Gay, Progressive Bishop to Give Inauguration Opening Prayer

Posted by Melissa McEwan, Shakesville at 12:22 PM on January 12, 2009.

The Politico reports that the Presidential Inaugural Committee has announced that the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, who caused a Big Gay Controversy followed by a Big Gay Schism after becoming the Episcopal Church's first openly gay bishop, will deliver "the invocation for Sunday's kickoff inaugural event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial."

Someone more cynical than I, ahem, might suggest that this is an indication that Team Obama knows they fucked up big time with Warren, but can't admit it, so they're throwing a bone to the gays. But someone more cynical than I, ahem, would be reassured by Team Obama that they are wrongity-wrong-wrong, because "Robinson was in the plans before the complaints about Rick Warren. Many skeptics will read this as a direct reaction to the Warren criticism—but it's just not so."

All righty then.

So I guess the question then is: Why would a queer, feminist, progressive minister—who has, by any measure, a more inclusive ministry and whose politics hew more closely to Obama's than Warren's—be offered the second-tier gig in the first place?

Careful with your answer there, Team Obama. This is a trick question...

I find the alleged timeline on this pretty interesting, too. The uproar about Warren started in mid-December, but, in an interview with BeliefNet two weeks later, Robinson says he "wouldn't miss [the inauguration] for the world," yet makes no mention of participating in an event. Huh.

Amazing how this looks so much like an afterthought, if it isn't one.

Tagged as: evangelicals, obama, new hampshire, rick warren, inauguration, gene robinson

Melissa McEwan writes and edits the blog Shakespeare's Sister.