01/12/2009
Gay Bishop Gene Robinson to Deliver Invocation at Inaugural Opening
"The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who became the Episcopal Church’s first openly gay bishop in 2003 and last year entered into a civil union with his gay partner, will deliver the invocation for Sunday’s kickoff inaugural event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, with President-elect Obama in attendance. The event is free and open to the public. An Obama source: 'Robinson was in the plans before the complaints about Rick Warren. Many skeptics will read this as a direct reaction to the Warren criticism – but it’s just not so.' Robinson has been referred to as 'the most controversial Christian in the world.'"
WON'T USE A BIBLE:
The AP adds: "Robinson said last month the choice of Warren was like a slap in the face. In an interview with the Concord Monitor this weekend, he said he doesn't believe Obama invited him in response to the Warren criticism but said his inclusion won't go unnoticed by the gay and lesbian community. 'It's important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way,' Robinson said. 'Whether it be a racial minority, an ethnic minority, or in our case, a sexual minority. Just seeing someone like you up front matters.' ... Robinson said both Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden will attend the event, and Obama is expected to speak. As for himself, Robinson said he doesn't yet know what he'll say, but he knows he won't use a Bible. 'While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans,' Robinson said. 'I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation.' Robinson said his prayer will be reflective of the times. 'I think these are sober and difficult times that we are facing,' he said. 'It won't be a happy, clappy prayer.'"
In November it was reported that Obama sought out Robinson three times during his campaign for advice on various issues.
In November, the Times reported: "Bishop Robinson, in London as a guest of the gay rights group Stonewall for its annual 'Hero of the Year' awards dinner at the Victoria and Albert Museum tonight, said that Mr Obama’s campaign team had sought him last year and he had the 'honour' of three private conversations with the future president of the United States last May and June. 'The first words out of his mouth were: ‘Well you’re certainly causing a lot of trouble’, My response to him was: ‘Well that makes two of us'.' He said that Mr Obama had indicated his support for equal civil rights for gay and lesbian people and described the election as a 'religious experience'. Bishop Robinson described his conversations with him as part of Mr Obama’s 'extraordinary' outreach to all religious communities, not just Christian groups. Mr Obama, although not a member of The Episcopal Church to which Bishop Robinson belongs, is a committed Christian with the United Church of Christ."
Robinson endorsed Obama's campaign for president in August 2007.
CNN's report on the Robinson pick, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 9:45 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Gene Robinson, Inauguration, News, Rick Warren | Permalink
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BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT,BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT,BOYCOTT, oh sorry this is a gay one.
damn Obama is bi-polar, he hates us, he hate us NOT.
but seriously, the religious people NEED to stay in their churches, ASAP, they should ALL go back to where they came from, straight or gay DOES NOT CARE.
Posted by: johnosahon | Jan 12, 2009 10:15:03 AM
Why didn't we here of this sooner?
Posted by: Ty | Jan 12, 2009 10:31:34 AM
Separate and not equal.
Posted by: Derek Washington | Jan 12, 2009 10:48:55 AM
This is great, the ideal symbolic counterpoint to Warren. The part about this being planned before Warren, though, is worrying. Even if Robinson did not let the Obama camp know he noticed how offensive Warren is before his published comments, I can see no downside for anyone to immediately announcing his participation after Robinson's criticism was in the news. I'm sure Robinson would have facilitated that. Letting this wound sit out there and fester this long, if they planned Robinson's participation, does not indicate understanding of the hurt he caused. It would be good for Obama to show that he noticed how pissed we are, not to continue being grandly above us. Where's the part we stop being invisible if we aren't screaming?
Posted by: Landon Bryce | Jan 12, 2009 10:56:26 AM
I call bullshit a/k/a political pandering. Obama made the Warren call without vetting it through staff, created a political blunder (at a minimum) and staff had to patch up the mess to redress the insult to the gay community. I continue to be concerned that Obama views homosexuality as a lifestyle "choice" rather than an inherent human characteristic/quality and, therefore, not deserving of the full measure of equal human rights. Separate is never equal, he knows that, but only for inherent human qualities not conduct.
I continue to take solace, however, in my belief that any Obama picks for The Supremes will be quantum magnitudes better for our family than those that McCain would have chosen.
Posted by: rudy | Jan 12, 2009 11:23:14 AM
I love that he did it, but you know the Right is going to get a lot of mileage out of this one. We'd better be prepared for it.
Posted by: MT | Jan 12, 2009 11:42:47 AM
Damned if you do; damned if you don't.
Posted by: noah | Jan 12, 2009 11:56:28 AM
I have no clue how or why Robinson or Sharon Watkins (pro gay minister) were included in the long list of inaugural festivities. However, I do think that Obama would have looked like he was pandering if he made the decision about Robinson right after Warren.
I have never paid any attention to any of the religious stuff at the inaug. and really wasn't that bothered by Warren. That said, I like a person that can make course corrections. I think Obama has made one and that's a good thing. I think it's a far cry better than Bush who didn't appear to listen at all.
Posted by: Brandon | Jan 12, 2009 12:13:04 PM
Too little too late.
Posted by: roscoe | Jan 12, 2009 12:13:46 PM
Oh, stop the whining. It grates on people after a while and makes otherwise sympathetic people less gay-friendly.
Posted by: javier | Jan 12, 2009 12:14:50 PM
Balance achieved , but it would be better to have NO shamans/witch doctors of whatever fairytale, denomination, sexual persuasion
Rudy, there are very few straight (even our most liberal supporters) males who don't harbor some thought about "lifestyle" as vs genetic
MT, yeppers. BUT the right is also complaining that warren is standing with pro-choicer Obama. The far right complains no matter what
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Jan 12, 2009 12:19:39 PM
Great news. I think Obama is doing exactly what he said he would, reach out to EVERYONE. I just hope he doesn't reach too far to the Right. The Republicans hate Obama and for him to give them any kind of free pass is a mistake.
Posted by: Bobby | Jan 12, 2009 12:42:05 PM
Separate but unequal and certainly way less visable...good enuf for you gays.
Posted by: dezboi | Jan 12, 2009 12:50:59 PM
Jimbo, I do not agree that there are "very few" straight males who continue to believe that being gay is a choice, if and when, gay men talk to our straight relatives and friends. We know that being gay is "hard wired," it is who we are; not something we choose. Ask any doubter why someone would willingly choose to become an object of rampant discrimination and second class citizenship. Ask them why there is no "cure" for such "choice" and denial leads to aberrant behaviour. Ask them why each of us has known that we are gay (attacted to members of our same gender) since before we were versed in the mechanics of sex. Talk to our straight friends and relatives and we will have many more allies. Interestingly, I find that most homophobes I have encountered are much more focussed on sexual acts than are gay men. We know it is one aspect of who we are and there is no "ick factor". Make the discussion about the person rather than the sex act and discover a new ally.
Posted by: rudy | Jan 12, 2009 12:55:46 PM
Will this event be nationally televised? Will the Obamas be in attendance for the telecast?
Posted by: JeffNYC | Jan 12, 2009 12:56:05 PM
This is not great news, either for gays or for Christians. He shows he doesn't have the courage of his convictions as a Christian by not praying as a Christian. (A jew would behave as a jew, a Muslim as a Muslim, a witch-doctor as a witch-doctor, but a Christian doesn't behave as a Christian. Ridiculous.)
Posted by: Neil | Jan 12, 2009 1:01:13 PM
This is real progress.
First, we get a marching band in the parade. That was a fig leaf to cover the open sore when Democrats grandstanded the bigot named Warren who helped the bigot named Obama torpedo marriage rights in California.
And now, a gay guy who believes The Exorcist was a documentary.
What more could we ask for? The repeal of Clintons DOMA and DADT? An inclusive ENDA? A hate crimes bill? Indicting Clinton, the Bushes, Powell, and Rice et al for war crimes?
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Jan 12, 2009 1:09:47 PM
"Too little too late."
Well, Roscoe, wait till he signs Excutive Order #1 WGEA: Whining Gays Expulsion Act of 2009.
Enjoy Guantanomo, baby!
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Jan 12, 2009 1:10:30 PM
Derrick from Philly - with gays like you, who needs Rick Warren?
It IS too little too late - for the inauguration. In terms of his policies - we'll see. We voted for him. We paid for his campaign. We volunteered for him. We are now demanding that he get what we are about, and respect us on our terms, and uphold our rights. If he can't do that, he will hear about it. On our blogs, and through our future support.
To call it whining is to show how conflicted you are between your loyalty to him and your being a gay man. And to bring up Guantanamo - not cute.
Posted by: echovic | Jan 12, 2009 1:27:40 PM
"I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation."
So he doesn't want followers of other religions to feel excluded. But what about Americans who don't pray at all, is it ok to exclude them by having religious elements in such an important political ceremony?
Posted by: borut | Jan 12, 2009 1:38:19 PM
"In terms of his policies - we'll see"
Yes, pleeeeeease, ECHOVIC. I would plead with y'all, but I'm too conflicted to beg.
I keep wishing that Rick Warren could just drop dead before the inauguration. THat aint cute either, but I'm so weary of this pre-administration whin...complaining--weary and conflicted.
Posted by: Derrick from Phillly | Jan 12, 2009 1:39:57 PM
I hope Mr Obama will stop the war between Israel and Gaza !
Posted by: bar paris | Jan 12, 2009 3:07:50 PM
Bill Perdue wrote : "And now, a gay guy who believes The Exorcist was a documentary."
Zip up your britches, hon, your ignorance is flopping about.
Robinson is a Bishop in the Episcopal Church, NOT the Roman Catholic Church, so no exorcism. In fact, Robinson is very well grounded in reality.
Posted by: The Werewolf Prophet | Jan 12, 2009 3:15:41 PM
NEIL
"....courage of his convictions as a Christian by not praying as a Christian."
By all means let whomever claims to be a xtian "pray like a xtian" = per jesus myth = in the privacy of their own homes in PRIVATE. Myth jesus has a big stink in the fairytale book about only HYPOCRITES pray in public for all to see and hear and that true followers of myth jesus deity are mandated to pray in PRIVATE where NO ONE can see and hear them praying.
YES!!! By all measn!!!
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Rudy, people saying one thing...heck even doing one thing as compared to what secret thoughts they have are totally different. Our straight male allies support us verbally and in action but in the back of their heads........... They are human after all and human's are notorous for secret thoughts not reflected in action or word. That was my point. Not in not educating people about the fact of biological causes for homosexuality.
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Derrick from philly
I enjoy your posts, opinions, and perspective even when we disagree. Never keep quiet and don't let "some" stress you out.
Posted by: Jimmyboyo | Jan 12, 2009 3:44:33 PM
Barf
Posted by: TANK | Jan 12, 2009 3:48:04 PM