Yep, Warren Is Still An Ass

Towleroad has a great article up about the Warren fiasco and why he should not be left off the hook simply because he supports AIDS charities in Africa. You should absolutely read it.

First, let's just clear the air here about AIDS charities in Africa, and this includes the Bush support of the same. AIDS in Africa is largely considered a straight problem. It's not a gay disease because gays are murdered or chased out of whatever area they live. So to say that they are helping AIDS relief in Africa is not to say that they are supporting anything pro-gay whatsoever. It is nice to see charitable work going toward such a cause, but when you consider the next part...

AIDS work in Africa is largely tied to religious organizations. Just like Bush's support, Warren's support of AIDS work in Africa revolves around avidly Christian groups. Groups that will force someone to accept Christianity as their religion or they don't get treatment. Very Christ-like...

Warren worked with one Christian ass-hat leader in particular, who, it turns out, is just a sweet heart:

"With safe sex advocates on the run, Warren and Ssempa trained their sights on another social evil. In August 2007, Ssempa led hundreds of his followers through the streets of Kampala to demand that the government mete out harsh punishments against gays. 'Arrest all homos,' read placards. And: 'A man cannot marry a man.' Ssempa continued his crusade online, publishing the names of Ugandan gay rights activists on a website he created, along with photos and home addresses. 'Homosexual promoters,' he called them, suggesting they intended to seduce Uganda’s children into their lifestyle. Soon afterwards, two of President Yoweri Museveni’s top officials demanded the arrest of the gay activists named by Ssempa. Terrified, the activists immediately into hiding."

So, to put this plainly, the man Warren supports in Africa to run his AIDS charity work is directly responsible for the persecution of LGBT folk in Africa. Warren bankrolled his operation. He is just as responsible. And Warren is the man our future President has asked to bless his Presidency and our country in 12 days. I Can't wait...

Dear Warren: You're Still An Ass

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Rachel Maddow throws it down pretty well in this video talking about why the Rick Warren issue is, in fact, and issue. It's not going away. Obama screwed the pooch on this issue, and he's got a lot of work to do to make it up to us.

I get it. I get why he chose him. But that doesn't mean that it's correct or right in any sense whatsoever. Warren is a flaming douchebag. Worthy of the BDIU Award in fact. I find it absolutely horrific that Obama would say to Warren "Yes, I want you to bless me and my Presidency." And I repeat:

Obama, you still have another election to face. We have 10% of the vote. Good luck making up that ground somewhere else. If you need an example of how long our memory is in the LGBT community, just go to a gay bar and ask for a Coors. Years later, millions spent on LGBT advertising and gay positive policies, and most queer bars still won't serve Coors. The boycott was in 1974.

Dear Mr. Obama - Warren Is An Ass

Well, well. Obama. Seriously, dude. You can't screw this up. Really, you can't. Do you see how mobilized the LGBT community is right now? Now, imagine, if you will, a man that has strung a carrot of hope in front of that mobilized crowd, promising great things at the end of the journey. Imagine that the same man, once he has achieved his goal, then through us out the window without so much a shred of decency or an "I'll call you, you were great."

Obama, imagine, for just one minute, that you are a member of the LGBT community. Just try it. Think about how we must feel right now. Think about how hard we worked to get you where you are, and think about how, when you ask one of the biggest hate-mongers in the country, one of the people leading the charge to irradicate the US of gays and lesbians, when you ask him to speak at your inauguration. To speak for you, as if he represents your thoughts and opinions. To bless your presidency, sprinkling anti-gay fairy dust over the next four years.

Now, Mr. President-Elect, after you've done that, if you still have any questions as to why the LGBT community is pissed that you've selected Rick Warren to christen your Presidency, then you have failed the LGBT community already. This is a man that believes all gay people are pedophiles, and believes that incest is our highest form of love. You've told us that Don't Ask, Don't Tell isn't quite as much a priority as you promised. Now you tell us this man, this despicable person, is the one who will preach to the masses with a prayer on the day you ascend to the Presidency. Yeah, we're hurt. Really hurt.

We get that you want "varying opinions" around you. Typically, however, that means varying opinions on topics that are negotiable. Health Care. Military Preparedness. Government Spending. Regulatory Environments. Those are things that can be debated, and many people on different sides of the arguments are intelligent and have a lot to add to the conversation. But when it comes to the rights and freedoms of a people, there is no negotiation. We Gays and Lesbians deserve and demand our rights, and we command respect for who we are. We are proud of our lives and loves. We will not stand idly by as you surround yourself with those that seek to bring us down.

You must not forget that we are at least 10% of the population, Mr. Obama, and you still have another election to face. Although we may not run out and vote for whatever Republican they pony up for the race, if we choose not to vote at all, good luck making up that ground elsewhere.