Equal time? Olive branch? Or the prayer-service equivalent of a ride on the back of the bus?

New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, a vocal gay rights leader, will open President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration with a prayer on Sunday’s kick-off event at the Lincoln Memorial.

“I am writing to tell you that President-Elect Obama and the Inaugural Committee have invited me to give the invocation at the opening event of the Inaugural Week activities, We are One, to be held at the Lincoln Memorial,” Robinson wrote in an email to friends.

The announcement comes after weeks of outcry from the gay community over Obama’s choice of evangelical, anti-gay pastor Rick Warren to deliver the inaugural invocation.

Considering how loathed Robinson is by right-wing Christian haters like Warren, to say nothing of the conservatives in Robinson’s own denomination, I’m inclined to see this development as a serious attempt by the Obama people to patch it up with angry and disappointed queers and to send a signal to the evangelicals about just who is really being played here. This is good news.

21 replies on “Prayer Service”

  4. So… the sky is no longer falling? Until the next time, which of course, will be the end of the world – except that it won’t, because he’ll fix it… until the next time.

  7. Good to know that all of the backlash following the Warren selection didn’t fall on deaf ears. This is not a panacea by any means, but it is a good sign moving forward.

  8. Oh, does that mean that your inauguration party is back on?

    How many more times is Obama going to have to prove that he’s politically savvy before you stop nitpicking every single fucking thing he does?

  10. It is a good thing when a politician makes a mistake, has a tin ear, about something and then finds a way to attempt to repair the damage. It indicates a willingness to listen and respond rather than become defensive and shut down. Rather than some foolish response like, say “I feel your pain,” Obama’s response sends me a message “I meant no harm and understand your perspective.”

    This is a good thing.

  11. This is good news.

    Now will those driven batshit insane by the Warren invite please STFU and stop giving him undue power, influence, and respect (in Religious Right circles) and unnecessary press?

    Can we finally focus on the issues that will actually impact everyones lives, like righting the economy and extricating ourselves from that money-hole called Iraq? Can we now focus queer-activist-energy where it belongs–on issues that actually impact LGBT lives, like ENDA, DADTDP, and marriage equality?

    Again, this is good news. Let’s look ahead and move on. Together.

  13. Again no mention of Joseph E. Lowery, who has been giving the benediction since the beginning.

    “I differ with [Rick Warren] sharply on his position on this issue,” Lowery told MSNBC’s David Shuster. “I don’t think we ought to put into law any discriminatory action against people because of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. I oppose that. But that doesn’t stop me from being on a program with him.”

  14. Hey, Warren is a slimy ‘make your skin crawl’ sort of a hump but looks like you guys trump in the creepy catagory with Robinson. touche.

  15. While I have long thought that inviting Robinson to take part is a good way out for Obama. But I think Robinson needs to be up on that inauguration stage with Warren. I don’t see how having him conduct a minor service two days early and over two mile away from the actual events helps things.

  21. Good Grief, folks!

    Obama always said he wanted EVERYONE under the tent.

    Do we really need to critisise everything he does already?

    Yes, I dislike Warren as much as the next guy. But it’s just a fucking prayer.

    I’m not ready to pitch my hope for a better future.

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