Two gay writers debate the Rick Warren issue. One is Chris Crain who used to publish the Washington Blade (a gay newspaper). The other is Leah McElrath Renna, a psychotherapist who also write for the Huffington Post. Each gets to comment on the other's ideas:
Crain: Obama is looking for unity in areas where we agree, not areas of conflict. Besides, it is brilliant for the most pro-gay president to get the support of an anti-gay pastor.
Renna: The inauguration is a symbolic event, not a policy discussion. The invocation is supposed to represent all Americans. Obama wouldn't consider a pastor who was anti-Muslim. This choice is an act of spiritual violence that could have been avoided.
Crain: Calling it spiritual violence is overkill. Warren was asked to say a prayer, nothing more. No matter who Obama picks someone could view it as spiritual violence. And be careful how you describe Warren because he does leave the door open for legal recognition of gay couples.
Renna: Sorry, Warren's prayer does carry symbolic weight and he becomes a spiritual representative. The issue isn't whether he might allow civil unions (a far cry from supporting them), but that he denies our sexual orientation is god-given. In Warren's defense, the only area of fundamentalism he follows is in the treatment of gays.
Crain: Skip the bickering about Warren's actual views. Our rights won't advance unless we reach out to those who disagree with us.
Renna: This isn't about rights. Warren doesn't believe gays exist and it is his religion that backs up that belief. We'll never win our rights if we say it is a social issue and not a religious one. And because Warren is there because of his religion we find his invitation offensive.
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