With Rick Warren Flap, Gay Activists Say Obama Has Long Been a ‘Mixed Bag’

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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.

David MacCall of VA 7:53PM February 02, 2009

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.

LILY of CT 4:41PM January 16, 2009

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.

White ICE of IL 3:03PM December 23, 2008

Obama, we voted for you because you said "Yes We Can" but apparently that "We" doesn't include the LGBT community.

For us, all we are hearing is "No we can't"

No we can't get married. No we provide a loving home to foster children. No we can't receive the federal rights (social security etc) given so freely to others. And yes we are being marginalized. Yes we are being treated like second-class citizens. Yes we are angry.

Now, the person in whom we've placed our faith - and our money and our social influence and our votes - for change has gone and asked a full-blown BIGOT to speak at his inauguration. I am so deeply saddened and disappointed. If Warren spoke about Jews the way he spoke about the LGBT community, would that be OK? How about Muslims? Or African Americans? With his selection of Warren to give his opening prayer at the inauguration, Obama has not just asked the LGBT community to sit at the back of the bus, he's thrown us under it. Shame on you, Obama.

Karena of OR 11:31AM December 23, 2008

Despite the volumn of articles I've read about Obama's pick of

Rick Warren there is a void of email addresses included in articles where one can write to protest Obama's choice. What are some email addresses where I can orgnize my friends so show a protest.

Jerrold and Joyce

joyce hastings/jerrold flores of NM 2:35PM December 22, 2008

I have to second that. It's funny and heartbreaking at the same time that every comment defending Obama is filled with bigotry and hatred. Is that the "inclusiveness" that Obama meant?

Marie of CA 8:03AM December 21, 2008

I'm European, so I'm always slightly alienated when I encounter religiously fanatic misogynistic, homophobic simple minded Americans. And there are a lot of them. Frankly, I'm completely disgusted by what Obama did and it revealed what politics still is about. Sell people snake oil every four years so you can throw them under the bus when you got what you wanted to make your opportunistic moves.

I don't want to comment on why I'm disgusted at Obama, that is fairly obvious for anyone that has a brain and heart, I'm more appalled by the hateful simple minded comments I'm coming to read all over. It seems like now after Obama is president, the ugly monsters are coming out of their holes again. These reactions alone show just how wrong Obama was in his decision. "Inclusiveness"?

breadandroses of CA 7:42AM December 21, 2008

Hold on a minute. Why the criticism of Rick Warren. He's been pretty transparent about his position, and my recollection is that Barack Obama, too, is opposed to gay marriage, and that his opposition is based on religious grounds. Folks, this is the guy you elected!

Danyel of OH 7:09PM December 20, 2008

The presidential inauguration invocation would have been an amazing opportunity to show the plurality of spiritual dimension in this country. Obama could have chosen Native American, Jewish, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Humanist representatives, etc.. to offer a few words together...or perhaps use even an Interfaith Chaplain. The possibilities were endless. Warren was a big mistake. Aside from insulting the gay and lesbian community which is an outrage in itself, it is time that we realize that there is not just one religious tradition in our country, and that the Golden Rule should be the guiding religious principle, if we feel we need a religious principle at all.

fj of NY 6:56PM December 20, 2008

Just because you believe in one path to God does not mean everyone else believes the same thing, or tha tyou can call others an abomination because of your selection of certain versus of the bible.

I am not a Christian, and I am really sick of having that fairy tale shoved down my throat as a reason for bigotry. What would Jesus do? You think the same man who befriended the lepers and whores would turn his back on a person, created by God, in your opinion, because of who they love?

I personally do not care who Obama chose for his inauguration prayer. People in America have a constitutional right to believe whatever they want, and this guy we elected is a Christian and as expected, believes a certain set of things, including the righteousness of the bible.

Let him have his prayer, then see what he does while he is in office.

To the Christians responding to this article, shame on you for not embracing the love that Christ imparted to the world. Read the whole bible instead of hand selecting the verses that work for you.

Homosexuality is not a perversion, and it is not something you become or chose. Educate yourself before sounding off anonymously on a website. Stop lumping homosexuality in with bestiality, for Christ’s sake! Consent between adults is not the same as raping animals or incest among brothers and sisters. Pedophilia, like that common in the Catholic Church, is usually between a straight man and his victimized young boy.

Recognize that this country is full of people with different beliefs, not all based on the bible. Your bible worship and faith brings comfort to you in a way intellect brings me comfort. When we all die, and discover the truths about our humanity as a state for spiritual growth, you may be sad to find you missed the opportunity to be kind and loving because of your very myopic views of the universe, God, and your place as a judge of people just living their lives loving who they love.

sarah of VA 10:30AM December 20, 2008

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Dan Gilgoff covers religion for U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War, and is a former politics editor at beliefnet. E-mail Dan at godandcountry@usnews.com.

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