A Solution for Obama

The past election was filled with words and images that propelled a relatively unknown junior senator to the Presidency. The image of candidate Obama in Berlin, with tens of thousands cheering, gave him the credibility of an international leader. The words with which he communicated his vision for America and inspired millions of people to become involved in their democracy, many for the first time, were powerful. The clarion call of "Yes We Can" motivated the apathetic, energized the faithful and gave the powerless the audacity of (and to) hope.

And while any first-year communications student can tell you that words and images matter, they would also tell you that actions matter more. Nonverbal communication is perceived to be more reliable than verbal communication. Actions really do speak louder than words.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the action of choosing Rick Warren to deliver the first words and be the first image at the inauguration of this Administration -- the Administration of Hope -- outrages and demoralizes many of us who are Gay and Lesbian. We are, to say the least, confused. There is an irresolvable disconnect -- a cognitive dissonance -- between the words President-Elect Obama uses and the words Rick Warren uses when speaking about us. How do we reconcile 'hope,' 'diversity,' 'dialogue' and 'equality' with 'pedophile,' 'unnatural,' 'sinner' and 'Christophobe'?

It is important for "America to come together" as President-Elect Obama said in defense of choosing Warren to give the invocation -- and therein lies the solution.

I propose an alternate image that respects the choice of the President-Elect and affirms the dignity of those Gay and Lesbian Americans who have stood with him.

The President-Elect should extend an additional invitation to the Reverend Troy Perry to share the invocation with Pastor Warren. Reverend Perry established the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches in October of 1968. The church that began forty years ago with twelve people and initially ministered to Gays and Lesbians who had been alienated by mainstream religious denominations has grown to serve over 43,000 members in 250 churches across 23 countries.

The image of both Pastor Warren and Reverend Perry delivering the invocation communicates a powerful image of respect and inclusiveness. It is the right first image for the Administration of Hope. It is the change that I, as a Gay American, can believe in. And perhaps, after the inauguration, both men can spend time together and begin the dialogue the President wants us so desperately to have.

Actions do speak louder than words.

Comments

[smithshaw08]

Adding Rev. Troy Perry would indeed bolster the all inclusive platform that Obama talks about. So then PE Obama, put your words into actions & include Rev. Perry on Jan. 20th. Not just the LGBT community was against Warren speaking, my conservative sister was appalled as well. Warren is not only anti-gay, he is a chauvinist.

[daltexman]

I think Obama, like Bush, is incapable of admitting any mistake or shortcoming. I am extremely disappointed. The author's suggestion makes a lot of sense, which is probably why the Obama camp will not do it.

[poliguy70130]

I must admit that I find it rather odd how many articles and blogs on this subject toss around the words diveristy and inclusiveness. It seems that the gay community employs these words when trying to prove their point, but do not honestly embrace them. The truth is that as a whole the gay community does not value diversity amongst its own. How can we demand equality from others, when our own community continues to itself be racist.

[waitforme]

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THE ISSUE IS NOT JUST GAYS!!

Boy, are you naive! Using gay rights as the main issue is going nowhere. And gays, I think, is at the bottom of the list of what Rick Warren is dangerous about. Warren is about murder, anti-women, and anti-condoms which means pro-HIV in Ghana.

1) So far, though I've written and written about Warren not being a good idea to start the Inauguration off with, nothing about this pick has changed! The people who are running the Inauguration committee don't give a damn about gays! They can easily dismiss Warren's rejection of gays as a marginal issue. BUT...If you and everyone with any sense will only disseminate ALL of what he is, then something might change.

2) First, speak to women. Warren is against women's rights to make decisions about our own bodies; a good way to die, by creating one's own abortion or going to back-alley butchers, which happened before abortion was legal. He is against women disagreeing with their husbands (Wha?!). He is against women getting divorced based on being battered by their husbands; a good way to get killed by staying with such a husband. (See Kathe Pollitt on Rachel Maddow a few weeks ago.)

[CindyV]

I'll tell you what would go a long way---some indication from Obama that he knows his selection of Rick Warren hurt the LGBT community. Is it so hard for the president-elect to say he's sorry? I don't even want him to uninvite Warren or select someone else. All I'd like to see is Obama acknowledge that he didn't understand how his selection of Warren the hurt gays, but now he does. Too me, Obama is just like Bush when he can't say he made a mistake and he can't apologize.

[silverkjk]

Your blog is predicated on the assumption that Obama views the reactions to the Warren selection as problematic. I have seen nothing to indicate that either he or any of his senior staff have met with GLBT organizations to discuss the invocation or the GLBT reaction to it. Given that, it appears that the selection is not viewed as a problem. Therefore, it would not need a solution.

[Sam Ciraulo - Huffpost Blogger]

Good point, but I'm thinking that, since the story has lasted for a number of news cycles, they might view that as a problem, if not the selection itself. Unless there have been some backchannel conversations, I agree, the transition team has not reached out to the GLBT community. Maybe this would be a good starting point...

[BarryS]

can't happen. Rev Warren wouldn't attend under those circumstances. It would admit that all christians aren't homphobic bigots; that all churches aren't homophobic bigots.

[tcagle]

I'd rather skip the religion altogether, if that's all right with you.

[larry278]

That is the reason that many TV sets have mute buttons. One can simply avoid watching BHO's innaguaration. It could be like some of us not saying "...under god..' during the Pledge of Allegiance or simply leaving the area where it's being said & returning after the pledge has been said. Since I'm a veteran, I simply ignore & walk away from someone if the ask me why I don't say the pledge of allegiance. Every American has that right. Religion is as personal as sex. I also ignore those who comment on sex or try to ask me anything about my sex life. There are personal thing which I don't discuss. That is a right for all Americans.
Freedom from religion is a right related to freedom of religion. It's a shame that many Americans don't know that.