There has been a lot of press about Rick Warren, the minister at Obama’s Inauguration who has verbally and openly compared same-sex relationships to pedophilia and incest…
Initially, it seemed to me that Melissa Etheridge was understandably offended by him and his positions, but after meeting with him, she seemed to sing a different tune – one of acquiescence. According to Tammy’s blog, it paints a picture of none-too-smart-hollywood falling for a bigot pastor’s initial kindness:
“and then my wife meets the man behind the projections, the quotes, the “OTHER SIDE”. and he is warm, caring, effusive, and LOVES gays. since he nearly swallowed honey when he hugged her, i tend to believe him. he wants our gay marriages to be just as respected and embraced as the straight marriages. he just wants to wear his yamaka, and me wear my hat.”
Tammy doesn’t seem to understand that calling things by a different name means they are NOT the same. She also doesn’t understand that being nice to someone to their face does not equal respect and understanding. He was a fierce advocate for Prop 8, and until recent publicity, Warren’s church said that unrepentant gay/lesbian people could not even join his church (see below).
According to 365gay.com, Melissa is encouraging gay leaders to meet with Warren. To me, I have no interest in a guy trying to play both sides. He still thinks you’re the same as a pedophile? Someone committing incest? No bargaining.
Anyone else think this is just shameful?
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
ridiculous. Most bigots have enough tact (or not big enough balls) to be flat out rude and ignorant to the very people they rally against when they meet face to face. It’s the public comments, speeches and bravado that are dangerous. Just because this guy was nice over the course of a five minute conversation with celebrities that could help his likeability in the public eye doesn’t mean that he loves gays or is sympathetic to gay causes.
Also, Tammy, it’s yarmulke
Hopefully all this will either back the guy into a corner, because I’m sure that he can’t continue to be this hypocritical and self-contradictory without some sort of backlash (from either side). Or he’ll have to tone it down. Both of which will be good things.
Sorry I’m so late on this (vacation brain). I follow Tammy’s blog in my reader and was so pissed off at how they handled this. Her first post was hateful towards him, her second was loving and in her third she seemed to feel a need to defend herself: “i’ve opened my heart. i’ve done the right thing. i’ve done the christian thing.” I think that she realizes that they are being used; well, I hope so anyway.