"Rick Warren's Anti-Gay Work Exposed"

Rick Warren has been busy trying to downplay his radical and homophobic views after President-elect Barack Obama chose him to give the invocation at his inauguration ceremony but now new evidence has surfaced showing the pastor's true colors.

Max Blumenthal at The Daily Beast has looked into Warren's activities in Africa in the name of AIDS, his ties to anti-gay Anglican religious figures, and his endorsement of condom-burning and anti-gay 'witch hunts' in Uganda.

" Warren's defense against charges of intolerance ultimately depends upon his ace card: his heavily publicized crusade against AIDS in Africa," writes Max Blumenthal.

"But since the Warren inauguration controversy erupted, the nature of work against AIDS in Africa has gone unexamined. Warren has not been particularly forthcoming to those who have attempted to look into it. His website contains scant information about the results of his program. However, an investigation into Warren's involvement in Africa reveals a web of alliances with right-wing clergymen who have sidelined science-based approaches to combating AIDS in favor of abstinence-only education...Warren's man in Uganda is a charismatic pastor named Martin Ssempa. The head of the Makerere Community Church, a rapidly growing congregation, Ssempe enjoys close ties to his country's First Lady, Janet Museveni, and is a favorite of the Bush White House. In the capitol of Kampala, Ssempa is known for his boisterous crusading. Ssempa's stunts have included burning condoms in the name of Jesus and arranging the publication of names of homosexuals in cooperative local newspapers while lobbying for criminal penalties to imprison them."

"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."

Warren, we see your true colors and they're very ugly indeed.

http://www.bgay.com/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=747&Itemid=23

Sigh. I was really hoping he would be the real deal. We NEEDED Kucinich. Oh well. He's no doubt better than McCain, then again I can say that about 50% of the country. Bah. :shrug:

Writing Obama off when he hasn't even taken office yet? :shrug:

You know when no LGBT legislation has been supported by Obama (or the Dems in Congress) & the chant on DU is "we must get re-elected first, just wait a little longer."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmAwfVac6CU

But I am really GLAD that OBAMA got elected!

(the ability to deal with ambiguity is a sign of mental health!)

Lets wait and see what happens once he is in. It is possible that he, like every other candidate, can change! (once safely in the commander's seat).

Thank you for posting.

I've posted bits and pieces of this story of Warren's AID/HIV faith-based activities in Africa that have contributed to the deaths of both gay and straight folks... and the witch hunt and criminalization of the LGBTQ community. Thanks to Max Blumenthal for pulling it all together.

I predict though, with the this truly horrific information, they'll not be much support of Obama's choice on this thread. Oddly enough, there won't be much support for the LGBTQ community here, either. Most of those who advised STFU will now, simply, sit on their hands.

... his generations Edward R Murrow.

Warren, if you have any integrity, step down.

He wouldn't be doing the things he's doing in the first place.

this is really something though. wish i could read the entire thing.

Like condoms are an evil thing? WTF????

I really don't get the condom burning thing.

Warren-Endorsed Nigerian Leader Backed Anti-Gay Laws Worse Than Pre-WW2 Third Reich's by troutfishing

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/12/24/191631/90

These are the same people that also supported witchhunters in Africa (with often fatal results for the 'witches') during the Palin VP run. Troutfishing and Dogemperor have excellent diaries on kos about this subject.

K&R

most evidence suggests that AIDS is spread primarily through the straight community in Africa!

"I've been scratching my head for several days now, trying to figure out why practically every news story about Rick Warren explains that he's not anti-gay, and in fact quite progressive and moderate, because he's worked on AIDS in Africa. Well, bully for him. But there are two problems there:

1. I'm not African; and

2. AIDS in Africa is a predominantly heterosexual disease.

There's a reason that evangelicals work on AIDS in Africa. Because that way they don't have to deal with the "gay" ick-factor. And even better, as Jesse Helms once said - Helms was also a big fan of working on AIDS in Africa - the African AIDS crisis is especially affecting a large number of children, the "innocent victims," as Helms called them.

So, yes, right-wing bigots like to work on AIDS in Africa because there's no major homo component to the disease over there, and even better, a number of the "victims" are "innocent," unlike the "guilty" AIDS sufferers in America who are g-a-y."

http://www.americablog.com/2008/12/why-is-rick-warrens-work-on-aids-in.html

if the Religious Right had chosen to attack AIDS during the Reagan era, instead of proclaiming it to be "God's wrath against gays," then it probably would have been far less devastating worldwide for everyone, gay and straight. Warren's brand of support only extends the bigotry into the new millenium.

...all the way to the top.
Just in case anyone doesn't know who these people are yet.

for each case treated, six new HIV infections emerge.

But, we are going to give him more tax dollars?

Warren and his ilk have no place of honor in our country. :mad:

:eyes:

Have you notice the deafening silence from the usual suspects?

Where's the "just another straw man" or other various defenses of this asshole?

:shrug: Even for the Usual Suspects.

There is no defense of this troglodyte. The OP is very informative and I appreciate the information but it also makes me sick to my stomach. Spreading ignorance = spreading death. We can do so much better.

(And predicted above.)

Warren is standing tall on top of the bodies of dead Africans in order to reap federal funding for his (totally unaudited) faith-based P.E.A.C.E missions and all we hear are crickets.

:toast:

...because there are still people who don't get it.

...else I'd get banned. I'm pretty sure I would.

If you can't tell, I'm still mad about this. :hi:

I got warned myself.

--IMM

Just appalling. I think I need to get away from the computer for a bit.

by giving him the spotlight at the inauguration. :sarcasm: Change? You want change? How about two nickles for a quarter....

:kick:

Good job BB!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3679051

This shows how Obama really feels and makes up for everything! :sarcasm:

(I wonder if the Obama team picked a lesbian couple because then they think it looks like they don't share Warrens homophobic or sexist attitudes).

Move on now. Nothing to see here.

:sarcasm:

as I kick this back to the top.
Just in case people missed it. This is who Warren pals around with.

Not the company I'd want to keep, personally.

who defended Obama with the "2 minute prayer" line. Partly it was because I saw this as a move to strengthen a "Sojourner" type evangelical, and partly because I saw it as no big deal--two weeks after the inauguration, who will remember, who will care? Obama's real measure, I thought, was to be taken from his substantive actions, not from this minor symbolic gesture.

OK, I was wrong. As I learned more about him, I have grown to increasingly oppose Warren being in any way associated with the inauguration, the Party, or our incoming President. Somewhere a final straw was piled on. I don't know just when.

I was wrong. I am offended by his presence and role at the inauguration.

I don't know that anybody besides me cares what I think, but I needed to say this for the sake of my own soul.

It makes a difference to me.

That means a lot.

Thank you. :hi:

Thanks for sticking with all the threads and reading the information. There's been a lot. The more that is uncovered about this scumbag, the worse it looks. I think a lot of people will re-examine Warren over time and may come to a different conclusion as you have.

It does make a difference to hear that people here understand.

in DU. Everyone can have opinions, but when it counts reason and decency should win.

Reflection is a virtue we all should practice.

Thank you.

Thanks for the post!

Thank you for this post - I have tried to get the message out many times before. Just check my journal out for many links to this same information in Time Magazine and other quality sources and verifiable links.

on Warren and more people begin to understand. I note no one dares to defend him on this thread.

:kick:

Shakes head

:mad:

Kick, kick, kick, kick

Rick Warren equates homosexuality to pedophilia. But he rarely, if not never, talks about the child sex crimes often committed by Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches' pastors and staffs within SBC churches. One of the biggest news that was underreported in 2008 was the SBC's refusal to create a database of the list of SBC pastors and staffs who are credibly alleged and/or convicted of child molestation.

If Rick Warren keeps talking against homosexuality and abortion but avoiding the child molestation within his own Christian denomination, he is not a true servant of God. In such case, Rick Warren is just another Christian hypocrite. In the end, you will wonder which of his associate and assistant pastors in the Saddleback Church are/were criminal child molesters.

See http://stopbaptistpredators.org/index.htm for more details. I see the child molestation issue within the SBC and other Christian denominations more serious issue than the issues of homosexuality than abortion. At least gays and lesbians and pro-choice people can make their voices heard. Children who fall victims to sex crimes by their own pastors are too often silenced.

Rick Warren is a different bird. It doesn't surprise me that he's hooked

up with extremists like Ssempa. They all think that the world would be a better place

without gay people. Whether it means killing us or scaring us into hiding.

But Warren is going to be a blip on the line of history and I just truly hope that

Barack Obama can see him for what he truly is - trailer trash.:nopity:

Uganda was on the forefront of dealing with prevention head on until Warren and his ilk showed up armed with the blessing and funding from the U.S. government.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-01-07/the-truth-about-rick-warren-in-africa/2/

"During the early 1990s, when many African leaders denied the AIDS epidemic’s existence, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni spoke openly about the importance of safe sex. With the help of local and international non-governmental organizations, he implemented an ambitious program emphasizing abstinence, monogamous relationships, and using condoms as the best ways to prevent the spread of AIDS. He called the program “ABC.” By 2003, Uganda’s AIDS rate plummeted 10 percent. The government’s free distribution of the “C” in ABC—condoms—proved central to the program’s success, according to Avert, an international AIDS charity."

...

"However, an investigation into Warren’s involvement in Africa reveals a web of alliances with right-wing clergymen who have sidelined science-based approaches to combating AIDS in favor of abstinence-only education. More disturbingly, Warren’s allies have rolled back key elements of one of the continent’s most successful initiative, the so-called ABC program in Uganda. Stephen Lewis, the United Nations’ special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, told the New York Times their activism is “resulting in great damage and undoubtedly will cause significant numbers of infections which should never have occurred.”"

By 2005, billboards promoting condom use disappeared from the streets of Kampala, replaced by billboards promoting virginity. “Until recently, all HIV-related billboards were about condoms. Those of us calling for abstinence and faithfulness need billboards too,” Ssempa told the BBC at the time. A 2005 report by Human Rights Watch documented that educational material in Uganda’s secondary schools falsely claiming condoms had microscopic pores that could be penetrated by the HIV virus and noted the sudden nationwide shortage of condoms due to new restrictions imposed by on condom imports.

...


"AIDS activists arrived at the 16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto in 2006 with disturbing news from Uganda. Due at least in part to the chronic condom shortage, HIV infections were on the rise again. The disease rate had spiked to 6.5 percent among rural men, and 8.8 percent among women—a rise of nearly two points in the case of women. “The ‘C’ part is now mainly silent,” said Ugandan AIDS activist Beatrice Ware. As a result, she said, “the success story is unraveling.”"

And with homophobic, sexist, anti-semitic WARREN first out of

Obama's hat, I'm terrified to see what he does next ...

especially FOR religious fanatics --!!!

even though I can't really r anymore

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:

I can understand the straight DU community kicking the DU LGBTQ coummunty under the bus...(HA! Not really!)

But hey! I can't help but notice that practically no one here but us queers are stepping up for mostly straight sick folks in Africa. Yeah, yeah, queer criticism of Warren's faith-based activism in Africa might be a tad self-serving but then again, we've experienced, first hand, the consequences of ignorance and faith-based fear. It kills.

:bounce:

:thumbsup:

You just can't run from that kind of history. Holy shit!

And until people actually understand, I'm going to kick this thread every so often.

:kick:

:puke:

What? Still no comments from the "only two minutes crowd" about this piece of shit Warren?

Try replacing "Warren with "Dobson".

"Dr. James Dobson has been busy trying to downplay his radical and homophobic views after President-elect George Bush chose him to give the invocation at his inauguration ceremony but now new evidence has surfaced showing the pastor's true colors.'

...

"With safe sex advocates on the run, Dobson 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."

Despite the numerous whines to "stop yelling at DU, where everyone's on your side!" (which are strangely absent on this thread...I guess the Warren appeasers can't quite nudge their feet over the actual MURDER line), you've kept this issue front and center.

It is precisely because everyone at DU is NOT on our side that this is as good a place as any to keep yelling. Please continue to do so, and I will continue to have your back.