Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyThis commentary is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect that of other authors at Box Turtle Bulletin.
April 14th, 2009
It seems inconceivable that Pastor Rick Warren would tell Larry King that he “never once even gave an endorsement” of Proposition 8. We all had seen him on TV. He had prepared a video to his church specifically instructing them that he supported Prop 8.
What was he thinking?
Well, I sort of understand what Warren was saying. And while not technically correct, he wasn\’t that far off.
We think of Rick Warren as anti-gay – because he does not support equality. But Warren doesn\’t see himself that way at all – because he doesn\’t actually advocate against gay rights.
The leaders of Proposition 8 would have loved to have Warren as part of the team. He has a huge church, a prominent position in Christendom, and respect from non-believers. If Warren had wanted to, he could have mobilized a much larger volunteer base and generated millions more in contributions. He chose not to.
He answered a question in an interview and he videotaped a message to his church. Compared to what he could have done, this was minimal. So in his mind, he was never an anti-gay marriage activist.
But there are two reasons why Warren is misunderstanding the extent of his role:
And even if those were unintentional comparisons that he later regretted, once they are out then you have an obligation to correct the situation. And writing to some “gay friends” doesn\’t tell Californians that Rick Warren thinks that gay marriage is different from marrying your sister.
Rick Warren may not have intended to be an anti-gay marriage activist, but his behavior put him in that position.
And Warren’s long history of supporting and affiliating with some of the most brutally anti-gay forces in Africa place him – at least – as an enabler of anti-gay bigotry and human rights violations.
But now the good news and the defense of Rick Warren.
Warren is highly respected. He is considered “America\’s Pastor”.
And America\’s Pastor has just made it clear to America that there is something a bit shameful and embarrassing about being an anti-gay activist. His statements tell Christians – and voters – that one can have a view about homosexuality based on one\’s religious beliefs without having to be politically anti-gay. That one can be a Christian without having to set aside time and money to go after gay folk.
And this is a message that it is very good for Christians in America to hear today: Rick Warren doesn\’t want to be an anti-gay activist… and you shouldn\’t either.
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Leonardo Ricardo
April 14th, 2009
supporting and affiliating with some of the most brutally anti-gay forces in Africa place him – at least – as an enabler of anti-gay bigotry and human rights violations.
It´s really important the African connection is known to the fullest extent that Warren does damage. As he embraced, Anglican Archbishop Peter Akinola of Nigeria and Anglican Archibshiop Henri Orombi of Uganda he VALIDATED their ¨witch hunts¨ and persecution of LGBT. These are not words. In Uganda, as you know, the uproar against LGBT has achieved knew heights of terror and damnation, in Nigeria, Akinola and his buddies endorsed dangerous anti-LGBT that punishes even our family and friends.
Please don´t makes excuses for Warren, who is a sucker if he believes he does no harm to his LGBT ¨friends.¨ Warren is a accessory to the crimes of hate, generated at Church, in Africa. Warren ought redeem himself from participating in such dangerous grandstanding antics.
DavidMichael
April 14th, 2009
I have to ditto Leonardo on this one.
Unfortunately, it seems like we are in a “either you’re with us head to toe, or against us” strategy. Why? The religious right refuses and trades out current sex education for archaic outdated hypnotizing laws that were unfit then and are unfit now. Gays had to take the sex education class about themselves just being themselves, and we are the walking education the right refuses to study without prejudice, hence standoff.
I think Rick Warren or anyone else on the right, deserves no Kudos for lack of education. He has money and time to do it. He chooses to push fighting and hating instead.
Though you may want a more compassionate tone for Ricky, I’d say lets get our rights fully in place before we start handing out handkerchiefs to the right wing revers-a-chats, control freaks and angry cry babies. It’s all about the dollars for many and Rick may just be feeling the pinch.
It’s not so enticing to toss roses when they are crying because they can’t kill mame or degrade us for just a moment in time to fill their coffers.
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