With Rick Warren Flap, Gay Activists Say Obama Has Long Been a ‘Mixed Bag’
By Dan Gilgoff, God & Country
In my earlier post about Rick Warren at the inauguration and whether Barack Obama could simultaneously reach out to the gay rights and evangelical movements, I may have overstated the warm reviews from the gay activist community for the performance of the Obama campaign and transition team.
For a story on usnews.com today, I spoke with David Smith, vice president of the Human Rights campaign, who said Obama's gay outreach to date has been a "mixed bag." He said HRC had been disappointed in how few openly gay appointments Obama had made so far. The only such appointment to a prominent White House post so far, according to Smith, is Nancy Sutley as chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
Here's what Smith told me:
"The Obama team has sent a very uplifting message that positive change is coming for LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] Americans, but we haven't seen it yet. There has been no concrete evidence of inclusion. That's the environment in which this Warren announcement happened—it exacerbates the level of disappointment that exists."
He also stressed that symbolism—not just policy—matters to the gay rights community:
"The inauguration represents the dawn of his presidency, so the symbolism is unmistakable. To have a man who so vociferously opposes LGBT equality . . . it almost gives license that the reverend's views are somehow tolerable or acceptable.
"You can think of a whole host of people who the president wouldn't have selected for the inauguration because of their viewpoints on race or because of their religious bigotry. By having this man [Rick Warren] speak at the dawn of the presidency, it's like saying his views are not unacceptable.
"Even though he says he disagreed with [Warren], it's like having an anti-Semite open the program."
Wow. That's pretty strong language. But it's a reminder that many of the groups that embraced Obama on the campaign trail won't necessarily fall in line with him now.
For instance, here's what Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese said about Obama when his organization endorsed him last June: "I've been consistently impressed by Senator Obama's willingness to speak about GLBT issues in front of diverse audiences. Matters of life and livelihood for GLBT Americans are on the line in this election and after eight years of an antigay stranglehold on the presidency, Senator Obama's message of fairness and acceptance is a breath of fresh air."
Here's what Solmonese said yesterday in a protest letter to Obama:
"Your invitation to Rev. 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."
- Read more about evangelical voters.
- Read more about Rick Warren giving the invocation at Obamas inauguration.
- Read more about gay rights.
- Read more by Dan Gilgoff.
Tags: Barack Obama | religion | gay rights | Rick Warren
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Reader Comments
contiuation of bigotry
Three Republicans in the Cabinet and no gays....how exactly is this the most inclusive Administration ever? One more President telling the gay community that we don't exist. With Rick Warren, Donnie McClurking and no high level appointments, the message has been received loud and clear. The Democrats are really no better than the Republicans, who have the guts to tell us flat out the hate us, while the Democrats promise the moon and don't deliver a damn thing.
I am very dissapointed at these comments
All of you are calling Rick Warren a bigot. When other countries thought they made a mistake with their choice of leader, concerning his views on the economy, Americans are having second thoughts because of 'sexuality'. Very disappointing. You want equal rights for gays? You think because Obama's views don't necessarily favor gays, so he is not the best man?
I cry for America. If you don't believe there is a God, then I pity you, all of you. Indeed, he said we are all one, black, white, green whatever color you are, and it's true our ways, are not his ways, so I wouldn't judge a gay. But also, remember God rain FIRE on SODOM and GOMORRAH, WHY? because Men were with Men, likewise women. All you who are sharp with you tongue, thinking it's a right thing. I advice you think twice. Don't think you can outsmart, the one who gave you the brain, just because he gave it to you. Don't make him look stupid'
PS: AND I KNOW SOMEBODY IS GOING TO JUMP ON THIS COMMENT AS YOU USUALLY DO, AND INSULT ME. GOD BLESS YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE.
Rick Warren is not a bigot deserving of invitation to the Inauguration
Homosexuality and religion are behaviors that that should not be forced/thrusted upon society. Further more, the act of same-sex copulation is against the natural laws of nature. Under the normal standard deviation curve, nature intended that there be a male/female relationship for procreation. However, it’s possible to have a relationship with procreation. To add, there are those whose thoughts are outside this standard deviation and insist that they should impose their will on the masses. One's mind does not dictate sexuality; rather, nature dictates copulation and mans' ability to reason dictates at what time (i.e. statutory age of consent. All humans have the ability to do good (sexual preferences aside); to be male, female, handi-capped, or ones' race is beyond ones' control. To prefer to indulge in same-sex activities is with-in one's control. Should proposition 8 be reversed? Mans' ability to reason will decide.
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