Subscribe to Breaking News
Loading ...Calif. Gay rights leader rejects inauguration invite
12.19.2008 9:10am EST
(San Francisco, California) The head of California’s largest gay civil rights organization has declined an invitation to attend the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama because Rev. Rick Warren will deliver the invocation.
“It is extremely disappointing and hurtful that President-elect Obama has chosen California Rev. Rick Warren, who actively supported Prop 8 and the elimination of existing civil rights for LGBT Californians, to give the invocation at his inauguration,” said Equality California executive director Geoff Kors in a statement.“Accordingly, I have decided to decline the invitation to attend the inauguration as I cannot be part of a celebration that highlights and gives voice to someone who advocated repealing rights from me and millions of other Californians.”
Kors said he was looking forward to hearing a speech by the new President about his vision of a new America and an end to the politics of division.
“Rick Warren does not share that vision. Far from it. Instead, he actively works to divide Americans based on who we are and has been an ardent supporter of efforts to ostracize LGBT Americans,” said Kors.
Warren is the outspoken evangelical pastor of the Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. – one of the state’s largest megachurches.
He was a major supporter of Proposition 8, the measure that amended the California constitution to ban same-sex marriage in the state.
“There is no need to change the universal, historical definition of marriage to appease 2 percent of our population,” he said during the Prop 8 campaign “This is not a political issue – it is a moral issue that God has spoken clearly about.”
Despite outrage over Warren’s selection to deliver the invocation Obama has defended the choice.
Obama told reporters in Chicago Thursday that America needs to “come together,” even when there’s disagreement on social issues. “That dialogue is part of what my campaign is all about,” he said.
In a statement Thursday night, Warren said he commends the President-elect “for his courage to willingly take enormous heat from his base by inviting someone like me, with whom he doesn’t agree on every issue, to offer the Invocation at his historic Inaugural ceremony.”
So far no other LGBT rights leaders have said they will boycott the inauguration. Among those scheduled to take part is the Lesbian and Gay Band Association.
Thank you, Jeff, for standing up and being counted. I have lost all faith in Obama with this decision and will not even watch the inauguration on TV. I was planning a big party to celebrate and to hang out my American flag for the first time since Kennedy was president. Now it will stay in the back of my closet, probably until I die. To say I’m brokenhearted in an understatement. I can honestly say I will never contribute another dime to any democratic candidate. They take your money, then spit in your face. That’s what Obama did to us. This was not “just a bad decision” it was a deliberate slap in the face to every gay and lesbian who donated to his campaign and voted for him. Never again.
There shouldn’t be an invocation at a State ceremony ANYWAY!!!!!! That’s plainly unconstitutional. This not-so-subtle reinforcement of the religiosity of the State takes precedent over our squabble with that monkey in a man-suit, Rick Warren.
“Though I would’ve liked a different decision, if you look at this objectively, it’s a “big picture” decision that does reflect what we need to do as a nation…talk to each other to work out our differences.”
Working out our differences is a grand idea. However why is it that Mr. Obama does not reach out to groups that hate him? This is twice now (that I’m aware of) that Mr. Obama has completely sideswiped gays and lesbians. Donnie McClurkin and now Rick Warren.
It is not hyperbole or a different matter entirely to question why Mr. Obama does not reach out to other groups. It’s a very valid question. I’m sure there must be something they can agree on, too.
I was disappointed too after reading that Rick “the pig” Warren was going to have such important role in Obama’s first day. But I read this article in the Washington Post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/19/AR2008121902414.html?hpid=opinionsbox1
and I kinda understand now. I think we are judging Obama too soon. I’m all for boycotting any, ANY business that had to do with prop H8, but Obama shouldn’t have to pay for that anger. He is just making a symbolic statement of unity and we should be looking at how hard will be for the bigots to have their minister or whatever, give a speech for someone who is pro gay and pro abortion. I think we need to focus our anger and frustration at the real culprits of prop H8.
The indignation is coming a little too late, look at the video on the corner in case you missed what Barack said on Saddlehate church before the election. Now the man is our President. There’s are reason why people use the word Gay instead of stupid.
Geoff Kors is a hero!
O Sandoval, how about “a symbolic statement of unity” towards US first! After all, most of us only voted for the man and/or donated time and money to his campaign!
So far we have been doing VERY poorly in winning posts in Obama’s administration and this is just the icing on a cake filled with disrespect for the gay community.
The symbolism of the Inauguration is that gays are good enough to provide entertainment, but not good enough to be treated as equals. Not unlike the way blacks were once treated.
I am sure Obama would have done the same if he were invited to attend and a KKK member was speaking. Same difference.
Selecting a man who makes direct comparisons of being gay to pedophila and zoophilia is not a “symbolic statement.” At least, I hope it isn’t.
Bunch of babies. “He’s going, so I’m not going.” The struggle is never over. Is this the best way for a gay leader to advance our causes? I don’t think so. Get over your own self. Celebrate Obama and the new USA.
O Sandoval! An important role?! Are you kidding me?! How many inaugural invocations can you remember? Who gave them?
Any Gay person participating in that inauguration ceremony will only show what little self respect he or she has left.
Way to go Geoff Kors!! I will go donate the money I was going to give the Obama transition team to Equality California.
That is leadership!!!!!
Well, I think this individual act is admirable. However, I think LGBT people better heed the message being sent by Obama and the US government both with the Warren invite and the US’s iffy stance on gay (universal) human rights in the UN last week. Our struggle here is FAR from over. There is no NEW USA. Anyone who thinks so is just as deluded as those who voted for ‘Idiot America’ with the Bushies. As individuals, we need to fund our advocates and support our cause on the pavement in the ballot box with no exceptions. I, for one, will not vote for Obama again.
A letter I sent to Mr. Kors;
Mr. Kors,
With all due respect for the position you (and all other GLBT Americans) find yourself in, I’m not exactly sure that boycotting the most important political event of our history thus far is a good or wise idea. I’m afraid it will be cast as a sign of weakness, resignation, childishness and ultimately used against us. For example, the talibangical buybull touting xtians, love to bash us any chance they get. If you boycott Obama’s inauguration, they will (mis)construe it as how divisive we GLBT folks are, and how we are out to destroy the nation. I know it’s a stretch, but everything those complete nutters do is a stretch.
Second, I am not intimidated. Neither should you be. I would have issues if I boycotted his inauguration, then lobbied his office for equal rights. We need to keep as high a profile as we can. ESPECIALLY showing your (and a handsome one at that!) face on national TV during his inauguration!! When the politicos do their now legendary examination of the event, they will say that it is you there, and name your office, and parse the meaning of your presence. Third, don’t “let the bastards get you down” is a phrase my rather outspoken G-Ma (grandma) likes to say. She lives by that rule and does what so ever she wants, unless it hurts someone else. You need to GO! And show absolute solidarity with your GLBT brother and sisters. If given the chance to speak, before or after the event, take it and announce how committed you are to equal rights!
In closing, this is THE golden opportunity of our lifetime!!! Don’t blow it, playing politics. If you do, you will have lost a chance that may not present itself to us (unless the next president is Hillary!) again in our lifetimes. I beg of you to reconsider.
Peace,
Sean DuPont
It is time we hold our own leadership responsible. Geoff Kors and his pathetic campaign that refused to show our families is the reason Prop. 8 succeeded. His exclusiveness lost the election, and now he is proven it once again.