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News & ArtsThursday, December 18, 2008
Religion / Homo Rick Warren Can't Be Homophobic—He's Got Gay Friends!
Posted by Dan Savage on Thu, Dec 18, 2008 at 2:23 PM
Yesterday on Slog I wrote this: "Reporters should stop taking this 'but I've got gay friends!' on faith. Anti-gay politicians, entertainers, and preachers shouldn't be allowed to take rhetorical cover behind gay friends if they're unable to produce any." Now Rick Warren—who has compared consensual adult gay relationships to incestuous relationships and child rape—is claiming that he can't possibly be homophobic because, hey, he's got gay friends! Hell, he's even eaten in gay homes!
Okay, Rick, you've got gay friends—prove it. Bring 'em to a press conference. We've all got some questions we'd like to ask them.
4
He's inspirational. My heart is full of hope because change is in the air.
I hope our president continues his spiritual counselling from this great man of the cloth. And anyone who opposes this is not only anti-religion but also trying to insidiously weaken this country's first black president.
I hope our president continues his spiritual counselling from this great man of the cloth. And anyone who opposes this is not only anti-religion but also trying to insidiously weaken this country's first black president.
5
@3 - I think it's a good line of reasoning. It seems like everyone knows it's no longer acceptable to be homophobic, but it seems to be okay to express homophobic views and take homophobic actions as long as you give yourself absolution by appending, "but I'm not homophobic". Like the mormon woman at the protest in Seattle who was described in the Stranger as saying, "Hate is the wrong word. There's no malace involved." Well, that's just great. I'm glad you can work to take away my civil rights and still get a good night's sleep comfortable in your lack of malace. I'm sick of it. If you do homophobic shit, you're a bigot and an asshole. Own it.
6
I just cannot respect fat people who preach to others. What's that? You can't even respect and take care of your OWN BODY?
How dare you prescribe actions for mine. How fucking DARE YOU.
bitch tits.
How dare you prescribe actions for mine. How fucking DARE YOU.
bitch tits.
8
The problem is that they probably all do have gay friends. Right-wing gay-hating gay friends, but there are plenty of those around, just check the Republican Party.
9
The task assigned Warren is to say a prayer...Obama still having to prove he's not Muslim calls for a Christian pastor to fill the honor. How many prominent priest/ministers in the US have NOT been reluctant to preach in support of gay marriage? On 1/20 he's hiring a poetry reader, probably in a black dress, who will say pre-approved things that are guaranteed to be the most inclusive and uplifting. If you are a Christian, you will get more warm fuzzies out of it than the rest of us, but it's not gonna be an incantation to cure or kill the gay.
2009 a good time to choose our battles, maybe? Watch carefully, and if Obama apoints policy makers who hold Warren's view - then we got an argument.
Obama is essentially leading the country this very minute, and the ianuguration is a formality and legal necessity. (And for many like us, cause for one hell of a party)Regardless of WHO says the invocation, aren't GLBT citizens better off in the next few yrs under Obama and the new congress than we would have been with status quo? Baby/Bathwater, just sayin...
2009 a good time to choose our battles, maybe? Watch carefully, and if Obama apoints policy makers who hold Warren's view - then we got an argument.
Obama is essentially leading the country this very minute, and the ianuguration is a formality and legal necessity. (And for many like us, cause for one hell of a party)Regardless of WHO says the invocation, aren't GLBT citizens better off in the next few yrs under Obama and the new congress than we would have been with status quo? Baby/Bathwater, just sayin...
10
If you say so but this republican is glad he doesn't have to defend Warren the way the contortionist Obamaboys now are doing.
11
There's a reason that they say "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer." I know it sucks to have a guy like Warren share the stage on the big day on which we will no longer have to feel shame when the President speaks, but he, and the people that he represents, are the folks whose minds need to be changed and the best way to do that is to bring them into the big tent, make them feel welcomed and have them meet the people that they now preach against. It won't work for all of them by a long shot, but the ones who have minds that are open (or are at least open to being opened) will best be won over by inclusion and mutual respect (i.e., the *opposite* of the way that GWB tried to win any argument). So MAYBE it will be helpful having this guy take the stage with Obama...maybe...
12
Have you ever read 'Animal Farm'?
The scene at the end where the barnyard animals are looking in the window and the pigs look like the previous human masters?
deja vu?
The scene at the end where the barnyard animals are looking in the window and the pigs look like the previous human masters?
deja vu?
14
Ughh. I think that in general terms Christers like Rick Warren should be harmless, fey, conflicted dolts, even if they have grandiose egos. There are specific Christers I know really well and consider to be some of my best friends. But as a general matter Christers like Rick Warren hurt more people than the ones they help, so I generally think they are full of horse hooey
16
I've moved from not caring about this to understanding why people are hurt by it. Merry Fucking Christmas to you too Obama.
17
Did anyone see the Disney film "Pochahontas"? Reverend Warren actually looks a lot like the villain in that film. But yeah, Warren's an idiot. I'm sorry but I've heard how he speaks. I'd be really surprised if he would make it passed 1,000 on Who Wants to be a Millionaire? I just hope he doesn't become the 21st century version of Pat Robertson or Jerry Falwell. And yes, he was wrong about what he said... Not all religions/denominations are against marriage equality. Some religions even believe that marriage is only a secular, and therefore civil rights issue. It's a very miopic view that Warren has, that his belief is the only one.
18
everyone wants unity and bipartisanship unless it means working with or compromising with those who have different views.
obama spoke of hope and one america. i believed him. i still do. don't worry... he's got it. and there will be change.
finally, while the "but i have gay friends" is silly, it demonstrates that many christians don't get it yet. they really, honestly, don't get it. but the tide is changing.
obama spoke of hope and one america. i believed him. i still do. don't worry... he's got it. and there will be change.
finally, while the "but i have gay friends" is silly, it demonstrates that many christians don't get it yet. they really, honestly, don't get it. but the tide is changing.
19
Marriage has been the same for 5000 years?
Not according to the bible. In those times most people took on multiple wives. Derr.
Not according to the bible. In those times most people took on multiple wives. Derr.
21
how about this: who cares even if these assholes DO have gay friends? I don't care if rick warren has gay friends, likes gay movies, or is fucking gay himself. their private lives have no bearing on, and are no defense for, their public actions. you're a gay congressman who puts forward anti-gay legislation? asshole! not because you're a hypocrite, but BECAUSE YOU'RE PUTTING FORWARD ANTI-GAY LEGISLATION! So let's say Rick Warren has gay friends, and they just "agree to disagree" or whatever... know what that makes Rick Warren? Still an asshole, intolerant homophobic asshole! and it makes his friends either dumb or extremely loyal.
So instead of asking for these mysterious gay friends to be produced, let's make the more important point: who your friends are, or what you do in your private life, is completely irrelevant to your public actions.
pisses me off man
So instead of asking for these mysterious gay friends to be produced, let's make the more important point: who your friends are, or what you do in your private life, is completely irrelevant to your public actions.
pisses me off man
22
If Warren has so many gay "friends" then why does he talk so badly about them, comparing their relationships to rape and incest?
Sorry, but I would never be a friend to someone like that.
Sorry, but I would never be a friend to someone like that.
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