Candace Challew-Hodge sure seems to think Obama did so as she wrote today, in response to the fact Bishop Gene Robinson’s remarks at yesterday’s inaugural event weren’t broadcast on HBO due to supposed ‘technical difficulties’…

…”I invite everyone to judge Obama by his actions and not his words—and yes, even by the actions of his people. Obama has sworn that he is a “fierce advocate of gay and lesbian rights.” So far, I have seen no action to confirm that lip service. I have seen him choose a virulently anti-gay pastor to open the most historic inauguration this country has ever seen. I have seen him toss a bone to our community in the form of an incredible man like Bishop Gene Robinson, then promptly toss him under the bus—denying him the same kind of platform he has generously given someone who compares our lives to pedophilia and incest. I have even seen him back away from previous support for same-sex marriage. So far, his actions have disproved his words.  I suppose I should not be surprised.

As a lesbian, I am a pariah to my church, a thorn in the side to my government and a complete afterthought to my president. It’s hard to keep your head held high when you know all those around you who have any sort of power wish you would simply shut up or disappear altogether.”

Now, some of you may get angry with me for choosing this focus for my post on inauguration day.  Some of you will say, “Why would I mar such a beautiful day – the inauguration of a democratic president with such promise?”  Or, “Give the man a chance”.

Here’s why I’ve chosen to ‘stir the pot’, so-to-speak.  (more…)

I just received an email from Bishop Gene Robinson, who has been invited by President Elect Obama to give the invocation at one of the inaugural events tomorrow night.  I am posting the letter here to you as a reminder that there is a new and hopefully better time coming for GLBT Americans as Obama takes office AND to remind you that…

HRC’s Blueprint for Change is a wonderful place to focus your support as this project will hold Obama’s ‘feet to the fire’ so-to-speak in the weeks, months and years ahead.  Obama has made some wonderful promises to the GLBT community but we must be sure Obama follows through….

Have a great weekend (GO RAVENS – I’M BLEEDING PURPLE PASSION TODAY)!!!

Barb

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Insulting your supporters to win the support of your opponents
is no way to build unity. - Michele Goldberg

People in the GLBT community are aghast today.  Since Barack Obama gave fundamentalist pastor Rick Warren the role of giving the invocation at the presidential inauguration, many are scratching their heads.

They are wondering: Just what was Barack Obama thinking when he invited ‘pretty far to the right’  pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation during the presidential inauguration?

While some are saying those blasting Obama are making a ‘mountain out of a molehill’, I would say that I wish Obama would have made a ‘smarter’ choice.  And, I would define ‘smarter’ as choosing a pastor who is not so far to the right or left, but a centrist pastor, much like he’s a ‘centrist’ president-elect (or, at least that’s how his behaviors have indicated he truly is, regardless of what he says).

After all, I hear Warren’s influence in Africa has led to people burning condoms instead of using them, probably not such a wise idea in a country where AIDS is growing rapidly.  Obama, this is the danger of your choice.  You believe in sex education and provision of condoms at least ALONG WITH abstinence education don’t you? Studies definitely show that ABSTINENCE ONLY programs aren’t successful.

(more…)