Warren's Inauguration Role Angers Gay Leaders

Gay-rights groups are fuming over Barack Obama's selection of evangelist Rick Warren to perform the invocation at his inauguration ceremony, Politico reports. Warren opposed California's recently defeated Proposition 8 that would have legalized gay marriage. His selection may help Obama mend fences with conservative voters, but gay activists say they feel insulted and won't let it pass quietly.

“(We) feel a deep level of disrespect when one of architects and promoters of an anti-gay agenda is given the prominence and the pulpit of your historic nomination," the leader of the Human Rights Campaign wrote to the president-elect. “It’s a huge mistake,” said another activist. “He’s really the wrong person to lead the president into office. (More Rick Warren stories.)