Yes, we're angry that President-elect Barack Obama selected pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at his inauguration next month. Warren has made a career of trying to market himself as a "kinder, gentler" evangelical, someone who can dismiss gays with a smile instead of the vocal hatred that spews from his more bombastic colleagues like James Dobson and Pat Robertson. But make no mistake, Warren, the senior pastor at Saddleback Church in Orange County, doesn't believe in marriage equality for same-sex couples. Heck, gays can't even become members of his church, as blogger John Aravosis noted (the church on Monday apparently removed its anti-gay language, which according to a screen grab, stated that, "only someone unwilling to repent their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted as a member at Saddleback"). But gays can still attend services.
Gee, thanks.
And Warren worked hard to help propel Proposition 8 to victory, thus eliminating equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. While he may have not been as vocal as leaders of the Catholic and Mormon churches, Warren nevertheless endorsed the passage of Prop 8. So yes, Obama's selection of Warren was a sucker-punch to the gut of many LGBTs.
Obama's defense of his selection rang hollow – and was extremely disappointing. At a news conference last week, Obama said that while he considers himself a "fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans," he wants to "create an atmosphere" of a nation coming together despite the differences among people.
"I would note," said Obama last week, "that a couple of years ago, I was invited to Rick Warren's church to speak despite his awareness that I held views that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion. Nevertheless, I had an opportunity to speak, and that dialogue, I think, is part of what my campaign has been all about, that we're not going to agree on every single issue. But what we have to do is be able to create an atmosphere when we – where we can disagree without being disagreeable and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans."
We respectfully disagree with the "fierce" characterization. And, really, when did an invitation to speak at a conservative church mean that the "favor" had to be returned by giving its pastor a coveted speaking role at the inauguration?
At this point, it's clear that Obama fundamentally doesn't "get it" in regard to LGBT issues and why many of us are so upset and deeply disappointed with the Warren choice. It is as if he doesn't see us, as some gay bloggers have noted. In his desire to create a "post-partisan" country, Obama has demonstrated that his understanding of our issues is woefully inadequate. With all due respect to the gays who have held important positions in his campaign and transition team, inviting Warren is either a brazen political move or, in Obama's mind, LGBTs are scarcely given a moment's thought. Either one is less than desirable.
But the larger point is this: Obama missed a great opportunity for a different kind of change. It doesn't always have to be a conservative evangelical homophobe. Why does "bringing people together" always seem to mean that we have to listen to a homophobe? Why can't the homophobes listen to us?
There are many other clergy who could have symbolized inclusion, someone who really broke the mold and pointed to a new beginning.
An even bolder decision would have been to consider a gay person. Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson has played a history-making role in his denomination. Robinson, you may recall, was an early Obama supporter and is a trailblazer who has weathered his own fight with bigotry since he was installed as the bishop of New Hampshire several years ago. He would have inspired many, and such a selection would have put a gay person of faith front and center. That would have done more to move the country forward than Obama's uninspired choice of Warren.
It's a bungled decision like the Warren pick that exemplifies how Obama doesn't get us. In fact LGBTs are now officially shut out of the Obama cabinet and most senior staff positions announced so far.
But honoring Warren was a shock to LGBTs, and many of us rightfully question Obama's commitment to change.
We'll believe in change when we see signs of it.