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Inauguration Invocation
Greetings,
The decision to have anti-gay clergy person Rev. Rick Warren
give the invocation at the Presidential Inauguration sends the
wrong message to the American People. We ask you to join
with Kentucky Fairness Alliance and sign this petition
so that the Obama Administration knows that we want real change.
It's time to stop giving persons who oppose basic civil
rights for LGBT American's this nation's highest honors such as
the privilege of doing the invocation. Let's make sure that the
President-elect knows that we intend to hold him accountable and
that we expect him to lead America on its path toward full
equality for America's LGBT citizens.
After you have signed the petition, please ask 5 friends to
do so as well!
In fairness,
Your KFA Team
"As long as
LGBT people and our allies continue to allow others to define
OUR VERY EXISTENCE as a so-called "social
issue" - then we will not succeed in creating a world
that is safe for ourselves, our loved ones and our
families." Leah McElrath,
Renna Communications
 The
Ampersand symbolizes the solidarity we are building through Friends &
Family, and suggests the inclusiveness we are working
toward. It reflects the idea that no one individual, legislator,
organization, or city can carry all the water for equality. Our
success lies in our solidarity.
Sign this petition and notify:
President Barack Obama
I join with the Kentucky Fairness Alliance in expressing my deep disappointment on the selection of Rev. Rick Warren to give the invocation at your inauguration. This selection does violence to the vision of change and respect for humanity that were the cornerstones of your campaign.
Please do not hide behind the language of inclusiveness to justify your selection of a man who opposes basic civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. The person who gives the invocation is seen as the President's moral compass. In choosing Rick Warren, you are sending two unacceptable messages. First, you are suggesting that government need not demonstrate any sensitivity to the LGBT citizens of America, their family members and friends. Second, you are signaling all America that there is no price to pay for espousing opposition to basic human rights for gay individuals and families. It is hard to imagine sending worse messages at your inauguration.
We ask you to quickly and decisively work to mitigate the harm you have done. This should be done in word and action. Please consider making sure that a member of the LGBT community has a public role in your inauguration ceremony. Now, more than ever before, you should appoint qualified openly LGBT individuals to senior positions.
Please do not humiliate and insult LGBT people and their allies by seeking to justify your actions as anything but a failure to understand the depth of harm you have done to the cause of equality.
I hope that this unfortunate situation will serve to increase communication between your administration and the LGBT and allied community. I hope in the future your actions will reflect a real commitment to the values you promised would guide your administration.
I look forward to supporting you as we work together to: end Don't Ask Don't Tell; pass an Employment Nondiscrimination Act that includes gender identity; pass a hate crimes prevention act that includes sexual orientation and gender identity; and ensure that the federal benefits and protections available to legally married heterosexual couples are available to same-sex couples who are legally married, have civil unions, or domestic partnerships.
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