Obama Blows Gay Community
by matt at 4:00 pm on December 17th, 2008 in Obama Uber AllesLet me get right to the point. Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans. Our loss in California over the passage of Proposition 8 which stripped loving, committed same-sex couples of their given legal right to marry is the greatest loss our community has faced in 40 years. And by inviting Rick Warren to your inauguration, you have tarnished the view that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans have a place at your table.
Rick Warren has not sat on the sidelines in the fight for basic equality and fairness. In fact, Rev. Warren spoke out vocally in support of Prop 8 in California saying, “there is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population … This is not a political issue — it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.” Furthermore, he continues to misrepresent marriage equality as silencing his religious views. This was a lie during the battle over Proposition 8, and it’s a lie today.
Rev. Warren cannot name a single theological issue that he and vehemently, anti-gay theologian James Dobson disagree on. Rev. Warren is not a moderate pastor who is trying to bring all sides together. Instead, Rev. Warren has often played the role of general in the cultural war waged against LGBT Americans, many of whom also share a strong tradition of religion and faith.
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.
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.
Obama stayed out of the Prop Hate fight, and is now giving a huge stage to one of the people who fought on the wrong side of this battle. I hope you’re all still happy with your vote. I can’t tell you how happy I am that I didn’t waste mine on someone who consorts with agents of intolerance.
boogieman7167 wrote:
looks like obama change his mind again
sounds like hes moving away from choice stance
if you obama-bots would have just listened to the pumas .
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 6:04 pm ¶
Bruce wrote:
Yes, this is a spit in the face from Obama. I voted for him and I feel the affront. I’m really curious to see what steps he’ll take for gay rights. But if this is his signal to us, it’s not a pretty one. To reach out to the right, he didn’t have to throw civil rights under the bus. He might as well have picked David Duke as far as I’m concerned. Disappointed? Angry? Pretty much sums it up.
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 7:06 pm ¶
Gerald Spencer wrote:
Any evangelical would be wrong, there are no evangelicals that are not evil. The concept of fundamentalism (literalism as some say) is evil, it can do no good. The evangelicals are the closest to the Puritans, the closest to the Spanish Inquisition, the closest to base destructive Islam. No evangelical should be allowed in Washington DC let alone at Obama’s inauguration. If I could pull my vote, I would do it for this reason. I am sorely disappointed. Obama would not have won the election had people known he would do this.
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 7:37 pm ¶
matt wrote:
>Obama would not have won the election had people known he would do this.
every single person who read 1115 before the election was given ample and unmistakable warnings.
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 7:53 pm ¶
Drew P wrote:
So, I operate a limousine service in Denver. During the DNC, I moved around a number of delegates. At one point, I was moving a New York senator. He had a brief encounter with Obama. I was standing 10 feet away. And, Obama tells this senator, “If we win, the white man will never recover!” Are you kidding me?!?!?!?!
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 8:00 pm ¶
matt wrote:
i think the question is “are you kidding me?”
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 8:02 pm ¶
happy wrote:
I am very pleased with Obama’s choice of Rick Warren.
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 8:09 pm ¶
Jeff wrote:
I think its a great choice….all you folks still upset about prop 8….get real…you have your rights…and so does the majority in this democracy….come up with another name for G or L unions…marriage is already taken for male and female unions…
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 8:58 pm ¶
Steve Carlton wrote:
Bravo! Well-done, Obama. Ignore the huffing and puffing. You did the right thing! It’s too bad all these naysayers are busting veins on their collective foreheads! I say chill out and pop a pill!
BTW, Gerald Spencer’s views are nothing but rubbish to be summarily dismissed…unintelligible, illogical, broad generalizations of all evangelicals. A totally prejudiced view. Apparently, he has a scurrilous axe to grind!
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 9:10 pm ¶
mercy2 wrote:
#8 Jeff, you and I think alike. There is absolutely no doubt that gays should be entitled to everything America has to ofter, but because this is a christian nation, you’re not going to change the minds of true christians concerning the definition of marriage, and here lies the problem. Come up with another name for the legal union that would be equal in every way with the christian marriage, and gays would have their victory. Or you can chose to fight this marriage thing from here into many generations. Warren is a good pick. I wonder though if Joel O’steen wouldn’t been a better one.
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 9:56 pm ¶
Ryan wrote:
We should be thankful for this! Obama is acting on truthful politics and sticking to his ground. He never said he was going to give rights to gays. Good for him! Obama did the right thing Reverend Warren is a good man and I can only wish more people acted like him. Who cares about this anyhow, America should be focusing on key issues affecting our nation, not some gay rights bs!
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 9:56 pm ¶
matt wrote:
>but because this is a christian nation
really now?
>He never said he was going to give rights to gays.
he didn’t have to. the constitution does that.
Posted 17 Dec 2008 at 10:18 pm ¶
Jennifer wrote:
I think there is some benefit to taking a step back, and taking a bigger perspective on this. The truth is, the forces that work against gay rights (namely the various evangelical groups) will never be conquered by a distance, and “us against them” mentality. The passage of Prop 8 demonstrates that perfectly. At this point in the struggle, bridges between the ‘opposing’ sides are needed. What if instead of ripping Obama up, we decided to trust when it is most scary to do so? When we feel most vulnerable and abandoned? What if we say, “Obama is a smart guy, and has a proven record of working strategically, deliberately, through dialogue, not ostracism.” In this light, his choice to be inclusive may ultimately do more for the cause of human rights for the GLBT community than at first glance.
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 3:43 am ¶
frem wrote:
All you DemoCRAPS had nothing good to say about the opposition candidates during the campaign; now your bad mouthing YOUR choice for President because he appears to be CHANGING his views and positions on some issues. Issues that you seem to think are the reason you voted for him in the first place. Well, get over it!! Remember what some people were saying during the campaign? “Beware of what you wish for” The “change” may not be what you had in mind. This administration-elect will cause more harm and pain to America and Americans, both economically and socially, than you ever would have imagined; MARK MY WORDS!!! Rick Warren is an appropriate choice, even though I’m not a follower of his. I have to say that I’m definately Pro-Life and Anti-gay marriage (not anti-gay) so his positions on these topics don’t bother me in the least. So, to all you Ultra-liberals out there, get a life; you wanted this DemoCrap in office, now you’ve got him. If you want MORE CHANGE then try again in four years.
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 4:08 am ¶
Ken wrote:
I am not happy with Obamas choice in this matter. However he along with Biden, as well as McCain all said they were against “Gay Marriage” so the issue of prop 8 ( which by the way was not the only anti gay proposition — California is not the center of the universe! ) Obama said from the beginning, that he would be working both sides of the fence. We have to take the good with the bad. I am more concerned about the war in Iraq and the Economy than Gay Rights, and I have been an activist since the 60’s!
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 6:19 am ¶
sarabeth wrote:
Comment #15 might make sense if the choice of Warren was somehow going to help end the Iraq war or help the economy.
But the choice of Warren is an unalloyed bad. And there is no reason why we have to take the bad when it doesn’t come with any offsetting good.
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 6:39 am ¶
John G. wrote:
Notice that Obama didn’t invite overt racists. Apparently he’s all about being against hate….as long as its the hate that is usually directed at people like HIM.
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 8:40 am ¶
matt wrote:
round of applause for john g.
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 8:48 am ¶
Mike wrote:
Obama defends his choice of Rick Warren by stating that he wants to make sure “a wide range of viewpoints that are presented.” Oh really? Then how about inviting one of the leaders of the Ku Klux Klan or a neo-nazi group? They have viewpoints too.
Of course their viewpoints are considered offensive because it is not acceptable to pick on groups that they disparage. However, it continues to be okay to deny gay and lesbian Americans basic civil rights and apparently those who advocate the denial of those rights have a seat at Obama’s table while the gay and lesbian community does not. Next time the Democrats come around asking for our money and vote we WILL remember this.
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 5:09 pm ¶
Latrice wrote:
We have a bunch of dejected Republicans out there and Obama knows it! I believe the Warren pick was solely political, and contrary to what most LGBT/SGL/No on Prop. 8 Supporters might think, it was a smart move – in MY opinion! What a influential day this will be and one might ask, how do you get millions of Non-Obama Supporters, (Devote) Republicans, Evangelicals, Homophobes (even the ones in denial…), Yes on Prop 8 Voters, Pro-life activists, etc…to tune in on this special day with their ENTIRE family…? By selecting one of THEIR own! Warren has millions of fans countrywide. They ALL will be there witnessing the first African-American to take office. Some of them – maybe many, maybe a handful – will start to understand how important it is to put aside their political, religious and for a few, homophobic/racist beliefs, to work towards getting this country back on track!
Furthermore, the LGBT community needs to stay focus and concentrate on the issues that continue to plague our own movement – subtle and blatant RACISM, tokenism, cultural insensitivities, a lack of respect towards People and communities of color, classism, etc… We have a lot of work to do and if we want our next President to continue to fight for our rights and to respect OUR voices, we must do so in return!
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 5:28 pm ¶
tom wrote:
how do you get “millions of Non-Obama Supporters, (Devote) Republicans, Evangelicals, Homophobes (even the ones in denial…), Yes on Prop 8 Voters, Pro-life activists, etc” to like you? you give them what they want. FAIL.
Posted 18 Dec 2008 at 5:32 pm ¶