HELP STOP HATE, BY USING YOUR VOICE

If you have spoken to me in the last week or been reading the blog you know that I am dismayed about the selection of Rick Warren to participate in the inauguration of Barack Obama. Now we may have differences about the severity of this issue, but I wanted to let you know what I have done to express my concern and maybe you will feel moved to do the same.

The key grievance that I have with Rick Warren's selection is that he equates homosexuality with pedophilia, bestiality and incest, participation in which are all crimes. I know that if these comparisons had been made about any other group, blacks, women, latinos, the deaf, asians, veterans or anyone that he wouldn't have been considered. For Obama to elevate him to a position of further national prominence is really damaging to our (hopefully, one day) inclusion in society and (hopefully, one day) being given the legal rights that are afforded to everyone else.

So I made a series of calls expressing my frustration and disgust. I'm listing below the people I called. These calls make a difference. If you are inclined to think it is unacceptable to elevate a man who thinks I (and millions more like me) am a pedophile, please give any of these elected representatives a phone call or an email and let them know how you feel.

• The Presidential Inaugural Committee : 202-651-2009

• The Transition Team : 202-540-3000
http://change.gov/page/content/contact/

• The Democratic National Committee: 202-863-8000
or can be emailed at: http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contactissues

• Congressman Rahm Emanuel : 202-225-4061

• Senator Diane Finestein : 202-224-3841 / 415-393-0707 / 310-914-7300
or can be emailed: http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe

• Senator Barbra Boxer : 202-224-3553 / 213-894-5000
or can be emailed : http://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm

• Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger : 916-445-2841 / 213-897-0322
or can be emailed : http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email

•Representative Henry Waxman : 202-225-3976 / 323-651-1040

•Representitive Xavier Becerra: 213-483-1425


Thanks very much. Happy Holidays, my you have a healthy and happy 2009.

Love,

Brian