Politics | 12/23/2008 1:20 pm

Rick Warren Reinventing Anti-Gay Image Amid Uproar

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

Rick Warren is on a reinvention tour!

The conservative pastor has come under fire from gay activists in recent days after being invited to give the invocation at Barack Obama’s Inauguration. And, in an attempt to revamp his public image, Warren’s been working double-time to prove he’s not the homophobic monster people believe him to be.

In addition to his well-publicized pow-wow with lesbian singer Melissa Etheridge, Warren, who has used his pulpit to rail against gay marriage, was recently spotted posing with his arm draped around an openly gay man.

TMZ, which posted the picture on its website, reports:

We got this pic, taken yesterday at Out of the Closet thrift store. That’s Warren on the right (naturally), his arm around Erol Sarabi, who is openly gay. Warren, who supports the ban on gay marriage which has not sat real well with some Obama supporters, bought 8 to 10 books, two of which were his own. Warren told Sarabi not to believe everything he reads, that he does a lot for AIDS research and was happy that Out of the Closet does free AIDS testing.

Meanwhile, in another attempt to soften his anti-homosexual stance, Warren pulled a message from his website. John Aravosis of Americablog noticed that Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church website on Friday said it explicitly bans gay "unwilling to repent of their homosexual lifestyle" to become members. That message has since been removed. But one thing that hasn’t been permanently removed but "rather repurposed for clarity" is the site’s Q & A section addressing homosexuality. Kristin Cole, the press representative for the Saddleback Church purportedly e-mailed the gay website queerty saying:

I wanted to make sure you were aware that the Q & A addressing homosexuality on the Saddleback Church Web site has not been permanently removed, but rather repurposed for clarity. I know your readers have noticed the change. Click here and play the recorded answer to question 22, "What does the Bible say homosexuality?"

Thanks to the Internet, however, we can all still steal a glimpse of Warren’s formerly homophobic ways. We bet he’s hoping the public has a shorter memory than our computers …

31 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

Oh Pastor….too little, too late. I’m so disappointed in him.

By Belinda Joy on 12/23/2008 1:24 pm

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Tell us all about it Ricky—you “erased” all your gay smears from your web site already—what’s next? Are Buddhist and Jews allowed in your limited version of heaven? Too little too late Ricky boy. You’re a bigot of the first order—face up to it. Maybe a little confession for the soul?

By f p on 12/23/2008 1:32 pm

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“Saddleback?” Curious name. And, what’s the rationale behind posting anything regarding “small groups?” … smacks of far more control over others than is acceptable in most faith groups; indeed, legally permissible. Are all meetings monitored, too? Freedom of religion … is that a religion? I wish such places would merely be more traditional so we would all understand from whence they came and where they plan to go, and how much it costs. How such a discriminatory entity maintains their tax-exempt status under the laws of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code beats me. No wonder America’s infrastructure is without support - the IRS is not doing its job collecting taxes. I am disappointed in President-Elect Obama, regardless of his intentions - smoke and mirrors were supposed to be done with.

By C jay on 12/23/2008 8:04 pm

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Very disappointed with Obama on this one. And Warren trying to clean up his act now does not sit well with me either. Very phony.

By Brooklyn Gal on 12/23/2008 4:33 pm

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This post has been removed per management request.

By Jim Henley on 12/23/2008 7:41 pm

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Many people made mistakes in judgment during the civil rights movement—Wm. F. Buckley has written about that in his own life. When you say he struggled with civil rights for decades, does that mean he recently came to understand the civil rights movement or did he see the light decades ago?? I would appreciate more info on this too. It is one thing for a member of the clergy to be against Gay marriage, yet not crucify the Gay community as sinful and discriminate against them.

By Brooklyn Gal on 12/24/2008 6:48 am

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So he’s for gay rights and against gay marriage—so what? Everyone has their line drawn in the sand and afterall this hour will be forgotten as soon as it’s over. I love the “Pow!” Makes you look like a 14 yr old.

By f p on 12/24/2008 7:24 am

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“Warren, … was recently spotted … ” Yeah. He’s still spotted if you ask me.

By Serena . on 12/23/2008 5:46 pm

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“… We all gasp this can’t happen here We’re all much too civilized Where can these monsters hide But they are knocking on our front door They’re rocking in our cradles They’re preaching in our churches And eating at our tables …” —Melissa Etheridge, “Scarecrow”

By Serena . on 12/23/2008 5:49 pm

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This post has been removed per management request.

By Jim Henley on 12/23/2008 7:45 pm

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Bada bing? you really area 14 yr old aren’t you. Pity.

By f p on 12/24/2008 8:27 am

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This post has been deleted as it violated the Ten Commandments of Posting on our website.

By Jim Henley on 12/24/2008 1:23 pm

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You really are a piece of work, of the worst type that it has been my misfortune to encounter. You should try another site more conducive to your ilk, say something along the line a 14 yr old might like—something that Larry Flint might produce/

By f p on 12/24/2008 2:38 pm

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Warren’s stance on gays is not the only concern about the man many of us have — he’s exhibited every indication of being a first-class misogynist. Americans are sometimes loath to “call it,” much less acknowledge such signs, but make no mistake, he appears to believe in the superiority of males. This is not to say, IMHO, that he does not indicate respect for certain aspects of femaleness, but overall - his superiority, and worse, perhaps in the “Almighty’s eyes.” That being said, the dichotomy exists in his almost frantic homophobia. In most people who are confident about their biology there is no need to take any stance at all; nor broadcast such. Most balanced individuals accept people on their own merits, and don’t judge them on their private choices - in fact, wasn’t that “written” some place? Opps, tables’ turned. Those who may have subconscious tendencies toward a lifestyle, or action are often the most outspoken deniers of whatever it is they are against, or hate, which in turn is self-anger turned onto others; a form of self-control. Such is not restricted to Warren, but in fact, the majority who “shout out” against “gays!” and become livid with their disgust - it’s a sad commentary indicating a serious lack of maturity. We have all seen and heard “them.” Warren is a sad example of many evangelists … they seem to rise to power on others guilt, or by kindly whipping people into shape, for money. How on earth is Warren greater than Rev. Wright? He did not say anything many Americans have said since 9/11, but the media exploited his verbosity. Where is the media now? Homophobic Men? Watch the hair face, neckties, and shoes. It’s not too often far off the mark.

By C jay on 12/23/2008 7:54 pm