Good things are happening in the LGBT community.
The Obama folks asked the Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first
openly gay priest ordained in a mainline Christian church, to
deliver the invocation at the first official inaugural event, the
“We Are One” concert taking place Sunday,
January 18 at the Lincoln Memorial. Bishop Robinson has accepted.The event, featuring such big name
entertainers as Beyonce, Bono, Stevie Wonder and more, will be free
and open to the public.
Bishop Robinson has been outspoken in his disagreement with the
president-elect’s choice of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation
at the swearing in ceremony. We here at Family Equality Council
echo the bishop’s concerns. While Bishop Robinson’s presence at “We
Are One” does not “erase” the decision to bestow honor on a person,
Rick Warren, who has defamed his fellow Americans, we are pleased
that such a courageous religious figure, Bishop Robinson, will
contribute to this incredibly important moment in history.
Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director of Family Equality Council,
issued this statement on Bishop Robinson’s selection to the media
yesterday afternooon:
“Bishop Robinson is a tremendous figure within the LGBT community
and beyond. In a period when others have used faith to justify
bigotry and discrimination, Bishop Robinson has stood for peace and
for the rights of all religious persons to express and act upon
their faith. When Family Equality Council honored Bishop Robinson
in 2006, I was humbled to hear his adult daughter speak so lovingly
of him. As parents, we should all be so lucky to make our children
as proud as Bishop Robinson has his two daughters. I look forward
to hearing such a courageous voice at the first inaugural event,
and to religious discourse during the Obama Administration that
honors and respects all of God’s children.”