In February 2008 during the democratic primary, in response to criticism that he was more about words than substance, Barack Obama gave a speech in which he extolled the power of words. In that speech, Obama recited the now famous line borrowed from Deval Patrick, “Don’t tell me words don’t matter.” Obama was correct, words do matter. In fact, words can be very powerful. Given his understanding of how much words matter, it is difficult to comprehend how Obama selected Rick Warren, the pastor of the Saddleback Church, to give the invocation at the inauguration. Rick Warren was a strong supporter of Prop 8 in California and recently said that in his view the relationships of gays and lesbians are equivalent to incest, pedophilia and polygamy.

Last night I listened to the debate regarding Obama’s choice of Warren. Obama supporters said that the choice was one of inclusiveness, spiritual bipartisanship and that there is room for everyone under the big tent. These are the same arguments they made last fall when Obama had the anti-gay, ex-gay gospel singer Donnie McClurkin emcee a large public fundraising event in South Carolina. Defending their inclusion of McClurkin, Obama’s camp stressed their vision of ...   more »

Heed Harvey’s warning. Sadly, it explains why normally sensible people are defending Mr. Obama’s appalling choice of Rick Warren to deliver the inauguration invocation: It’s easier to be part of the in-crowd than to stand up for your friends or even for civil and human rights for all. GS

Harvey Fierstein | Huffington Post | 2008.12.23

A couple of boys were calling my best friend a faggot one unhappy day at summer camp. Courses of action seemed slim to my adolescent mind. I could stand up for Jack branding myself a fag as well and insuring myself a miserable summer, or I could join in with the name callers, lose my closest friend, but assure my standing with the majority. I sacrificed my friend on the altar of popularity. I don't think I need to tell you that political expediency was a terrific short-term solution but a long-term nightmare. My summer concluded uneventfully but none of those boys became my friend or did me any favors. And forty years later I still feel the loss of Jack along with a piece of my self respect that I can never win back. Mine was an act of cowardice and betrayal.

It seems ...   more »

By Cindi Knox on December 21, 2008 7:18 AM

On a Christian denominational discussion board, a person who is gay said the Christian church is the stated enemy of the gay community and a person who is clergy in that denomination said “Or do you mean the gay community is the stated enemy of many Christian churches, the UCC & MCC excluded, at least.”

Which got me thinking:

"What might it look like if someone wanted to treat Christians the way gay people are treated?"

For one, tax benefits afforded to other not-for-profit institutions would be denied to churches, probably on the basis of separation of church and state. There are some who advocate for this, but they are not GLBT groups.

Christianity would be portrayed as a form of mental illness to be cured. There are some who advocate for this, but they are not GLBT groups.

When children gave their lives to Christ, their parents could have them shipped off to programs where they would be taught how not to be Christian, showing tough love for these wayward youth. There may be some who advocate for this, but they are not GLBT groups.

There would be programs to ...   more »

Another bigoted preacher defends Bigot Obama and Bigot Warren.

Ms. Tucker wrote a column in which she suggests that we give Obama a pass on honoring Rick Warren at the inauguration. I usually agree with Ms. Tucker, but I’m not in the mood to see normally reasonable people defending Obama’s bigotry and claiming it to be a virtue. Here’s my response. GS

Ms. Tucker:

I know you are busy, so I will cut to the chase.

I'm truly saddened by the state of the relationship between blacks and gays. It looks to me like the Democratic Party is going to be split wide open by a totally unnecessary war between black Democrats and gay Democrats. (Will the conventions be fair?  - last letter at bottom of page).  This is why I am so outraged that Mr. Obama would pour gasoline on the fire.

I support equal human and civil rights for all people. Until I read your apology for Mr. Obama's bigotry, I thought you did too.  The problem isn't the dialog and outreach to Rick Warren, it is the honor bestowed upon a bigot at a ceremony that should be for all Americans, not just the one's that Rick Warren and ...   more »