The first openly gay Episcopal bishop will say a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial for one of President-elect Barack Obama's first inauguration events.
His selection follows weeks of criticism from gay-rights groups over Obama's decision to have the Rev. Rick Warren give the invocation at his Jan. 20 inauguration. Warren had backed a recent ballot measure banning same-sex marriage in his home state of California.
Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson has said he was stung by Warren's selection, but still believes Obama will be the most supportive president ever for gay-rights causes.
Robinson was
quoted by the LA Times, "There's no question in my mind that he is the president who understands our issues and comes out of a background knowing what it's like to be discriminated against because of who you are. I think for the first time in a very long time we'll have a friend in the White House."
In an e-mail posted at the Episcopal Cafe,
Robinson wrote that "It will be my great honor to be there representing the Episcopal Church, the people of New Hampshire, and all of us in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community."
(This is another reason I believe Episcopal church goers who are committed to the Lordship of the Bible need to come out of this church. As the late Dr. Falwell once said your grandmother would come out of these churches if she wasn't burried in the back yard. I also am not shocked by this and get ready for more of this from the Obama White- House.)
The Rt. Rev. V Gene Robinson, Bishop of New Hampshire, preaching at Trinty Church on Capitol Square, Columbus, Ohio during the 75th General Convnetion of the Episcopal Church USA.