken a hit for his compassionate response to AIDS, his commitment to alleviating poverty. He's done some good things. The difficult thing is that he's said, and continues to affirm, some horrendous things about homosexuality -- comparing it to incest, bestiality, that kind of thing. This is not a choice that really represents everyone. This choice was just really, really unfortunate.”

Commenting on the impact of his being a part of the historical event Robinson said, "It’s important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way, whether it be a racial minority, an ethnic minority or, in our case, a sexual minority. Just seeing someone like you up front matters."

It remains to be seen if the addition of Robinson will soften the inclusion of Warren on the national platform. But even if it was an entirely politically-motivated act, at the end of the day, the gay representation will be present.

Does having Robinson part of the ceremonies make a difference for you?

(Photo: Getty Images)

Comments

[Cody_Maine]

Wow. Pluralism from the get-go. As promised. Who'd'a thunk?

[Mike K]

Gee if you want to be really inclusive why is there no one there from the KKK? Ayran Nation? Maybe they could scare up some old Nazis from the space program? Having well know bigots give the invocation isn't being inclusive it's endorsing bigotry. It's because it still OK to hate us.

[Dave]

I'm glad to see Gene Robinson representing us. Barack Obama needs to be evryone's president. I'm glad to see a variety of folks. One person cannot represent us all. A rabbi and an imam would be welcome too!

[New yorker]

First let me say I voted for Obama. Second, let me say "I just hope all his political reheric was just that, political reheteric".

I am starting to see a partern here, that Obama may be just like all the other politicians, just that he is a better speaker and smarter than most. He has already put "don't ask don't tell" on the back burner, he has made comments about reducing social security (which he didn't dare say before he was elected" and now he puts an anti gay minister who compares us to people who have incest and worse.

My fear, now that he won the election, he will be like every other politician, just slicker, even slicker than Billy Clinton. I HOPE I AM WRONG. ONLY TIME WILL TELL!

[alex]

i think it was a good choice. it's important to choose people from MANY diverse backgrounds and ideas. the point is for everyone to work together so that they can learn compassion. YES, gays also need to learn compassion. we are not so peaceful and nice to the people who oppose us. this will help.

[Arthur Graves]

Me myself I'm not very much into God and all his works. But as a Gay man. It dose gave me a little hope that President Obama will take Gay flight for equal right to heart douring his many years in office. But with all the other problems President Obama well have to face as he enter the Office of the President. He'll need all the help he can get to fix the problem with the ecomey and the war that no one ever wanted.

[Ken]

I think Obama can pick whoever he wants for the address and prayer and whatnot. Warren is just giving the prayer... he's not influencing politics. I'm sure that if we had a gay priest giving the prayer, the right would be up in arms. You're not going to satisfy everyone, and there are bigger battles to be fought other than who Obama is praying with...

...and, if you have a problem with Warren's speaking, at least let the man SPEAK... THEN you can criticize.

People need to relax and not be so reactionary. Have some patience, and let's see what Warren has to say before form a lynch mob? K? Thanks.

[Robert Kellogg]

The issue is not whether or not Obama is being inclusive, the issue is if another minister who had said and done things against another minority group would have gotten the same treatment as Warren did. For instance if a white minister who had controversial ties to the KKK or a black minister who had said some antisemetic comments had gotten off as easily as Warren. We as a minority group are so use to being patted on the head and passed over that we cant even recognize blatant double standards and outright biggotry when it smacks us in the face. Wake up LGBT community. We are the ugly stepsister in the fairytale. We may get an afterthought gesture with Robinson, but it would have been nice if our feelings and dignity as a community had been taken into consideration from the beginning. Again if the shoe were on the other foot and the minister in question had a history of anti-black or anti-semetic philosophies and actions the media and the rest of the country would have risen up to a boiling point where that minister would have eventually declined the invitation or had it removed. Thats the real shame here that the double standard is alive and that the LGBT community doesnt even notice it when it occurs. And for the record it is not inclusion when biggots are welcomed to the table, thats discrimination, it's time we learn the difference!

[Blaine]

I see its 'significance' and all, but honestly, I could care less and I dont think its gonna be a huge impact to the American people. Most of the people around me wouldnt think much of it.

[Sonny Mantle]

Yes it is a big step forward. It is important to recognize that this invitation to Bishop Robinson to participate in the inauguration was made well before the bruhaha over Rev Warren began. We are not being forgotten.

[D.DavidSilva]

Obama's response to the Gay community is Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson. He didn't have to do that. We should be pleased and honored. Also the prayers will be offered at the Lincoln Memoral, Obama's favorite place in WashingtonDC .

[Eric]

While I am extremely disappointed in Obama's choice of Rick Warren, the Rev. Robinson is not the only openly gay participant in the inauguration.

One of the marching bands in the inaugural parade will be the 180 member strong contingent from the Lesbian and Gay Band Association - the network of gay bands from around the country. There will be lesbian and gay musicians from more than 20 bands participating in this momentous event. This group participated in both Clinton inaugurations - as a sideline band - seated as the parade marched by, but this time, the Obama inauguration has invited this organization to march as a full participant in the official parade.

No it doesn't discount the inclusion of a hate-monger, but let's not crucify the President-elect as an empty suit who means to pay lip-service only.

I believe that ultimately he will be good for the LGBT community.

[Steve Trujillo]

yes, it matters. I wrote Obama an email and asked that Gene be included. someone is listening!

[Paul]

What I find extraordinary is all this fuss over Bishop Robinson and absolutely no mention whatsoever on this website that the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington DC is going to be performing at the same event.

[Earle]

I feel betrayed already, Obama. While I applaud the inclusion (the announcement seemingly delayed) of the biship I abhor the inclusion of such a homophobic bigot. Furthermore, I fail to understand why any religion is included at all when there is a failure to represent all religions. Seems blatantly non-christian phobic to me.
There ought to be NO religious inclusion at all in a country that purports separation of church and state.

[Wyatt1969again]

Good.

[Don Church]

President Obama made a tactical error in not announcing all religious
participants at the same time.

At first is was shocking to read that
Warren was picked at all instead a moderate member of the clergy, but now that Bishop Robinson and a
LGBT-friendly one has been added, Obama is back on track to be more inclusive than any previous
president. That's a good thing.

Everyone is entitled to redemption
so let's give him a second chance
to keep the promise of his campaign
and acceptance speech.

The mid-term elections are less than
two years away and the gay community
needs to be out in force to ensure
the Democrats stay in control of Congress. We want DOMA, "don't ask,
don't tell" repealed and the many pro-equality bills that have been buried by the Republicans for years voted into law ASAP.

Let's keep moving forward. Yes we can!

[Richard Jackman]

Well, why not include a KKK representative or a Neo-Nazi in the inaugural events? Because *including* these voices does NOT signal inclusion! It signals the acceptance of ideologies that *exclude* and even encourage the destruction of whole groups of people. The President of the United States has to stand for something, not just accept the values of every whack-job who hates, just because there are a lot of them or they weild some political power.

[pesky flea]

Quotes from the Rev. Warren: "I am not opposed to gays having their partnerships. I'm opposed to gays using the term marriage for their relationship."

"But the issue to me is, I’m not opposed to that as much as I’m opposed to the redefinition of a 5,000-year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage. I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that a marriage. I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage." STEVEN WALDMAN: "Do you think, though, that they are equivalent to having gays getting married?" RICK WARREN: "Oh I do."

"Most people, you know … I have many gay friends, I’ve eaten dinner in gay homes, no church has probably done more for people with AIDS than Saddleback Church. Kay and I have given millions of dollars out of “A Purpose-Driven Life” helping people who got AIDS through gay relationships. So they can’t accuse me of homophobia. I just don’t believe in the re-definition of marriage."

(Of course, marriage was redefined in the 1967, when the Supreme Court overturned laws against inter-racial marriage in Loving v. Virginia.)

Perhaps comparing Rick to a klansmember is too harsh. instead, perhaps we should invite a minister who preaches the evils of interracial marriage.

That would be fair, wouldn't it?

[pesky flea]

Re: above... maybe the Rev. Warren wouldn't mind a man marrying a child, as long as he didn't call it a marriage.

BAAAAAARRRRRFFFFFF!!!!!!!!&%*?!!!

[Chris VonTanner]

Am I the only one that read all over the internet earlier this month, that Obama did not pick, ask or appoint Rick Warren...the Republican Congress is in charge of the opening ceremonies and they picked the anti-gay freak!

[Sean Collins]

Why can't they get one of those good old fashioned religious types that change water into wine. People want entertainment on this very special day. A bit of wine will lighten the mood. Pehaps those two bishops could have an old fashioned biblical competition throwing down their staffs and turning them into snakes that wrestle each other. Will the gay snake win or will the homophobic one?
Another thing, is anyone bring myrrh? That would take things to their logical conclusion if God is being called upon to be present there as well as everywhere!

[mark]

The whole farce is a violation of the separation of church and state. That said, you don't include folks like Warren who preach discrimination you exclude them. To give him such a prominent speaking role validates his ideas and gives him credibility. It rewards discrimination. To my mind, his views should automatically exclude him from a place at the table.