Gay Activists Decry Pastor’s Role in Swearing-In
By Sarah Wheaton
The Rev. Rick Warren, a conservative evangelical pastor, has been tapped to deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration – and gay rights advocates are not happy about it.
The Joint Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies announced today that Mr. Warren, of Saddleback Church in Orange County, Calif., and author of “The Purpose Driven Life,” would lead the opening prayers at the swearing-in ceremony. Though he is a prominent figure among religious conservatives, Mr. Warren invited Mr. Obama to speak at an 2006 AIDS summit he held at his mega-church, over the objection of abortion foes. Now, Mr. Obama is facing sharp criticism from part of his base for inviting Mr. Warren.
“Let me get right to the point. Your invitation to Reverend Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at your inauguration is a genuine blow to LGBT Americans,” wrote Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, in a letter to Mr. Obama today.
“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,” Mr. Solomonese continued, adding that Mr. Warren had spoken out strongly in favor of a successful gay marriage ban in California and “has often played the role of general in the cultural war waged against LGBT Americans.”
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/gay-activists-decry-pastors-role-in-swearing-in/