it just keeps getting "better"

So now the Pope decides to make us public enemy number one (again). I think this means that I'm officially done (click on title to link to my Subjectively Disordered: A Faith Life in Neutral entries on the old blog for more insight to this reference).

I was sent a helpful commentary on this issue from the Guardian, a UK newspaper. You can access it directly here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/23/pope-benedict-xvi-gayrights.

Though well expressed my only slight rebuttal is that whether we like it or not the Pope still influences millions of people. Many of those people vote on things like Prop. 8 in California. Even more unfortunately (at least to me), they also react to their gay children with rejection and condemnation. It's commentary like the pontiff's that justify and I would submit even motivates their actions.

Perhaps on this day of celebration of a new light entering the world, it would be best to remember one of my favorite verses from Scripture, John 1:5 "and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness shall not overcome it."

Peace to all this Christmas Day.

an open letter to the president-elect

I've been sitting on this note for awhile. I wrote it shortly after the announcement that Pastor Rick Warren had been invited to give the invocation at the inauguration of Barack Obama. I had hoped to be able to send it to the transition offices but have not been able to find an e-mail address, so just thought I'd post it here. Feel free to share and if you know how to get this to the Obama folks please send it with my regards.

I am writing, as I am sure so many others have probably done so before me, to express my deep disappointment in the selection of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at President Obama's inauguration. As an African-American gay man, I feel personally wounded that the President-elect would deem it acceptable to give such an honorable position to someone who would be an opponent to the civil rights of any group in our society. I am aware that the President-elect does not support gay marriage. I respectfully disagree with him on his view on the matter and choose to believe that his opposition is not grounded in misguided bigotry about the place of gays and lesbians in our society. The same belief cannot be extended to Pastor Warren. His equating permitting gay unions to legalizing pedophilia indicates a sadly uninformed view of the GLBT community and, for all his purported tolerance, ultimately a denial of our basic shared humanity. What I do hope is that someday the President-elect will recognize that this issue has deep resonance in the GLBT community and that choices like this one seem to indicate a trivialization on his part of not only this matter but really of our entire movement toward equality.

I had originally intended to take the day of Inauguration off to enjoy the day's events on television. I will not be doing so at this point. Though I am still pleased with the election of Mr. Obama, I no longer feel the same sense of celebration that I once did about the inaugural event itself. Perhaps it is contemplating the Warren selection on the same day that I wake to hear on my local NPR station that my own country has refused to sign a UN resolution calling for the decriminalization of homosexuality that has me in such a dour mood.

I recognize that the President-elect's selection is intended to display some sign of inclusion of diverse opinions. I just find it interesting that he chose to recognize to include someone whose discriminatory viewpoints do not impact him directly. Where, for example, is the prominent placement of an avowed segregationist who opposes equal inclusion of people of color in our society? I recognize that denigration of people by race is no longer in vogue as is still the case with those of us in the GLBT community, but I'm sure if the transition had searched a little harder you could have found someone.

In closing, I would not presume to tell the President-elect who he can have perform the invocation at his inauguration, and therefore, am not requesting a rescinding of the invitation to Pastor Warren as I'm sure others have. I merely wish to share that how the decision has affected me personally. My prayers will continue to be for the President's every success in fulfilling the responsibilities of his office. Thank you for your attention to my correspondence.

Sincerely,
Clarus65