Melissa Etheridge on Rick Warren: The Choice is Ours Now

by Blue Crush | December 23, 2008 at 06:04 pm

808 views | 27 Recommendations | 13 comments

Openly gay singer Melissa Etheridge said Monday afternoon that she's willing to work with pastor Rick Warren, whose critics accuse him of making anti-gay statements.

Etheridge said that she had a change of heart after she and Warren were both invited to make appearances at the Muslim Public Affairs Council on Saturday (December 20th). She wanted to cancel when she heard he'd be there, but reached out to him instead. The day of the event, he called her. In a blog post on HuffingtonPost.com, she writes, "Before I could say anything, he told me what a fan he was. He had most of my albums...this didn't sound like a gay hater."

Etheridge said Warren told her that he struggled with California's Proposition 8, which established the definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman. He said he decided to support it because he didn't want to see marriage redefined. He also apologized for his "poor choice of words" in a speech that associated gays with pedophiles and those who commit incest.

She wrapped up her blog post by suggesting gay activists adopt a strategy of openness. She writes, "Maybe instead of marching on his church, we can show up en mass and volunteer for one of the many organizations affiliated with his church that work for HIV/AIDS causes all around the world."

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158

at 20:40 on December 23rd, 2008

''Openly gay singer Melissa Etheridge said Monday afternoon that she's willing to work with pastor Rick Warren, whose critics accuse him of making anti-gay statements.''

I did not know she is gay.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 03:14 on December 24th, 2008

Thank you for this story, Blue Crush. I would just like to mention that although Rick Warren's Church Scrubs Gay Ban from Website, it seems there are still some offensive statements about gays on the Saddleback Church website. Nevertheless, I am glad that Ms. Etheridge "...is willing to work with pastor Rick Warren, whose critics accuse him of making anti-gay statements."

merlingraycat

at 12:03 on December 24th, 2008

Interesting article. Maybe understanding is what we all need.

Lisa Mardell

at 12:06 on December 24th, 2008

Rick Warren did indeed remove offensive statements from the Saddleback Church Website, however, the most recent statement from the church is that they have not changed their policy, (Gays are welcome to attend services, but only become members if they "repent"). In other words, the words have changed but thes song remains the same.

Rick loves gays and Muslims, and Hindus, and Jews because the the Bible says he should love EVERYone. So he loves us all the same way he loves those involved in incestuous relationships, those involved in relationships with animals, and pedophiles.
Gotcha Rick. We love you too.

cd5b32

at 17:06 on December 24th, 2008

cd5b32 has contributed a photo to this story.

politisite

at 00:39 on December 25th, 2008

Ms. Etheridge has taken an adult outlook on this. Pastor Warren is Preaching from the Bible.. These are not his words. What should one expect from a Christian who believes the whole bible is the word of God? Should he skip the parts about homosexuals? So if Pastor Warren has Most of Ms. Etheridge albums and is a big fan... Guess he isn't a gay hater... I like the fact that Ms. Etheridge called Rick up and talked with him. Isn't it prejudice if one is not willing to understand the other person? Tolerance is a two way street.

Folks seem to have a hard time with, "Love the person not the Behavior" doctrine that many Christians try to practice. Those who choose to be judgemental toward Homosexuals would do well to look at what else is condemed in the same verses... Bet folks won't be so hateful if they saw, with their own eyes, that many Christians are guilty of some of the other behaviors in those verses.

CJSteam

at 12:42 on January 5th, 2009

politisite,

If you read your Bible... Slavery is a standard in the old testament, yet the United States saw fit to end that hatred and bigotry toward Blacks. Can u show us a copy of the original Bible that uses the word 'Homosexual'? I think not! That is a word coined much more recently. I believe the Bible was referring to 'Lust', which all are guilty of at one time or another. Being Gay isn't a choice. People should never say, 'If they want to be Gay ....' It isn't a question of want. You are either born gay or not. Can a straight person change and become gay? Well, that is what that statement refers to Gay people doing.

Considering that 70% of all marriages end in divorce... after swearing 'before God & these witnesses', straight people shouldn't be so fast to through the Bible up into the face of a Gay person in a committed, monogomus relationship.

Dion (not verified)

at 12:37 on December 25th, 2008

Christians are commanded to love all others; especially fellow believers. The problem is when some members of the Gay Community try to argue that the practice of homosexuality is not sinful behavior! It is equated with other sinful behavior in scripture.

Intolerence cuts both ways: Gay people must allow people of faith to voice their views as we allow Gays to voice theirs.

TElliott2

at 10:20 on December 26th, 2008

This photo was taken at Melissa's concert in Santa Rosa, CA. It was the best concert I have ever been too. She is so amazing.
Tracy Elliott

TElliott2 has contributed a photo to this story.

darldempsey

at 08:38 on December 28th, 2008

Melissa and Philip doing their amazing guitar jam!

darldempsey has contributed a photo to this story.

Melissa Etheridge Street Team

at 13:58 on December 28th, 2008

I took this photo at the Atlantic City Christmas Concert this year. It was the unity of bringing the East and West together as Melissa Etheridge and Salman Ahmad played music together for the first time on stage. www.melissaetheridgestreetteam.com

Melissa Etheridge Street Team has contributed a photo to this story.

CJSteam

at 12:49 on January 5th, 2009

You go 'Melissa Etheridge Street Team'!! Why do people have to make it an 'us and them' issue? They have sent our country back decades, back to the days the MLK, Jr. fought for the rights of Blacks in our Country. This isn't differant. You are born Black... you are born Gay. Equal rights should be for all in the UNITED States of America. It's time to Unite again. No one is a 2nd class citizen.

Micigee (not verified)

at 14:26 on January 22nd, 2009

Intolerence does go both ways ! At my last company there were many openly gay people as well as every race of people in one place. We were given diversity training class to not offend anyone's race, age, or sexual preference. I found it odd that religion was never mentioned.

I am a christian and a republican. I was told by some friends at work to keep it to myself because the majority of employees were strong democrats. I was not one to openly display my christianity or my choice of political parties. It was discovered that I was indeed a republican and I can't tell you how many times people had to approach me with the question" How can you be a republican ? People felt free to be openly critical of the president to me, as well as just come to my desk and tell me openly how much they HATED him !

I actually had an employee asked me how I could be so ignorant ,because I was a "Republican". My christianity was not mentioned as often. I was told as a supervisor that I would not get ahead because I was an evangelical christian and the majority of gay managers would not welcome me into their group.

I never gay-bashed or bashed democrats, and as a supervisor treated ALL employees with dignity and respect. I was there to do my job , not convert anyone to christianity or the Republican party ... I was ashamed of neither , I never backed down on my beliefs if asked, but I kepted this information private. It was when I was discovered ,that I also felt "outed".

It also suprised me that this was not a private business, but a governement contracted business. They totally left religion out of diversity training.

This is America, Rick Warren's church can have any views it wants,,you don't have to join. I disagree with the some views of other religions, so I don't join their congregations..I don't agree with many democratic policies..That is why , I did not join their party..If you truly want America to be able to have choice , then quit telling private churches and other private institutions how they should believe...That is real choice for everyone,,practice what you preach people..If you want true freedom for everyone, quit telling others what they should believe.