People for the American Way also has a petition protest circulating.

-----Original Message-----
>From: Susan Brison <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Dec 19, 2008 5:41 PM
>To: "Callahan, Joan" <[log in to unmask]>
>Cc: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Barack Obama and Rick Warren
>
>Dear Joan--and others on the FEAST list-serve,
>
>I was in a self-imposed media blackout for the last 48 hours and so  
>first learned of Obama's invitation to Rick Warren to give his  
>inaugural invocation when I read your post this afternoon.  I am  
>utterly outraged, especially as someone who has supported Obama since  
>last January. I am also appalled by the (relative) lack of public  
>protest in response to this.  (It seems like Joe Biden's gotten more  
>grief for his choice of a puppy breeder.)
>
>I encourage all of you to write op-ed pieces and to send your  
>responses to www.change.org—Obama's transition website.  (There are  
>several places listed on this site where you can weigh in, including  
>"It's Your America," "Submit Your Stories," and "Join the  
>Discussion.")  Please also send responses to: moveon.org,  
>mybarackobama.com, and any other websites you can think of.
>
>I also learned just this afternoon that, when Obama was asked about  
>the Warren pick in a news conference yesterday, he replied, "let me  
>start by talking about my own views. I think that it is no secret that  
>I am a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans. It  
>is something that I have been consistent on, and something that I  
>contend -- intend to continue to be consistent on during my presidency.
>
>"What I've also said is that it is important for America to come  
>together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social  
>issues. And I would note that a couple of years ago, I was invited to  
>Rick Warren's church to speak, despite his awareness that I held views  
>that were entirely contrary to his when it came to gay and lesbian  
>rights, when it came to issues like abortion. Nevertheless, I had an  
>opportunity to speak. And that dialogue, I think, is part of what my  
>campaign's been all about; that we're not going to agree on every  
>single issue, but what we have to do is to be able to create an  
>atmosphere when we -- where we can disagree without being disagreeable  
>and then focus on those things that we hold in common as Americans.
>
>"So Rick Warren has been invited to speak. Dr. Joseph Lowery, who has  
>deeply contrasting views to Rick Warren on a whole host of issues, is  
>also speaking. During the course of the entire inaugural festivities,  
>there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented.  
>And that's how it should be, because that's what America's about.  
>That's part of the magic of this country, is that we are diverse and  
>noisy and opinionated. And so, you know, that's the spirit in which,  
>you know, we have put together what I think will be a terrific  
>inauguration. And that's, hopefully, going to be a spirit that carries  
>over into my administration."
>
>I refuse to accept that the prominent airing of bigoted opinions such  
>as Rick Warren's blatant homophobia is "part of the magic of this  
>country."  I'm reminded of an occasion, in 1993, when I got a call  
>from the Montel Williams TV show asking me to put them in touch with a  
>female student who had been raped.  When I asked why they wanted me to  
>do this, I was told "well, we have an accused rapist who's agreed to  
>be on the show telling his side of the story, and so we wanted to have  
>the other side represented as well."   (Of course, I declined to help  
>them out with this.)  As someone who has been a professional academic  
>for 25 years, I take seriously the obligation to present all sides of  
>any controversial issue.  But whether gays and lesbians should have  
>full civil rights is not a controversial issue, any more than whether  
>rape is a bad thing, or whether women, Blacks, or other historically  
>discriminated against groups should have full civil rights.
>
>Joan, you wrote that "every LGBT list I am on is overflowing with  
>responses that run through disappointment, rage, alarm, to despair."   
>I have certainly experienced disappointment, rage, and alarm in the  
>short time since I learned of this development, but I haven't yet  
>succumbed to despair (although I may yet).  Thank you for getting the  
>word out to this list-serve, and please let me know of other actions  
>we can all take in response to this outrageous news.
>
>All my best,
>Susan
>
>Professor Susan J. Brison
>Department of Philosophy
>Faculty Associate of the East Wheelock Cluster
>(office) 603-646-9097
>(home) 603-646-9098
>
>


Eva Kittay
Department of Philosophy
SUNY Stony Brook
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