About 75 gay and lesbian demonstrators, led by Atlanta black gay activists, protested at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta against the appearance of anti-gay, anti-choice and anti-science televangelist Rick Warren at Martin Luther King Day observances. The demonstrators included 22-year-old Michael Brewer seen at far right, the openly gay Morehouse senior and Out 100 honoree.
Warren was invited to give the keynote address at the historic church once pastored by Dr. King. Warren is a noted opponent of gay rights and was a prominent supporter of the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign that ended same-sex marriage in California. Gay activists say Warren's divisive rhetoric belies King’s message of inclusiveness. Warren's high-profile participation at Ebenezer and his invitation to deliver the invocation at President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration on Tuesday has infuriated gays and lesbians. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
[Warren] praised Martin Luther King Jr. as both a model pastor and a heroic civil rights leader.
But Warren’s appearance also drew protesters who were angered that event planners invited an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage.
Several dozen gay activists gathered outside Ebenezer before the service. Two protestors made their way inside and rose to shout at Warren when he began speaking; they were escorted out to applause from many in the crowd.
Earlier, the protesters outside hoisted signs declaring: “We still have a dream. Equality.” They chanted: “Gay, straight, black or white, we demand our civil rights.”
[Warren] did not directly address the same-sex marriage issue.
"This is not just a gay marriage issue," says Craig Washington, one of the founders of the Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition. "Warren is a deceptively divisive demagogue on several fronts. He claims to befriend gays yet his church does not admit gays unless they repent their very nature. He compares women who choose to have abortions to Nazis, pro-choice supporters to Holocaust deniers."
On the last King Day, then-Democratic hopeful Barack Obama spoke to the church the day before the national holiday and delivered a well-received challenge to black churches to renounce homophobia. Warren's selection as this year's keynote speaker is, to say the very least, a curious follow-up to that historic address and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. The slain civil activists' widow, Coretta Scott King, dedicated her later years to building the King Center, which sponsors the Ebenezer MLK Day service, as well as working on civil rights for the LGBT community. Mrs. King would not be pleased.
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Thanks so much for staying on this story. It's really important to note black LGBTs led the protests. Notice the AJC story did NOT say that. You'd think the only protesters were white and gay.
Posted by: A. Martinez | 19 January 2009 at 15:45
Rod...
The protest was incredible. It was well attended and peaceful. The only demonstrators who met with some scorn were the two inside the church. A few people shook their heads and seemed upset by the "gay" protests, but I think most people understood we were trying to fight our rights too.
Posted by: ATL Kid | 19 January 2009 at 15:47
I'm so proud of my brothers and sisters. This has been a great day.
Posted by: FREELEO | 19 January 2009 at 16:33
As a gay people of color, this should show us that heterosexual blacks are not our 'brothers and sisters.' They don't see that people similar to Rick Warren did not support Dr. King during the 1950's and 1960's. Also, we need to stop focusing on gay marriage being our opposition to Rick Warren. Warren is an anti-gay bigot who compared us to incest. In addition, Rick Warren associates with ministers who want to imprison us simply for being gay.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 19 January 2009 at 17:04
And people are during the EXACT same thing to us, that was done to people of color, Jews, women and handicap people.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 19 January 2009 at 17:16
Now this is what I'm taking about!
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 19 January 2009 at 18:27
This is great!
Thanks Rod and I hope you are well and at one time get some admin support you deserve...
Posted by: Rowan | 19 January 2009 at 18:55
I am so proud of these guys. They make my heart smile.
Posted by: kevjack | 19 January 2009 at 21:19
A shout out from Hawai‘i to Duncan, in the third photo.
Posted by: Jim | 20 January 2009 at 01:33
Glad to see this post did not catch any media coverage on this since most people are preoccupied with the "Obama" inauguration. I live in the DMV and I am exhausted with the ceremonies already--go figure!! Maybe today Soledad O'Brian will highlight a spot when he does the "prayer." His presence will be awkward nontheless since Pres. Obama has said throughout the weekend in his inclusive speeches about gay/straight black/white/asian/latino etc.
Posted by: sundaydinner | 20 January 2009 at 02:07