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01/19/2009
Gene Robinson Delivers Invocation at Inaugural Opening Ceremony
Watch it, AFTER THE JUMP...
Posted 3:59 AM EST by Andy Towle in Barack Obama, Episcopal Church, Gene Robinson, Inauguration, News, Washington DC | Permalink
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Now that Bono has singlehandedly conquered racism & facilitated the Obama election, will he ever address homophobia? It's not as if there was a black guy in U2 but there is a homo.
Posted by: mike shackleford | Jan 19, 2009 5:39:43 AM
Great speech. A shame HBO refused to broadcast it.
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jan 19, 2009 8:41:28 AM
I cancelled my HBO.
Posted by: Mau | Jan 19, 2009 9:00:08 AM
There's a simple solution to the Rick Warren / Gene Robinson controversy: SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE
Posted by: Jonny NYNY2FLFL | Jan 19, 2009 9:08:00 AM
I guess I agree with Johnny, the invocation wasn't "that" good, and having a prayer at the start of a concert, it just doesn't fit...but then I enjoyed Garth Brooks singing "Shout"...so what do I know.
Posted by: Glenn | Jan 19, 2009 9:48:48 AM
I did not see Gene Robinson's Invocation on ANY newscast nor did I even hear it MENTIONED!!! I can see by some other blog responses that this must, indeed, be the case! I can't believe hearing ALL of this talk about "post-race" and "equality" but the GLBT community is being excluded and discriminated against!!! This has got to stop!
Posted by: Jim | Jan 19, 2009 9:52:58 AM
We now learn that Gene Robinson was not broadcast on Obama's orders!
OH we are so screwed!
Posted by: David Ehrenstein | Jan 19, 2009 9:55:51 AM
it was not only not broadcast. the speakers for everyone not on the stage were not turned on, and only a few people were able to hear it. you can hear people on the mall chanting "SPEAKER!" or "WE CAN'T HEAR!" or "TURN IT UP!" during parts of his prayer.
Posted by: anon | Jan 19, 2009 10:35:36 AM
Mike - I hate to disappoint you but I've been following u2 since 1981, know everything about them and all of them are straight.
Believe it or not, there are some heterosexuals in the world.
Posted by: Palto | Jan 19, 2009 10:37:49 AM
I hope the very symbolic gesture of blacking out Bishop Robinson is remembered as LGBT issues move to the back burner of the new Obama Administration. Where is our outrage?
Posted by: Don Gorton | Jan 19, 2009 11:40:13 AM
All elements of religous ceremony should be removed from government activities...that said, I'm more pissed that HBO had exclusive rights to air the concert. It was a very uplifting celebration that went unseen by people like my mother and grandmother who don't have HBO. It should at minimum been given to PBS.
Posted by: mikey | Jan 19, 2009 11:50:46 AM
You can watch the concert online, it's at http://www.hbo.com/weareone/
Posted by: John Farley | Jan 19, 2009 12:47:34 PM
That the Obama committee instructed HBO to omit this prayer is very significant. Let's be cautious about what all this new "welcome" really means - we get to pray, but not to be heard...while fundies have the bully pulpit? We get to have good little "civil unions" so we can be equal, but separate...but not married? I wish there was another way to vote ~after~ the candidate was in office a while - we might be remembered longer.
Posted by: Thomas | Jan 19, 2009 1:14:17 PM
I can't believe what I'm hearing about the Obama Inauguration Committee instructing HBO to omit the invocation. I think it was HBO that did not include it. HBO's exclusive use is obscene. They should have provided the feed to any media that wanted it. They could have retained the rights to DVD distribution. I've cancelled my HBO subscription with the local cable company and I wrote a heated e-mail to HBO. I doubt I will hear anything from them.
Posted by: Jim Wildman | Jan 19, 2009 2:54:24 PM
Fresh from Politico:
The Presidential Inauguration Committee is apologizing for the failure to broadcast yesterday's invocation by the gay Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson.
“We had always intended and planned for Rt. Rev. Robinson’s invocation to be included in the televised portion of yesterday’s program. We regret the error in executing this plan – but are gratified that hundreds of thousands of people who gathered on the mall heard his eloquent prayer for our nation that was a fitting start to our event," emails PIC communications director Josh Earnest.
Robinson also explained on NPR's Fresh Air today that he was scheduled to appear at 2:25 P, but HBO was given a 2:30 P start time initially by the PIC.
Posted by: Foochy | Jan 19, 2009 3:03:18 PM
There shouldn't be prayers at concerts or inaugurations. Nonetheless Gene's words were beautiful and it will be a shame if Warren's invocation gets aired.
Posted by: kyle | Jan 19, 2009 3:12:02 PM
I agree that since the government is paying for this and it is a federal event, there shouldn't be any prayers during the inauguration. Neither Gene Robinson nor Rick Warren are everyone's bishop/pastor, nor do they speak for america...they speak for those who agree/subscribe to their beliefs.
I heard nothing particularly inspiring nor uplifting in this invocation. Once again, the only thing noteworthy about him seems to be that he's an openly gay episcopal bishop.
Since the broadcast catastrophe has turned into dodge ball, I conclude that both HBO and the inauguration committee had an active role in not broadcasting this.
It's repulsive that the rights were sold to HBO in the first place; that it was UP for sale to begin with.
Posted by: TANK | Jan 19, 2009 3:32:20 PM
O God of our many understandings, we pray that you will…
Bless us with TEARS..., ANGER..., DISCOMFORT...
He, that is God, may just grant us our prayer.
Posted by: jgithens | Jan 23, 2009 3:07:56 PM
Thanks to Towleroad and YouTube do we finally get to see this!
Posted by: www.gaygregator.com | Jan 24, 2009 4:47:37 PM