Bishop Gene Robinson Speaks in Maine in Support of Marriage Equality

Openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire spoke in Maine Thursday to support voters in voting NO on Question 1 which attempts to overthrow the state's new marriage equality law.



The report mentions that the Episcopal Church doesn't recognize marriage equality, but it does treat same-sex couples with respect. The church recently decided to begin crafting a prayer to bless same-sex unions.

I do find it odd that Bishop Robinson said there is no right or wrong way of voting on this measure. I think the marriage equality law clearly delineates the separation of church and state and that it is wrong to strip minorities of their rights.

He is a great man and has overcome a lot. Here's a clip of his speech:

National Action Alert! from Equalityactionnow.org

To ALL who support the rights of Gay America: please sign and use this message, or any message of your choice, to congratulate President Obama, as well as to remind him of the importance of his commitment to Gay Civil Rights. Please FORWARD WIDELY.

The White House email address is:

During this time of transition, we encourage you to also copy to: info@barackobama.com

Also consider: vice_president@whitehouse.gov

There is also a contact form that may be used here

The White House server was apparently "down" for some time yesterday, but is apparently up and accepting email again today, according to CNN.

Sincerely,
EqualityActionNOW.org

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Dear President Obama:

We, as Gays and as allies of the Gay community, applaud your choice of Rev. Gene Robinson to lead the Invocation Prayer at your Lincoln Memorial inauguration event, although we were most disappointed that his prayer was not aired on the networks. We hope that your choice symbolizes a new beginning for your relationship with our community.

Over the last two years, wherever you have looked during your campaign, the Gay community was there. Unlike the right wing, we supported your campaign financially and otherwise—just as in the past we supported Rev. Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, and other leaders who championed equal rights for oppressed minorities.

We recognize and yes, even support your desire to build a coalition across the political spectrum. However, we ask that you recognize the important difference between those with differing political points of view and those who preach fear to support the denial of basic Human Civil Rights. We trust that, in the future, you will find ways to reach out across the American political spectrum, without supporting or providing the appearance of support to individuals or groups that stand for hate and bigotry.

The basic human right of each and every American citizen to equality under the law—regardless of race, color, creed, gender, or orientation—is simply not a political question.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Rev. V. Gene Robinson's Invocation

With HBO blaming the Obama transition team for blocking Rev. Robinson's invocation, and the surrounding controversy over the mess up, many people have been left with no chance to hear or see Robinson's prayer.

Luckily, Christianity Today posted it and we have a chance to view.



Here is the text:

Good afternoon,

Before this celebration begins, please join me in pausing for a moment to ask God’s blessing upon our nation and our next president.

Oh God of our many understandings, we pray that you will bless us with tears, tears for a world in which over a billion people exist on less than a dollar a day, where young women in many lands are beaten and raped for wanting an education, and thousands die a day from malnutrition, malaria and AIDS.

Bless this nation with anger – anger at discrimination at home and abroad, against refugees and immigrants; women, people of color; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people.

Bless us with discomfort at the easy simplistic answers we prefer to hear from our politicians instead of the truth about ourselves and our world, which we need to face if we are going to rise to the challenges of the future.

Bless us with patience and the knowledge that none of what ails us will be fixed any time soon and the understanding that our next president is a human being, not a messiah. Bless us with humility, open to understanding that our own needs as a nation must always be balanced with those of the world.

Bless us with freedom from mere tolerance, replacing it with a genuine respect and warm embrace of our differences.

Bless us with compassion and generosity, remembering that every religion’s God judges us by the ways we care for the most vulnerable. And God, we give you thanks for your child Barack, as he assumes the office fo the president of the United States. Give him wisdom beyond his years, inspire him with President Lincoln’s reconciling leadership style, President Kennedy’s ability to enlist our best efforts, and Dr. King’s dream of a nation for all people.

Give him a quiet heart, for our ship of state needs a steady calm captain. Give him stirring words, we will need to be inspired and motivated to make the personal and common sacrifices necessary to facing the challenges ahead.

Make him color blind reminding him of his own words that under his leadership there will be neither red nor blue states but a United States. Help him remember his own oppression as a minority, drawing on that experience of discrimination that he might seek to change the lives of those who are still its victims.

Give him strength to find family time and privacy and help him remember that even though he is president, a father only gets one shot at his daughters’ childhoods. And please God, keep him safe. We know we ask too much of our presidents and we’re asking far too much of this one, we implore you oh good and great God to keep him safe. Hold him in the palm of your hand that he might do the work that we have called him to do. That he might find joy in this impossible calling and that, in the end, he might lead us as a nation to a place of integrity, prosperity and peace.

Amen.

Bishop Gene Robinson to Deliver Prayer at Obama's Inauguration

The first openly gay, ordained Episcopal bishop, Rev. Gene Robinson, has been invited by Obama's inauguration committee to give a prayer at the inauguration ceremony being held this Sunday, January 18.

Robinson had expressed distaste for Obama's pick of Rick Warren to give the invocation, saying, "it was like a slap in the face." The controversial Warren had compared homosexuality to rape and incest.

Despite his differences with Rick Warren, Robinson has accepted the invitation, stating
"It's important for any minority to see themselves represented in some way. Whether it be a racial minority, an ethnic minority, or, in our case, a sexual minority -- just seeing someone like you up front matters."

The inaugural committee stated that it was always their plan to include the bishop.