Rep. Barney Frank "disappointed" at Obama's invitation to Rick Warren...
I'm glad people are making their disappointment known in regards to Barack Obama's decision to have Rick Warren, a pastor many consider to be homophobic, to deliver the invocation at the inauguration. I don't know about you, but I feel personally offended as a gay person who voted for Obama.
Anyway, that's life it seems. Rep. Barney Frank, one of the only openly gay members of the US House of Representatives, released a statement about the controversy. Here it is:
"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.
It is irrelevant that Rev. Warren invited Senator Obama to address his congregation, since he extended an equal invitation to Senator McCain. Furthermore, the President-Elect has not simply invited Rev. Warren to give a speech as part of a series in which various views are presented. 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.
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Greg Hernandez authored Out In Hollywood for the Daily News from June 2006 to February 2009. He can now be found at Greg In Hollywood: www.greginhollywood.com
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