I’ve been excited about the Presidential inauguration for quite awhile now and have even considered going.  New developments concerning who will be at the inauguration has me questioning that excitement as it was announced that Rick Warren would be giving the invocation.  Rick Warren is the pastor at the Saddleback Church and despite a healthy relationship with Obama (they both believe in putting political difference aside to try and make change) and impressive work with AIDS in Africa, his views on many social values are quite limiting and in direct conflict with Obama’s (and mine!)

Warren is against gay marriage and helped work to get Prop 8 passed.  He is also against a woman’s right to choose.

Now, I am not in any way against Obama’s friendship with Warren, in fact I am all for it.  Working with folks who share differing opinions is the only way things will ever get done in this country.  I do however have a problem with inviting a man, who in his beliefs would take away rights from two minority groups (homosexuals and women), to speak and be the spiritual representation at a ceremony meant to usher in a period of change.   I find it extremely disappointing, and not because I wanted Obama to choose extremely progressive and radical people to be a part of the ceremony,  but because I wanted him to choose people who preach love, respect and helping others over issues that should be left to the goverment to decide, like equal rights for homorsexuals and a woman’s right to choose.

Just because you help one old lady across the street doesn’t mean it’s OK to spit on someone else. And just becuase you send some money to Africa doesn’t mean that it’s OK to compare gay marriage to incest, pedophilia and polygamy.

takepart and Join The Impact by demanding equal rights for all people.

*photo from kev/null’s flickr stream