The Problem With Rick

I purposely have sat on this story all week without posting a word because I wasn’t sure exactly what to say. For those who haven’t been following Obama’s road to the White House, it was announced this week that Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church will be giving the invocation at the Inauguration. Warren is a conservative evangelical who, as you might remember, hosted the Civil Forum on the Presidency in August that featured both Barack Obama and John McCain. This has outraged many supporters of the President-elect because of the extreme viewpoints Warren has towards homosexuality and his unwavering support of the passage of Proposition 8 in California. Included in that outrage is me. 

Let me start by talking about the facts about Rick Warren. If you venture on to Rick Warren’s church website, you’ll find the following tidbit of information regarding the inclusion of gay and lesbians within his church: “Because membership in a church is an outgrowth of accepting the Lordship and leadership of Jesus in one’s life, someone unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle would not be accepted at a member at Saddleback Church. That does not mean they cannot attend church – we hope they do! God’s Word has the power to change our lives.” But don’t call him homophobic, he has gay friends. Whatever Rick. Additionally, Warren seems to find absolute equivalency of gay marriage to pedophilia. And while it is true that he has done outreach with regards to the HIV/AIDS crisis, this type of speech is hate speech. You will not convince me otherwise. Comparing the relationship of two consenting adults who wish to commit their lives to each other to the sexual abuse of a child is irresponsible, repugnant and senseless. There is nothing “Christ like” about a statement such as that. Finally, Rick Warren was a figurehead with regards to the Yes on 8 campaign in California, which coincidentally is now attempting to invalidate the marriages of the 18,000 couples who were allowed to marry under the brief same-sex marriage law. 

Naturally, when President-elect Obama announced that Rick Warren would be giving the invocation at the inauguration, many were upset. As upset as I am, I will not suggest that Obama is showing his true colors with regards to LGBT issues. I do believe he is sincere in his support. I will also not suggest that he is no longer worthy of my support, as I stand by my vote and will continue to do so. But I will say this. Obama’s selection was a mistake of immense proportions. In selecting Warren, Obama has suggested that hate speech does not disqualify someone from being a moral figurehead. While the nod doesn’t necessarily condone the words of Warren, it certainly gives him a national platform. There were, and still are, hundreds of recognizable, strong Christian leaders who would have appealed to conservatives and evangelicals and at the same time refuse to lead a crusade of intolerance. His choice absolutely boggles my mind. 

I was opposed to the Saddleback forum from the beginning, as I value the separation of the church and state and get uncomfortable when a religious leader had his hand too far in the pot. But if we are to continue allow religious leaders a part in this political process, we have to be strong enough to stand up against the dangerous discourse of people like Warren. Obama had a number of people he could have selected, and he blew this one big time. It was a slap in the face to the LGBT community, and we are rightfully angry. 

This choice suggests to me that the gay community is still the proverbial kicking dog. If Warren was an anti-Semite, a racist or a misogynist he would not be on that stage. Obama would not have “reached across the aisle” to shake hands with a person like that. Obama would not have been able to pass their differences off on a gentlemen’s disagreement. Warren can be strong on climate change and helping the poor until he’s blue in the face but he’s still a bigot. 

Barack Obama is still my President-elect. He is still the one I supported for two years and I do not wish to take that back. I still feel like he will bring economic change, and end to Iraq, a cleaner record on the environment and a resurgence of the American spirit. Part of involvement in the political process is standing up to your leaders and letting them know when you think they’re wrong. The last 8 years have reinforced the idea that it is wrong to do this, that it’s somehow unpatriotic to question your leadership. Well it isn’t and it’s for that reason that I say the following: President-elect Obama, you have disappointed me beyond belief. I am sad and outraged at your choice of Rick Warren and feel it was completely irresponsible of you and your transition team. Going forward, the LGBT community expects better decisions and more honesty regarding your intentions. That’s change I can believe in.