Possibly you read Melissa's Etheridge's 2008 Christmas greeting to the gay community.  It is widely published on the web, on Huffpo in particular.  She met Rick Warren and she is moved by him and has asked gay people to do charity work to for HIV/AIDS (though I would suggest to work against HIV/AIDS) instead of protesting this coming week.  Her message is disturbing on so many levels that I can't help but respond. 

Melissa Etheridge message includes ~ Maybe in our anger, as we consider marches and boycotts, perhaps we can consider stretching out our hands. 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.   Maybe if they get to know us, they wont fear us. 

The mere assumption that we would be marching out of anger is just over the top.  Effective people march out of love.  Forgive me for pointing to the obvious; King, Gandhi, Chavez and, very likely, YOU.  We march out of love.  We march, keep vigil, fast.  We know that doing so out of love is the only way to make any inroads.  And is she "showing up?"  Her message says she, and her family, will be attending the inauguration.  Her wife and kids will be in D.C. 

Secondly, I had expected more from Ms. Etheridge until I saw her on Oprah,  Melissa's partner is not a supporter of Marriage Equality.  How odd it was to see Melissa trying to interrupt her and cover. We all know this is a family that can afford an attorney to draw up papers for inheritance, estate planning, adoption.  My guess is that any ER or maternity ward would not deny either partner access in THIS FAMILY. 

The final thing, which hurts even more, is that Melissa is not taking into her heart all of the groups Pastor Warren speaks against.  We are more than gay.  We are human beings.  We are citizens of the world.
Rick Warren ~

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  holds women in second class positions in marriage

  
  
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  teaches that even abuse is no reason to divorce

  
  
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  women who have had abortions are Nazis and their wombs are Auschwitz

I want to stand in front of M.E. and say, "I am a bi-sexual woman who is divorced and has had two abortions, exactly which parts of me should be ok with Pastor Rick?"  We are complex human beings and the march of love is inclusive.  We do not seek to dissect ourselves but honor all segments of who we are, our society and our world.  I am more than gay - I am a woman, who believes no one is free until all of us are free.  I will miss Melissa's music lifting my heart.