Oh yeah, he’s gay too. Ok, as much as I hate anything “faith-based” in our federal government, I have to say this is very cool.
As a former service provider with large government contracts who is also an atheist, I used to see red when anyone mentioned faith-based groups getting public funding. The idea of people being proselytized to in order to get help enraged me at first, but after working with several different groups of theists I decided that it can be done well and without the religious overtones as long as there is some oversight from both ends of the spectrum. I do love that the guy is openly gay. That should help scare off those that are motivated more by hardcore religious intentions than they are by truly trying to help.
That’s good to know Karyn. Thank you for the insight. And yes, I agree. The most hard core bigots will either have to suck it up and work with this guy, or get scared off, as you say.
This almost makes up for Warren.
More than makes up, since I’ve seen no indication that Warren will have any influence on the Obama administration, while Davie will have input for some time to come.
Well, it’s painful to get into that whole thing again, but I never assumed that Warren would have much or any influence in the Obama administration. For me it was all about emotionally hurting a group of people who were already hurting due to the appalling show of hatefulness and bigotry on Election night, with the passage of Proposition 8 in California, adoptions banned for gay couples in Arkansas, and even the possibility of gay marriage in the future no longer an option in Arizona and Florida. Millions of people who voted for Obama also said…voted that gays are not worthy of spousal love and parental love. The euporia and happiness of Obama’s victory was turned into crushing disappointment and depression when they saw those election results. I’m not even gay and that’s how I felt. I came home from Grant Park on a natural high, couldn’t wipe the grin off my face, until I checked the internet for those results. It was like being punched in the stomach, and it didn’t even affect me personally. I can’t imagine how it felt to them.
So, bigotry ruined election night for so many. Still, almost every single one of them were looking forward to the high and happiness of Inauguration Day, until Obama picked Warren, a man who equated homosexuality with bestiality and incest (among many other nasty things). The man’s a hateful bigot. Obama could have chosen anyone else, someone who preaches love and compassion instead of hate and bigotry. It was another punch in the gut, this time coming directly from Obama. That’s what hurt. The happiness of election day was ruined by bigots. Now the happiness of inauguration day would ruined by a bigot. Not ruined, since it was a wonderful celebration, but tainted. Of course, what made it even more horrible was when it became very clear very quickly that many many MANY people on the left had no compassion, empathy or sympathy for that hurt (something I’m sure I’ll see over and over and over again, and soon). That was almost worse.
So, nothing will “make up” completely for that hurt. It’s done, and can’t ever be undone. He can try to do good things for the gay and lesbian community, and this is a good step in the right direction.