OBAMA: "I am a fierce advocate for gay and lesbian americans"

With Nancy Sutley joining Team Obama as chairwoman of the Council on Environmental Quality, she becomes the first prominent, openly gay or lesbian to join the Cabinet.

She is currently L.A.'s deputy mayor for energy and environment and the mayor's rep on the board of directors for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Most politically intriguing: She was a member of Hillary Clinton's California Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender steering committee during the state's primary. Oh, Obama, that's so "Team of Rivals" of you to invite her.

Another Bay Area-Obama LGBT connection: Former SF Supe/mayoral also-ran Roberta Achtenberg is one of seven open LGBT folks on Obama's transition advisory crew. You may recall that back in 1993 Achtenberg was the first openly gay public official appointed to a federal position (assistant HUD czar during the Clinton administration) that had to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. That didn't seem to be much of a problem for most senators, except for Sen. Jesse Helms, who subtly explained his reasons for blocking her appointment: "Because she's a damn lesbian."

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A man who received a standing ovation at Coretta Scott King's funeral, the same woman who spoke out strongly that gay rights are a civil rights issue-a woman who endorsed gay marriage.

On April 1, 1998 at The Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, King called on the civil rights community to join in the struggle against homophobia and anti-gay bias. "Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood", King stated. "This sets the stage for further repression and violence that spread all too easily to victimize the next minority group."

I think President-Elect Obama knew that in order to have Reverend Lowery speak that he had to choose a 'known' mega-preacher. I think Pastor Warren was chosen as the lesser of the available evils. It had to be someone annointed by the right.

The aspect I keep coming back to, is that Pastor Warren is outmatched. That will be evident. His appearance won't matter as much as he thinks it does right now. Not after Reverend Lowery starts to speak and continues the thread of tolerance and civil rights for all that Coretta Scott King tried to get the Southern Baptist Convention to embrace. He won't shine like a new nickel when Reverend Lowery is done with him and the ideals of Pastor Warren's proponents will not shine in comparison to the truth-that we are all created equal and until we are all equal someone isn't doing God's work. You can bet that Reverend Lowery knows exactly what kind of demon he will be facing, he has an entire lifetime under his belt casting them out. And winning.

If I were Rick Warren, I would be praying to go last. Or I would be planning a family emergency for January 19th.

http://oxdown.firedoglake.com/diary/2512

Rick Warren: But the issue to me is, I’m not opposed to that as much as I’m opposed to the redefinition of a 5,000-year definition of marriage. I’m opposed to having a brother and sister be together and call that marriage. I’m opposed to an older guy marrying a child and calling that a marriage. I’m opposed to one guy having multiple wives and calling that marriage.

Steven Waldman: Do you think, though, that they are equivalent to having gays getting married?

Rick Warren: Oh I do.

Great, then where are the racists, Mr. Obama? We don't see you embracing too many of them in the name of learning to agree to disagree. Or does your desire to create a new "atmosphere," and reach out to our enemies, stop when it's your own people, your own children, you'd be betraying? Funny how you only reach across the aisle when it's someone else's family getting the shaft