This evening, I was privileged to attend a reception for Bishop Gene Robinson, held at the remarkable 21C Museum Hotel in downtown Louisville. Someone said that the 21C was ranked by Conde Naste as the best hotel in the country, and one of the five best in the world. I don't know if this is true, but the hotel did provide a truly striking setting for the reception: a beautiful, modern penthouse suite filled with playful and provocative contemporary art. Presiding over the hotel are bright red plastic penguins (about 4 feet tall); one of these stood next to the bar in our suite.
After about an hour and a half of hors d'oeuvres and conversation, Bishop Robertson was given the opportunity to make a few remarks to everyone there (perhaps 30 people). He spoke on political matters, outlining a bit of gay lib 101; he emphasized that we should be cognizant of other 'isms' such as racism, sexism or able-ism, and we should help people who are working on those issues instead of just working on our own issue. He said he prefers the word 'heterosexism' over 'homophobia', because our opponents say they aren't afraid of homosexuals, just against homosexuality. He explained that the word 'heterosexism' emphasizes the real issue: the power that heterosexuals have to deny gay people equality. One interesting comment that Robertson made likened the process of gay people coming out to their parents, to his approaching the parental figure of the Anglican Communion--the Archbishop of Canterbury--as a gay bishop.