Let's congratulate Obama for choosing pro gay rights supporter Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery!

[zulchzulu]

People are focusing on Warren (who is an asshole) and many are complaining on that choice at the inaugural ceremony. Are those same people thanking Obama for choosing Rev. Joseph E. Lowery (for same-sex marriage and gay rights) for ending the Inaugural ceremony with the benediction?

"When you talk about the law discriminating, the law granting a privilege here, and a denying it there, that's a civil rights issue. And I can't take it away from anybody." (Rev. Joseph Lowery, Civil Rights Leader on ABC News, 3/13/04)

http://queernotes.blogspot.com/2006_08_01_archive.html

Here's some more info:

Key African-American political and religious leaders, including Coretta Scott King, Rep. John Lewis, and Rev. Joseph Lowery, have called for African-Americans to support full legal and social equality for lesbian and gay Americans and to oppose the federal marriage amendment.

http://www.thetaskforce.org/reports_and_research/false_promises

Add this from Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for Mr. Obama’s presidential inaugural committee:

Linda Douglass, a spokeswoman for Mr. Obama’s presidential inaugural committee, said the upcoming ceremony would be the “most open and accessible” inauguration in history and defended the inclusion of Mr. Warren.

“Clearly, the president-elect disagrees with him on issues involving the LGBT community,” she said. But Mr. Obama has consistently stressed the need to “seek common ground with people with whom we disagree fundamentally.”

Ms. Douglass noted that the benediction, or closing prayers, would be offered by the Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, a civil rights icon who has expressed support for gay marriage, and that the Lesbian and Gay Band Association would march in the inaugural parade, the first time such a group would do so.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/17/gay-activists-decry-pastors-role-in-swearing-in/

Watch him as he spoke at Coretta Scott King's funeral:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3j9ltp1qM8