PageOneQ has posted video of President-elect Barack Obama responding to the Rick Warren flap during a press conference this morning. Here’s what Obama said:
“Let me start by talking about my own views. I think that it is no secret that I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It is something that I have been consistent on and something that I intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency. What I’ve also said is that it’s important for Americans to come together even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues and I would note 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 an lesbian rights, when it came to issues like abortion. Nevertheless, I had an opportunity to speak and that dialog is part of what my campaign has been all about. We’re not going to agree on every single issue but what we have to do is be able to create an atmosphere where we can disagree without being disagreeable and focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans. Rick Warren has been invited to speak. Dr. Joseph Lowry who has deeply contrasting views to Rick Warren on a whole host of issues is also speaking. During the course of the entire inaugural festivities there is going to be a wide range to viewpoints that are going to be presented. And that’s how it should be because that’s what America is about. Part of the magic of this country is that we are diverse and noisy and opinionated and that’s the spirit we have put together what I think will be a terrific inauguration that’s hopefully going to be a spirit that carries over into my administration.”
When Obama says that there will be a wide range of view points, would he have included Rick Warren if he held a racist viewpoint? Of course not, because that is a viewpoint that Obama would have found offensive. I’m not sure Obama gets it. That to many GLBT people, this would be the equivalent to having David Duke giving the invocation.
This is the man I want to be my President. “It’s important for Americans to come together even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues.” Bush was a divider. Obama is a uniter. Move over honey, there’s plenty of room in this tent for everybody, even if we don’t agree on some very important issues. It’s America.
So you’re saying that terrorizing and lynching blacks is on the same level as disagreeing on what is or is not marriage? I think that’s a far stretch, don’t you think?
Tisha, Did you know that the GlBTQ community has had its share of lynchings and being terrorized? Did you know that religious groups and our government stood by and watch our brothers and sisters die of AIDS in the 80’s? Did you know we are required to pay school taxes but not allowed to adopt in most states? Not allowed to marry in most states.
So NO, I don’t see it as a far stretch at all. Rick Warren compares my 20 year relationship to that of an incestous one. Do you know how offensive that is? He doesn’t think I should be allowed to have the same rights as those very black people that were terrorized.
I dig Obama. However, I don’t appreciate him ellivating a bigot to super star preacher status on the backs of my rights. Warren is a douchebag, no matter how many free donuts he gives to the gays.
Obama is nothing but the THIRD term of Clinton. He will go down in history as the worst president because he promised everyone everything and he will not be able to do what he asked. Let see after Obama is in office and the terrorists strike, then how many will this he is still a Uniter or will the Islamic terrorist not bomb a fellow Muslim!
Obama is no friend of our community. We must somehow mobilize and protest against this charlatan (a man I believed in, financially supported, and voted for). What can we do? Ideas are welcome.
Queer Liberaction is planning an event for the national day of demonstration against DOMA on January 10. On paper, Obama is against DOMA. Let’s get him to stick to this position and not cower out like Clinton did when he signed it into law.
Obama unfortunately is in favor of back-of-the-bus civil unions, not marriage equality. While getting civil unions would be a huge step forward in terms of our civil rights it is only that, a step. We demand marriage equality like everyone else has, not some second rate special category created just for Gays. Part of our message will be letting Obama know that Queer people demand all the same rights as heterosexuals have, which is marriage equality.
Contact Queer Liberaction at lgbtliberaction@gmail.com to help hold Obama accountable to his anti-DOMA positions and give him that needed nudge to supporting our full legal equality.