Campaign Unavailable

 Tell President-Elect Obama:
 Choosing Rev. Rick Warren sends the wrong message   

Anti-gay clergy person Rev. Rick Warren has been selected to have the privilege of giving the invocation at the inauguration. Members of the LGBT and allied community must convey to the President-elect, and Congress, that giving persons who oppose basic civil rights for LGBT Americans positions of honor undermine the values we seek to foster as a nation.

The selection of Rev. Rick Warren casts serious doubt as to whether President-elect Barack Obama fully understands the needs of the LGBT community. The President-elect's justifications for the selection have been both disrespectful and contrary to the values that he campaigned on. As we continue to look to the President-elect with great hope, we must make him understand our disappointment with his actions so that we can move forward and work together to advance the cause of civil rights in America.    

Representative Barney Frank Sums up the situation well:

       “I am very disappointed by President-elect Barack Obama’s decision to honor Reverend Rick Warren with a prominent role in his inauguration.  Religious leaders obviously have every right to speak out in opposition to anti-discrimination measures, even in the degrading terms that Rev. Warren has used with regard to same-sex marriage.  But that does not confer upon them the right to a place of honor in the inauguration ceremony of a president whose stated commitment to LGBT rights won him the strong support of the great majority of those who support that cause.

       “. . . .  The selection of a member of the clergy to occupy this uniquely elevated position has always been considered a mark of respect and approval by those who are being inaugurated.”