Rachel Maddow vs. Anti-gay Religious Wing Nuts

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow has been exposing the connections between the U.S. religious right and the anti-gay government in Uganda.

Rachel Maddow on Ties Between "The Family" and Uganda's Anti-Gay Legislation
Watch Rachel Demolish "Ex-Gay Therapist" Richard Cohen, who has inspired the anti-gay movement in Uganda



Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill Tied to Rick Warren

Thanks in part to Rachel Maddow's exposure of his connection to the anti-gay movement in Uganda, Rick Warren Finally Condemns Uganda's "Kill the Gays" Bill

Gay Bishop to Give Inaugural Prayer

Gay Bishop to Give Inaugural Prayer

Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man to be ordained as such in 2003, has been invited to deliver the invocation at the first Inaugural event the President-elect will attend this weekend.

The Episcopal bishop will offer the prayer at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, January 18. President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden are both expected to attend.

Robinson has been a vocal critic of the choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at the Inauguration. I thought too much was made of that choice by many in the gay community, and all the hoopla over it overshadowed the choice of Rev. Joseph Lowery to give the convocation (isn't that at least as "symbolic"??)

Anyway, maybe the choice of Robinson to give a prayer will asuage some of the anger in the gay community over Warren, but I doubt it will totally satisfy some of Obama's gay critics (the same ones who criticize Obama for not supporting gay marriage, but supported Hillary Clinton who was also vocally opposed to gay marriage...)

Now the anti-gay Obama haters will have their turn to boo the inauguration...

How Rick Warren Is Undermining AIDS Prevention in Africa

Rick Warren has been lauded for his work on AIDS in Africa, but what has he done? According to Max Blumenthal, Warren's AIDS work in Africa is horrifying!

Condom Burning and Anti-Gay Witch Hunts: How Rick Warren is Undermining AIDS Prevention in Africa

Blumenthal's investigation into Warren's involvement in Africa reveals a web of alliances with right-wing clergymen who have sidelined science-based approaches to combating AIDS in favor of abstinence-only education. More disturbingly, Warren's allies have rolled back key elements of one of the continent's most successful initiative, the so-called ABC program in Uganda. Stephen Lewis, the United Nations special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, told the New York Times their activism is "resulting in great damage and undoubtedly will cause significant numbers of infections which should never have occurred."

Warren's man in Uganda is a charismatic pastor named Martin Ssempa. The head of the Makerere Community Church, a rapidly growing congregation, Ssempa enjoys close ties to his country's first lady, Janet Museveni, and is a favorite of the Bush White House. In the capitol of Kampala, Ssempa is known for his boisterous crusading. Ssempa's stunts have included burning condoms in the name of Jesus and arranging the publication of names of homosexuals in cooperative local newspapers while lobbying for criminal penalties to imprison them.

Dr. Helen Epstein, a public health consultant who wrote the book, The Invisible Cure: Why We're Losing the Fight Against AIDS in Africa, met Ssempa in 2005. Epstein told me the preacher seemed gripped by paranoia, warning her of a secret witches coven that met under Lake Victoria.

"Ssempa also spoke to me for a very long time about his fear of homosexual men and women," Epstein said. "He seemed very personally terrified by their presence."

When Warren unveiled his global AIDS initiative at a 2005 conference at his Saddleback Church, he cast Ssempa as his indispensable sidekick, assigning him to lead a breakout session on abstinence-only education as well as a seminar on AIDS prevention. Later, Ssempa delivered a keynote address, a speech so stirring it "had the audience on the edge of its seats," according to Warren's public relations agency. A year later, Ssempa returned to Saddleback Church to lead another seminar on AIDS. By this time, his bond with the Warrens had grown almost familial. "You are my brother, Martin, and I love you," Rick Warren's wife, Kay, said to Ssempa from the stage. Her voice trembled with emotion as she spoke, and tears ran down her cheeks....

In August 2007, Ssempa led hundreds of his followers through the streets of Kampala to demand that the government mete out harsh punishments against gays. "Arrest all homos," read placards. And: "A man cannot marry a man." Ssempa continued his crusade online, publishing the names of Ugandan gay rights activists on a Web site he created, along with photos and home addresses. "Homosexual promoters," he called them, suggesting they intended to seduce Uganda's children into their lifestyle. Soon afterward, two of President Museveni's top officials demanded the arrest of the gay activists named by Ssempa. Terrified, the activists immediately into hiding...

When Uganda's Anglican bishops threatened to bolt from the Church of England because of its tolerant stance towards homosexuals, Warren parachuted into Kampala to confer international legitimacy on their protest.

"The Church of England is wrong, and I support the Church of Uganda on the boycott," Warren proclaimed in March 2008. Declaring homosexuality an unnatural way of life, Warren flatly stated, "We shall not tolerate this aspect [homosexuality in the church] at all."

Wonder if the Obama people looked into this?

Rick Warren/Pope Benedict vs. The Gays

I was going to do another post on Obama's choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inaugurationl, but I'm visiting my mom and family in Mountain Home, Arkansas for Christmas.

I was going to say how much I disagree with Thom Hartmann, Melissa Etheridge, and Chris Crain about how great it is that Obama reached out to the anti-gay Christian evangelicals. I still don't buy the Rick Warren PR that he is a "moderate" evangelical who accepts gays. Maybe he has been less of a bigot than Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson and James Dobson, and I would welcome a dialogue between the LGBT community and Warren, but I agree with Rachel Maddow that this was a bad mistake for Obama. Obama has helped improve Rick Warren's national reputation as an important religious leader and sends the wrong message to gays and lesbians who supported him. After the last 8 years, and the passing of Prop. 8 in California, it would have been a nice change to have a more gay-friendly, inclusive religious figure give the inaugural invocation, or better yet, keep religion out of the inauguration all together.

And those pointing to Saddleback Church scrubbing the anti-gay stuff off their website, or Rick Warren's concillatory words to Melissa Etheride were premature: Now Warren has come out swinging against gay activists, accusing us of "Christophobia":
Rachel Maddow: "Christophobia"? Rick Warren Scandal Getting Wierder

Even worse than Rick Warren, the POPE says that saving humanity from homosexuality is as important as saving the environment. Pope Says Humanity Must be Saved from Homosexuality

Peter Tatchell tells why the Pope is wrong! Why is Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church so scared of gays??

Anyhow, I'm going to spend the rest of the week here with my family and try not to think about Rick Warren or The Pope's war on gays and lesbians.

Rick Warren Outrage: Different Views

Like many LGBT people, I was "outraged" that Barack Obama picked "anti-gay" conservative evangelical Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. I say "anti-gay" because despite Warren's claims to "love gays," his rhetoric against gays and lesbians gives a very different perception, and he was a very vocal supporter of the anti-gay marriage Prop. 8 in California.

Obama's defense is that he has said all along that he wants to change American politics to bridge the political divisions that have plagued us and kept us from making progress on areas we can agree. It's all in his book AUDACITY OF HOPE. We should not be surprised that he is reaching out to Republicans and evangelical Christians. The choice of Warren to give the invocation is a largely symbolic gesture, as is his choice of civil rights hero, and champion of gay rights, Rev. Joseph Lowery, to give the benediction.

There is no indication that Obama has changed any of his positions on gay rights. While he still opposes "gay marriage," he reiterated his support of civil unions, ENDA, etc. He claims to be a "ferocious" defender of gay rights. I respectfully challenge the "ferocious" part, but I still believe he is a supporter of the LGBT community, and his transition plan has a very promising list goals for LGBT rights, including lifting the DADT military policy and passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

I'm holding judgment on Obama and the Democratic congress to see if these promises are kept in his first term. If one or both are not done in the next four years, I will be re-evaluating my support of the Democratic Party (again). (I'm a Socialist and would prefer to join the Socialist Party anyway.)

I think the LGBT community is fired up and should keep the heat on Obama and the Democrats to take our rights seriously. Maybe reaching out to Rick Warren and the tens of millions of evangelicals who support him will begin a dialogue on LGBT issues. For example, if Rick Warren would come out forcefully against discrimination against LGBT people and support ENDA, that would be a great accomplishment for Obama. (I can't find the quotes, but I believe Warren has already said as much.)

I'm not a fan of Warren or evangelical Christianity. But the fact is that Obama and the Democratic Party will need their support to get us out of the Second Republican Great Depression. Unlike most conservative Christians, Warren supports helping the poor, etc.

I still think the choice of Warren, even though well intentioned, was a bad choice. There are many more "inclusive" religious leaders, even evangelicals, that Obama would have picked. I don't want Warren to be elevated any more as a national religious leader.

But the LGBT community cannot focus on this one decision to give up "hope" in Obama. He is still on our side, but political reality is that just electing someone who supports us is not enough. We have to help build public support for our rights and tear down the opposition so we can move forward. Politicians do not lead, they FOLLOW.

Here are some other perspectives on Warren from Progressive and gay activists who see some good coming out of it:

Chris Crain in Newsweek: Warren Outrage Justified?

Rick Warren: A Different Take

Thom Hartmann: Three Cups of Tea for Rick Warren

In Defense of Rick Warren

Hilary Rosen: Beyond Rick Warren

For more see Huffington Post:
Warren Invocation Choice Causing Rifts with Progressives

Saddleback Church: No Gays!

More revelations about Rick Warren, Obama's choice to give the invocation at his inauguration, and his anti-gay church...
(From AmericaBlog)

Saddleback Church Says it does not welcome gay members... and there's more:

Saddleback Church on Homosexuality

Warren has also been speaking his mind about gays, comparing them to pedophiles and assuming all gays are sexually promiscuous, etc...

Will Obama denounce Warren's comments about gays, atheists, non-Christians, etc.. ?

Why is Obama pandering to the anti-gay evangelical Christianists??? Because..

Evangelicals Fear Obama

Obama Invites Anti-Gay Preacher to Give Inaugural Invocation

Obama Invites Anti-Gay Preacher to Give Inaugural Invocation
The Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force have denounced the selection of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the Jan. 20 inauguration. Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in California, is an outspoken opponent of marriage equality, reproductive choice and stem-cell research. Warren has gone so far as to equate marriage between same-sex couples with incest and pedophilia.

Watch this video of Warren supporting anti-gay Prop. 8 in CA



Why is Obama reaching out to anti-gay bigots like Rick Warren and anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family?

Like many progressives who are concerned about Obama's "center-right" choices for economic and state cabinet positions, gays and lesbians have reason to be concerned. Obama has yet to show any political spine to stand up to the religious and political right.

While Obama felt obligated to denounce his pastor Jeremiah Wright (who supports equality for gays and lesbians), but does not feel obligated to denounce anti-gay religious bigots like Rick Warren? Why is Obama more afraid of offending the Religious Right than he is of offending progressives who supported him?

Bill Clinton made made many promises to gays and lesbians and campaigned to support our rights. Once in office, however, he broke every promise he made. He not only dropped his pledge to sign an executive order lifting the ban on gays in the U.S. military, he signed on the the anti-gay "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which even makes publicly identifying as gay grounds for dismissal from the military. Even worse, Clinton supported the anti-gay "Defense of Marriage Act" (DOMA), probably the most anti-gay piece of legislation in modern American history, and ran ads on Christian radio stations bragging about it!

Will Obama *uck the gay community the way Clinton did? We should learn from the Clinton experience that just electing a "gay-friendly" liberal is not enough. We have to organize to force the "Change" we want. Electing Obama was a good thing, but it is only the beginning of a long hard fight.

If the Democrats blow this opportunity, again, it may be the last chance they have to deliver on their promises not only to gays and lesbians, but to all progressives.

Read the HRC Letter to Pres. Elect Obama on Rick Warren

More:
Obama Invocation Choice Causing Rift with Progressives

Obama: Views on Gays Consistent Despite Warren Invite

What's the Matter with Rick Warren?

Warren: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Obama V. McCain at Saddleback Church

I couldn't watch the forum at Rick Warren's Saddleback church with Obama and McCain pandering to the Christianists.
I'm tired of hearing Democrats and Republicans try to appeal to religious bigotry by emphasizing that marriage is only for heterosexuals, and I'm tired of hearing the same meme on abortion and other social issues.

You can read more about the forum and McCain and Obama's answers to questions about marriage and abortion on other progressive blogs.
Start here at Towleroad

I wish someone would ask these candidates if they will defend he separation of church and state and keep their religious views out of public policy!

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