The Right
Reverend Gene Robinson, the first openly gay person to be
ordained a bishop in the Episcopal Church, has been asked by
President-elect Barack Obama's inaugural committee to
deliver the invocation at the inauguration's opening
ceremony, which is being held at the Lincoln
Memorial on Sunday, January 18, and will be the
first event attended by the president-elect.
Robinson, whose
endorsement of Obama before the New Hampshire primary was
considered a big coup for the campaign, has been critical of
the controversial selection of Reverend Rick Warren to
deliver the invocation at the president-elect's
swearing-in ceremony on the National Mall on
January 20. When Robinson heard the news about Warren, who
has likened being gay to incest and statutory rape, he
said "it was like a slap in the face."
But after the
invitation was extended to him, Robinson told New
Hampshire's Concord Monitor that his
inclusion in the opening event would be incredibly affirming
to gay people.
"It's important
for any minority to see themselves represented in some
way," Robinson said. "Whether it be a racial minority, an
ethnic minority, or, in our case, a sexual minority
-- just seeing someone like you up front
matters."
A spokesman for
the inaugural committee told the Monitor that
Robinson was given the opportunity to participate in
the opening ceremony because of his contribution to the
religious community and his efforts on behalf of Obama
during the campaign. Robinson also revealed recently
that President-elect Obama sought out his counsel and
reflections on what it was like to be "a first."
LGBT leaders were
quick to trumpet the addition to the ceremony.
"Bishop Robinson models what prayer should be
-- spiritual reflection put into action for
justice," said Human Rights Campaign president Joe
Solmonese. "It is encouraging that the
president-elect has chosen this spiritual hero for all
Americans to lead the nation in prayer at the Lincoln
Memorial inaugural concert." (Kerry Eleveld,
Advocate.com)
