A leader of the campaign to defeat Proposition 8 on Thursday declined an invitation to attend the presidential inauguration of Barack Obama.
Geoff Kors, executive director of Equality California, called it "disappointing and hurtful" that a prominent Orange County minister who backed the measure to ban gay marriage has been chosen to speak at the inauguration.
"Accordingly, I have decided to decline the invitation to attend the inauguration as I cannot be part of a celebration that highlights and gives voice to someone who advocated repealing rights from me and millions of other Californians," Kors said in a statement.
Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, endorsed Proposition 8, the November ballot measure that ended same-sex marriage in California.
Obama on Thursday defended inviting Warren.
During a news conference in Chicago, the president-elect called himself "a fierce advocate for equality for gay and lesbian Americans."
But, Obama noted, "I've also said is that it is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues."
"During the course of the entire inaugural festivities, there are going to be a wide range of viewpoints that are presented," he said. "And that's how it should be, because that's what America's about."
Warren commended Obama "for his courage to willingly take enormous heat from his base by inviting someone like me, with whom he doesn't agree on every issue."
"Hopefully individuals passionately expressing opinions from the left and the right will recognize that both of us have shown a commitment to model civility in America," Warren said in a statement.
Call Aurelio Rojas, Bee Capitol Bureau, (916) 326-5545.
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