Joseph Lowery on Gay Marriage

Joseph Lowery, the other preacher at Obama's inauguration, will give the benediction and has taken a backseat to Rick Warren. Lowery opposed Prop 8, which Rick Warren supported. Still, Lowery isn't over the moon about civil marriage for gay couples. Neither is Obama for that matter. Lowery and Obama support civil unions. Warren believes that being gay is sinful and he comes from the You-Can-Cure-Yourself-Of-Being-Gay-If-You-Want-To-Be-Saved school of thought. Lowery has a significantly different view. 

Page One: Rev. Dr. Joseph E. Lowery, President-elect Obama's choice to deliver the benediction at the upcoming Inauguration, said on Tuesday that he hesitates to support civil marriage for same-sex couples. He does, however, support civil unions. Lowery will appear with Dr. Rick Warren, Saddleback Church founder and author of The Purpose-Driven Life, who is slated to deliver the invocation.

Warren has faced criticism over statements comparing same-sex relationships to incest and pedophilia. He was also a vocal supporter of California's Proposition 8. The President-elect has defended his inaugural lineup in the spirit of unity with those with whom one does not always agree.

"I differ with [Rick Warren] sharply on his position on this issue," Lowery told MSNBC's David Shuster. "I don't think we ought to put into law any discriminatory action against people because of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. I oppose that. But that doesn't stop me from being on a program with him."

Apple Jumps in To Fight Prop 8

Prop 8 is on the California ballot. It's aim is to prevent gay people from marrying. Google has come out against it and Apple is putting up $100K to fight it. Google and Apple have my loyalty.

Google and Apple and other companies are setting fine examples of social responsibility. Opposing Prop 8 is the right thing to do. I have no idea why anyone would want to be married but to take away any one's right to marry is wrong. It's prejudice acted out.

Religious people need to spend more time caring for the poor, not imposing their beliefs on everyone else. These people believe God is in their corner and only in their corner. If they spent more time practicing what their religion actually teaches, we'd all be better off. 

LAT: Reporting from San Francisco -- Apple Inc. said Friday that it was donating $100,000 to fight the proposed ban on same-sex marriages in California, taking a rare political stand that may win over some customers and irk others.

The computer and gadget maker joined such companies as Google Inc., Qualcomm Inc. and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. in declaring opposition to Proposition 8, which would define marriage as only between a man and woman.

"We strongly believe that a person's fundamental rights -- including the right to marry -- should not be affected by their sexual orientation," Apple said.

Wading into a social issue with a six-figure donation is unusual and risky for a company that sells goods primarily to consumers, according to marketing and corporate governance experts. Although Apple has long pitched itself as a counterculture brand, products such as the iPod and iPhone have brought it into the mainstream.

James Klein, a designer and writer in Newport Beach who uses many Apple products, cheered the company's stance. "It makes me feel so much better about the company I purchase from," he said.

Californians should know that those funding Prop 8 are Palinesque. Palin supports a federal ban on gay marriage. These are the wingnuts, folks, the radical extremists on the right, people who literally interpret the Bible. They are beyond rich and they have a lot of money to blow. Here is an example of one of the largest funders of Prop 8. These are the same people who oppose Obama as a Muslim terrorist. 

Vote no on Prop 8 California.