CONCORD, N.H. — 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.
New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson will deliver the invocation at an event Sunday to kick off inauguration festivities. 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.
Robinson has said he was stung by Warren’s selection but still believes Obama will be the most supportive president ever for gay causes.
“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,” said Robinson, who was an early Obama supporter, offering advice as well as his endorsement.
Robinson said he doesn’t believe he was asked to participate to calm criticism of Warren. Obama’s decision to include clergymen with different views is emblematic of what kind of leader Obama will be, Robinson said.
“What it means for the nation is that Barack Obama is who he told us he was and intends to be, which is a person who unites us,” Robinson said.
Warren
