BREAKING: Anti-Gay Pastor Removed From Inaugural Program

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ThinkProgress ?@thinkprogress

BREAKING: Anti-gay pastor removed from inaugural program http://thkpr.gs/WSBcW2


Louis Giglio, the anti-LGBT pastor who had been announced to perform the benediction at President Obama’s second inauguration, has been removed from the program, ABC News’s Jonathan Karl reported Thursday.

The move came after ThinkProgress reported Wednesday that in the 1990s, Giglio had given a lengthy sermon in which he advocated for dangerous “ex-gay” therapy for gay and lesbian people, referenced a biblical passage often interpreted to require gay people be executed, and impelled Christians to “firmly respond to the aggressive agenda” and prevent the “homosexual lifestyle” from becoming accepted in society


read more: https://twitter.com/jonkarl/statuses/289400247824830465

Update:

CNN’s Eric Marrapodi is reporting that Giglio voluntarily withdrew from the program.

(In D.C. parlance, that can still be interpreted as a WH takedown)

[warrior1]

1. awesome

They should have an humanist speak. The POTUS mother was one.

[Brickbat]

2. Excellent.

Progress. Now how about we don't have a prayer at all?

[Rose Siding]

3. YAY!!!!!! I was HOPING for that!

It's almost better than never announcing him in the first place as it exposes his bigotry more broadly.

[Cha]

111. I hear that! nm

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Good...this was a horrendous mistake by the inauguration planners (and Obama if he signed off on it)

So I'm glad to see it corrected with dispatch.

And kudos to the progressives and activists who brought this asshole's nonsense to public attention.

[democrattotheend]

8. I am guessing they might not have known about the anti-gay statements

Given how quickly he was withdrawn once it was exposed. I am guessing it was a vetting oversight.

[dbackjon]

26. Only an idiot or someone that doesn't think LGBT issues are important

Would have not known.

[SpartanDem]

29. You think they knew about mid a 90's video, being sold from random Christian website?

[dbackjon]

30. They didn't care enough to use the Google

A simple google search when the name was announced showed me this guy was an anti-gay bigot.


THat should have been the end of it.

[sabrina 1]

91. They know about Google don't they? Now where are all those who were defending this

yesterday? Amazing to see those defenses here on DU. I hope from now on when something is clearly wrong they don't wait to be told it is wrong. This sheep-like willingness to accept just about anything so long as it comes from 'our team' is what is destroying this country.

[kurtzapril4]

92. People here actually defended the choice?

There really are some deluded people here, then.

[sabrina 1]

109. Yes, they did. I responded to one who stated that they 'didn't care about his past statements

We do have people who will support anything they believe is approved of by this administration. I used to think the Left had the ability to tell right from wrong unlike the Right during the Bush years who also were willing to accept any violation of rights so long as it came from their 'team'.

[NBachers]

44. I didn't know. Guess that makes me an idiot.

[dbackjon]

54. Are you picking speakers for the inaguartion?

Would you have done due diligence?

[Hekate]

47. Never heard of the guy, and I spent 12 years working affirmative action programs

Way to keep your friends, dbackjon.

How about: "Thanks for rectifying the human error as soon as it was pointed out to you, Inaugural planners"?

[Hekate]

63. "Massa"? Fear of "execution next time"?

Someone's got some issues.

[Cha]

112. You got that right.

[dotymed]

71. You are more optimistic than I am.

Remember the pastor at Obama's first swearing in? Very anti-gay puke. His shit was well known...

[Maven]

77. After Rick Warren, they should have made it their business to find out

Anyway, good riddance

[gollygee]

87. Yeah, I'm really surprised they'd make this mistake twice

It leads me to believe

a) it isn't a mistake and they aren't that concerned about this

b) it's a blind spot for them so they are repeatedly not thinking about it.

[Ms. Toad]

137. Like this one 4 years ago???

[link:http://americablog.com/2013/01/louie-giglio-benediction-obama-inauguration.html|Rick Warren
]
There are some things that man is a slow learner about.

[MineralMan]

5. Good.

Since the National Cathedral has announced that same-sex marriages will be performed there, perhaps the dean of that Episcopal church could give the benediction, if a benediction is needed.

For myself, I'd prefer no prayers at all at the inauguration, but I don't imagine that will happen.

[RKP5637]

17. Agree!!! I get tired of the interjection of religion into sooo many things. n/t

[Scuba]

6. Yay!

[QC]

7. Good work! K&R!

[Lex]

9. This should've happened when well-known homophobe Rick Warren was chosen

to give the benediction in Obama's first inauguration. That was disgusting and wrong-headed and people here at DU defended the Rick Warren choice at the time.

Looks like the Obama Admin was poised to make the same mistake twice, but someone intervened, thank goodness.

[TwilightGardener]

10. I don't know why they keep going for these evangelical types. Just get some

stodgy old Episcopalian.

[MineralMan]

12. The Dean of the Washington National Cathedral would be

a good choice. He just announced that same-sex marriages will be performed in that venue.

[TwilightGardener]

13. Sounds good to me. Nutty firebrands need not apply.

[ReRe]

115. Bingo...

... perfect choice you mention from the National Cathedral!

[RKP5637]

19. +1, n/t

[Myrina]

23. Or how about a Pagan?

Or better yet, a non-denominational ... person.

[Hekate]

51. LOL. I don't think the country is ready for Starhawk up there. Native American might go over better.

She's pretty inspirational, though.

Wow, you set my mind to working. Any decent priest/ess could whip up a gorgeous and fitting ritual for the occasion.

In our dreams.

[Moonwalk]

93. They already have non-demoninational in Myrlie Evers-Williams...

...she's not any kind of pastor but is, I believe, going to offer up a prayer.

[hopemountain]

132. how about an american indian

traditional healer?

[MgtPA]

25. Why does it have to be a "pastor"? How about a nun?

I nominate Sister Simone Campbell (from Nuns on the Bus)

[Cha]

114. That's an Awesome Idea!

Why the heck not!

[Kurovski]

139. I dunno...I'd like to see an old-fashioned stoning.

Kidding...I'm kidding. This stew needed a little pepper.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

31. Ha. Or a not-so-stodgy lesbian pastor...

from one of the most progressive churches I've ever set foot in: Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pullen_Memorial_Baptist_Church

If there *must* be religion, that is. Thrilled to see the smarmy mega-preacher has been given the ol' heave-ho, but perplexed as to why, AGAIN, someone of his ilk was chosen in the first place.

[obamanut2012]

34. Or John Spong or Jim Wallis

[WorseBeforeBetter]

41. Or Bishop Eugene Robinson.

Why a homophobic mega-preacher was chosen YET AGAIN is somewhat baffling, but I'm thrilled to see he won't be part of the festivities...

[obamanut2012]

42. Yes, the AGAIN part is what gets me

I am just appalled they did this. I don't care that he's been dropped -- it never should have reached the point where he was approved.

Robinson is another good choice.

[Moonwalk]

101. Agree entirely. I like Obama a lot as a president, but I will never forgive him for Rick Warren

...As for this, all I can say is that he really needs to fire those doing the research work for him. Time and again such announcements are made and then retracted because something is found out which ought to have been found out before it was announced. As Obama and his administration has seen the light (sic) and is no longer trying to make friends with the crazy homophobic right-wing, and has, in fact, come out of the closet in support of gay rights, this sort of over-sight is really inexcusable.

[We People]

113. Here's a recent thread in support of Jim Wallis, an activist for Social Justice, who knows The Pres

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2167580

[obamanut2012]

116. I said during the DNC Con he should have been chosen

For the benediction.

[wryter2000]

105. LOL

How about the head of the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori?

at the stodgy part.

[TwilightGardener]

106. I can't help but see Episcopalians as basically Catholics without the flair for

drama and stagecraft.

[wryter2000]

107. The way i see it

We're like the Catholic church without the bad parts. We have all the same bells and whistles in the service.

However, we are God's frozen people when it comes to personal drama. Stodgy isn't a bad word.

[secondvariety]

127. Isn't it

the Episcopal Church that does Evensong? I use to go just to hear the music-so beautiful.

[wryter2000]

143. Yes. We also do Compline

The music at my church is magnificent.

[Odin2005]

11. Political pressure WORKS.

[TDale313]

14. Good news.

Very glad to hear it.

[RKP5637]

15. K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! K&R !!! n/t

[LibertyLover]

16. That is good news -

As several people have stated, I would be happy if god talk were not part of the inaugural, but I know that's not going to happen any time soon. If we have to have a prayer, I say go with someone from the National Cathedral, but they seem to want someone not connected to DC. All I ask is that whomever is chosen is, at a minimum, in favor of marriage equality.

[RKP5637]

21. Yep, some neutral party that's not out to sharpen their sword. n/t

[Cha]

117. Yeah,

"god talk" is not my talk.. but, I don't really care if others want it/need it/whatever.. just let it be someone who is really about the teachings of Christ. Not some damn Orwellian snake oil bigot.

[Spazito]

18. Excellent news...

I admit I was VERY disappointed he was chosen once I read of his homophobic views. I don't understand why some background research isn't done on anyone being considered for a prominent role in an inauguration ceremony, had it been done this homophobe would never have been asked in the first place, imo.

[Politicub]

20. Forward!!

Now fire the douche who invited this clown in the first place.

[RKP5637]

22. Yep!!!

[DURHAM D]

27. Exactly...

[dbackjon]

24. Great work to Call the White House on their lack of concern for the LGBT community

Without the outcry, he would still be on the program.


Either the White House is clueless, or didn't care enough to check his record.

[democrattotheend]

28. On the plus side, when people complained they listened

I see this as a positive thing, one that shows that the president is still sometimes responsive to the base even though he doesn't have to run for reelection.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

37. And thanks to the ProfessionalLeftistMedia...

for doing its homework, yet again.

[KittyWampus]

32. Oh please, a mistake was made and corrected. Frankly, your comment about

the "lack of concern" is totally off base considering the steps forward that have been taken.

[Bluenorthwest]

58. It was not a mistake, it was an overbooking. If Hagel was not sucking up all the energy needed

to defend his homophobic diatribes they would have kept him. Note, if you will, that he uses the same Hagel 'it was 14 years ago' line, but also note that he does not apologize even in the Hagel strained sort of way. Giglio says he is dropping out by choice because the gay agenda would upstage his message by publicizing his actual message. He uses the word 'agenda' and the Hagel 'so long ago' excuse but having read his letter, I will give Hagel a bit of credit for at least mouthing an apology. This guy blamed the very people he attacks for a living.

[dbackjon]

59. Your lack of concern for my equality is noted

[KittyWampus]

94. Your inability to acknowledge how much this Administration has done to secure

your equality is also noted.

[MNBrewer]

140. We GLBT citizens are the ones who have done the work

Not this Administration. They responded to OUR request, to OUR work, to OUR demands. They would do nothing if not for OUR work.

[obamanut2012]

36. this

[JEB]

33. Let's be done with

bigots.

[grahamhgreen]

35. My jaw has dropped wide open! (And not for what you think!) change! WooHoo!

[Ikonoklast]

38. People that are bigots and spew hate need to be shunned by all of society.

GOOD.

Take your backwards 'religion' of intolerance, hatred, and exclusion and stick it. paL.

[FreeState]

39. Great news! N/R

[MADem]

40. So...he jumped before he was pushed? Very classy of WH to offer him the opportunity to

"withdraw" rather than putting a boot in his behind.

[Hekate]

49. I think they learned from the first go-round, which is good.

This looks like a human error on the part of the Inaugural planners, and they rectified it pretty quickly when it was pointed out to them.

I wonder if they keep trying for someone who is madly popular with the Evangelicals, but haven't quite figured out how to find a charismatic preacher who also isn't obnoxious to liberals?

That said, how about that nice Episcopal priest at the National Cathedral? LOL, what with the gay poet and all, that should make a few heads spin.

Hekate

[MADem]

50. Heck, let a NASCAR driver do the benediction--that'll appeal to the GOP and keep them out of

Evangelical hot water!

Instead of "In Jesus' name we pray" he can fire it up with "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines!"

It'd be different, anyway!

[KittyWampus]

53. I'd say how about a nice Unitarian.

[Hekate]

61. UU always works for my family. Talk about a rational, intelligent, yet warm community...

Very liberal, into social justice. You can tell I've been there.

[Brainstormy]

73. Have always like the UUs since

I heard the joke, twenty years ago, about them burning question marks into people's yards. Appealed to a skeptic's sense of humor.

[Hekate]

75. That's them all right!

Or us, I should say. I'm kind of lapsed. Though, frankly, you have to try pretty hard to lapse from the UU.

[lunatica]

43. OMG!

This is the greatest news!!

[Sheldon Cooper]

45. Good.

This restores my confidence in Obama and his team.

[DCBob]

46. good.

they simply made a mistake and its now corrected.

[Starry Messenger]

48. Excellent.

[yardwork]

52. Good. I'm glad that they responded quickly to this mistake.

[Hekate]

55. Just a suggestion: How about we all say "Thanks for listening, it's nice to be heard"?

You know, the old positive reinforcement thing. Every so often even a president and team need an Attaboy.

[kurtzapril4]

95. Do you really think

the administration cares that we say thank you?

[Hekate]

98. Do you really think the admin cares when we scream at them?

It goes both ways, you know.

[kurtzapril4]

144. They don't care either way. n/t

[jberryhill]

104. Being polite to others is about oneself

[SCVDem]

57. I have a dream

That one day, one of these stories will be the last.

[barbtries]

60. i thought it was going to be

Myrlie Evers-Williams?
i may be betraying my ignorance here but i thought that was what i heard.

[SpartanDem]

118. She's doing the opening prayer.

[barbtries]

120. ok, thanks

they get pretty pray-ee at these things i guess.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

62. DU still thinks that the president hates LGBT people.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2162569

[Hekate]

64. Well, some DUers have issues

Some more intensely than others. I just got called "Massa."

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

67. WOW, really? That should be alerted. Personal attacks are uncalled for.

[Hekate]

69. No worries

[Capt. Obvious]

68. Why did you link to your own post?

Doesn't support your premise.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

89. Most likely a mistake on my part...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2167119

[Maven]

83. Actually, I think you should reread Occulus' response to you in that thread

Since it apparently didn't sink in the first time.

[Capt. Obvious]

86. He must be waiting for Occulus to apologize to him first

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

88. I read it. I addressed it. I've moved on.

[Maven]

90. Oh OK. I usually address things by doing nothing at all, too.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

97. Nothing to do. It is of no consequence to me. You can read what I posted.

I stand firmly behind my words and my thoughts. The president is not a homophobe. The record is proof of that. Let's keep pushing him to do the right thing. Personally bashing him, however, is counterproductive.

[Maven]

100. Well, one can admire your single-mindedness I suppose.

Hey, real sorry this didn't work out for you though. It seems like gay people really matter as much as other minorities and all hate speech is equally abhorrent, huh?

[Chorophyll]

65. Oh good! I thought it was pretty strange that he was chosen, considering

they also chose an openly gay poet.

[hay rick]

66. Great.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

70. YAY!!!!

Good!!

Interestingly, being picked and THEN REMOVED draws MORE attention to the understanding that anti-gay hate is not acceptable.

Not just politely ignored, but ACTIVELY REMOVED.

Very Good!!!!!!!

[Gore1FL]

72. It'd be even more awesome if they had no one praying. n/t

[Warren DeMontague]

74. Good.

Good for our President.

[eridani]

76. Be sure to email the White House and thank them n/t

[Maven]

78. And for those DUers who defended this at the start, or claimed Giglio had probably changed his views

here's the piece of shit's parting swipe at gay rights:

“It is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda a focal point of the inauguration,” Giglio said.

Fuck you, asshole.

[northoftheborder]

79. In the first place, why, do they get these edgy fringe people to fill prominent religious spots?

There are plenty of well-respected main-stream ministers they could ask, such as the Washington Cathedral minister or someone from the church the Obama's go to across the street from the White House.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

80. So you want to have clergy do a benediction?

Contact Sojourners
Contact the National Council of Churches
Contact the Interfaith Alliance

For corn's sake, there are thousands of progressive clergy in this country. Including Ted Strickland from Ohio and, oh what was that fellow's name....just on the tip of my tongue. Oh yeah, JESSIE FREAKING JACKSON.

How hard is this?

[KoKo]

134. +1,000! Well Said!

[MotherPetrie]

81. GOOD! He never should have been picked in the first place!

[bluestateguy]

82. Whlle I appreciate that Obama is the most pro-LGBT president in history

he has a nasty habit of being buddy-buddy with people who are homophobic.

[AndyA]

84. This is good news. There's enough hate and misunderstanding

in the world already, without giving those who spread it a platform for their inhumanity.

[Towlie]

85. Don't stop there, remove the benediction as well!

[Hekate]

125. Medgar Evers' widow should be dumped? Seriously?

[Erose999]

96. No more Louie Giggolo? And I was so looking forward to hearing his little speech.

[JohnnyLib2]

102. Dumped the chump!

[wryter2000]

103. Thank heaven

I couldn't believe Obama had an anti-gay "pastor" for a second time.

[cleanhippie]

108. Good, but why the need for a religious person at all? Religion didn't get him reelected.

People did. No god helped, people did it. Why pray and give thanks to a god that wasn't there.

[WinkyDink]

128. It's called "PR."

[cleanhippie]

131. I call it pandering.

To the lowest common denominator.

[Cha]

110. Wow, bigtree.. thanks for the news. That

Is what I call Great News!

[ReRe]

119. "What a difference a day makes....

.... 24 little hours....". Sing it. Never again should bigoted Evangelical "clergy" be given the opportunity to offer a prayer at the Inauguration Ceremony again. On this one account, it is a new day in America. This country has turned a 180 degree corner in the last 4 years. I'm so proud of this fact!

[Cha]

121. Update: Statement from Addie Whisenant of the Presidential Inaugural Committee..

Addie Whisenant of the Presidential Inaugural Committee said in a statement:

We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this Inaugural. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part for his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/01/10/1429501/anti-gay-pastor-removed-from-inaugural-program/

[Initech]

122. Thank god, I can't believe Obama would pick a bigoted douche like that.

[Dont call me Shirley]

123. Why would the WH even book such a "pastor"?

[KY_Democrat]

124. Give this a break you hypocritical

DUers. I am a staunch democrat. I believe in civil rights for all people. I think our environment is precious and our duty to take care of it. I believe in peace, and caring for those who need help. I think Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, union rights, etc. are great moments in our nation's political dialogue. But look at the man's record in recent years. We have all said things we regret, particularly from 20 years ago. We have defended the ridiculous comments of Reverend Wright repeatedly on this board. I beg you, look at the man's record from the past 5 years. He has inspired college students to give 10-15 million dollars to causes that promote clean drinking water all over the world, end human slavery, provide homes in Haiti, and give medical care to those in need. His church has taken care of refugees and he has promoted the causes of human rights all over the world. What he said was absurd and undoubtedly bigoted. But this should not keep him from saying a prayer at the presidential inauguration. In moments like these, I think of John Adams, who defended the British troops after the Boston Massacre. Should this have kept him from serving as President or helping write the Declaration of Independence?

On a side note . . . the venom directed towards people of faith is completely absurd and ridiculous. We democrats are better than that!

[Riley18]

126. Great news.

[Sunlei]

129. Happy this has been corrected. Who will perform the benediction now? I hope it's different & cool!

Sing the benediction

[AlwaysQuestion]

130. Benediction??

Sorry, but why is a benediction necessary in any event? When it can never be assumed that all pastors embrace all peoples as their god's children it's high time to do away with the clergy during any government event paid for by all its country's citizenry.

[indepat]

133. Good riddance to this rotten hate monger

[Bolo Boffin]

135. I would ask someone from the Wisconsin Sikh temple that was attacked in August. n/t

[obama2terms]

136. Be glad they are not having the guy do this

Just think about how all the presidents and their staffers before Obama wouldn't have given a crap even if they knew the guy said these things. Good riddance!

[Bluenorthwest]

141. Last Inaugural, Obama did not give a crap. Here is his first term choice for Public Prayer Merchant

Rick Warren, libeling LGBT people a few short weeks before the event. Obama and his staff refused to replace him in spite of this, and the lesson they learned was they will not get donations they need if they are too openly bigoted:

Other hate mongering purveyors of ignorance the Obama folks have hired or otherwise employed include Donnie 'we are at war with gays' McClurkin, who was personal surrogate to Barack Obama, Cardinal Dolan, the gospel act Sister Sister both members have called gay people prostitutes, thieves, drug addicts and they were the entertainment for Obama events. Michelle Obama took special efforts to praise McClurkin, whom she called her favorite 'gospel singer' although the 'at war with our neighbors' thing makes me think Michelle has scant understanding of the Gospel which says to love your neighbor as you love yourself.
Not going to forget this bullshit without amends being made by the Obamas.

[cliffordu]

145. And I'm thrilled that your

Complete and undying obsession is to show us all how much this president has grown in the last four years.

Really. His growth has been remarkable. And that shit you post about Michelle??

Right on, brother!!! Feet to the fire!!!

[bluestate10]

138. I seriously don't understand the need of someone on the Obama team to have

big congregation, evangelical ministers involved in ceremonies to start. There are religious groups that view and treat gays as brothers and sisters, why couldn't the Obama people have a minister from those groups do the invocation in 2009 and next week?

[Swede Atlanta]

142. I live in Atlanta and have never heard of this guy.....

but I attend a mainstream Protestant church that uses critical thinking in its reading and understanding of the Bible and acknowledges that all of God's creations are just that.

But this is a big misstep by the inaugural planning effort. A simple Google would have revealed this guy is controversial on a topic from which the majority of Americans have moved on. As a result the vetting process was either flawed or a wrong decision was taken.

Had the controversy been something the Administration supported (for example in the 1980s if he had been opposed to Apartheid and the Administration was opposed) there may have been reason to include him in the inauguration. But not someone who is so out of step both with the American people but also the Administration.

[davidpdx]

146. I'm glad he decided to step aside

That being said Think Progressive's title is misleading. He did choose to do it versus being booted off. We complain about misleading titles for articles about issues we care about, I don't believe in doing the same things the Republicans do.

[blkmusclmachine]

147. More Truthful Headline:

Anti-Gay Preacher Declines WH Benedicition Invitation

[davesliberal1977_gg]

148. Woohoo, fantastic news

Bigots like Giglio have no place in the Presidential inauguration. Glad to see some people taking the right stand.