President-elect Barack Obama’s choice of evangelical pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation at the inauguration has created quite a stir, especially in the lesbian and gay community. Wisdom dictates that I begin by saying that I disagree vociferously with almost everything the Rev. Warren believes and preaches. Although I appreciate the work his church has done combating AIDS in Africa, I wish he cared about those living with AIDS in this country, too. My life would be better if I never had to hear another evangelical pastor pray to our white Father-God, but I guess, unless I mute the TV, that again will be my fate on January 20. It makes me furious that Warren used his extensive tax-free platform to campaign against Proposition 8 in California and defend special rights for heterosexual taxpayers. There are thousands of non-white/heterosexual/male religious leaders that our new president could have chosen to give the invocation. However, he picked Rick Warren, and I support that choice.

Warren certainly doesn’t deserve our support, but the dynamic behind his selection does. The President-elect made a point of the fact that he, too, disagrees with much of what Warren believes and does. That is the genius of Barack Obama. He invites people with whom he disagrees into his life and administration. How amazing is that after the past eight years? Throughout the Bush administration, we have seen the danger and disaster that comes from only listening to those with whom you agree.

Regardless of how you feel about Rick Warren’s theology, you have to give him points for twice inviting candidate Obama to participate in events at his church, despite obviously disagreeing with Obama’s values and positions. If Rick Warren is adult enough to do that, we should be, too. Genuine diversity requires us to listen respectfully to people who are different and who hold differing views. Both the right and the left are guilty of listening only to itself. Dialogue is our greatest hope for progress, but that can never happen if we cannot tolerate including those with whom we disagree. In many ways, the disdain shown for the President-elect’s choice of Warren reflects more poorly on us than on Warren. We must learn to see issues from both sides and then respectfully disagree without becoming shrill or hateful.

Please do not think I am unwilling to fight or protest or shout my disagreement when seeking equality. I have fought for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights across the south for 30 years, so I understand the need to fight passionately. I also have learned the need for respect, and that if I ever expect to receive it I have to show it. I disagree with Rick Warren, and I disagree with President-elect Obama’s selection of him. However, I respect both men, and, mostly, I respect the values that allow people to disagree without disdain. We cannot discard other Americans with whom we disagree without expecting them to want to discard us. As someone wise said, we must “do unto others as we would have them do unto us.”

The Rev. Joseph Lowery will give the benediction at the inauguration. This great Civil Rights leader is a hero of mine. However, I assume that there are conservatives in this country who find his choice as abhorrent to them as we liberals do the choice of Rick Warren. I say, “I assume,” because I haven’t heard any of them say a word. As our movement matures, we must offer the same respect to our opponents that we want them to offer us. While we disagree vigorously with Rick Warren, millions of people agree with him, and they deserve a place at the table, too. We must make room for those who disagree with us if we hope to have them make room for us. That is what diversity is all about. Those are the terms by which real dialogue takes place. It requires a maturity of tolerance and respect, and without it progress is impossible. As our friends in AA say, “Crazy is doing what you’ve always done but expecting different results.” We must find new strategies if we want different results. Showing respect even in disagreement may be the key to persuading those in the majority to respect us and our rights.

Let Rick Warren pray, and I’ll go get a cup of coffee while he does. Meanwhile, I look forward to hearing Joseph Lowery pray the benediction and give voice to my prayers for this new administration, which is adult enough to make room even for people with whom it doesn’t agree.

Blessings,

Michael Piazza
President, Hope for Peace & Justice

If you have not already signed the petition to END SPECIAL RIGHTS for Heterosexual Taxpayers please do so today and then forward it to everyone in your address book. We have got to change this conversation to an argument we can win.