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Rick Warren -- Out of the Closet!

Posted Dec 23rd 2008 12:24PM by TMZ Staff

Rick Warren, the pastor who will deliver the invocation next month for Barack Obama, apparently is doing a little image-adjusting in West Hollywood.

Rick Warren
We got this pic, taken yesterday at Out of the Closet thrift store. That's Warren on the right (naturally), his arm around Erol Sarabi, who is openly gay. Warren, who supports the ban on gay marriage which has not sat real well with some Obama supporters, bought 8 to 10 books, two of which were his own (that doesn't help with his Amazon ranking). Warren told Sarabi not to believe everything he reads, that he does a lot for AIDS research and was happy that Out of the Closet does free AIDS testing.

Warren also said he met with Melissa Etheridge recently and the two planned to have dinner together -- go figure.

By the way, Warren gave a signed copy of his book to Sarabi. The inscription from the Bible, Proverbs 19:21: "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

Tags: Inauguration, invocation, rick warren, RickWarren

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76. Warren is the latest purveyor of double think/speak. Hence he says he didn't compare homosexuality to incest and pedophilia even though he is on VIDEO comparing homosexuality to incest and pedophilia . Poof. Magick! The whole image,outdated facial hair and chins all aquiver, is more white trash/glutton than man-of-cloth/spiritual. Ghastly person! But then the Devil in his many guises is still a formidable charmer.

Posted at 12:44PM on Dec 24th 2008 by hugh briss

77. I have know Rick Warren for more then half of my life. He is one of the best men alive. He would do anything for anyone so all this media hype is COMPLETELY INVALID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted at 1:43PM on Dec 24th 2008 by LONNIE

78. WARREN'S VIEWS ARE DANGEROUS ON MANY LEVELS. THIS MAN HAS EQUATED WOMEN WHO HAVE ABORTIONS TO NAZIS! HE BELIEVES THAT GAYS INVALIDATE DARWINS THEORY OF EVOLUTION. hE ALSO BELIEVES THAT THE MAN SHOULD BE THE LEADER OF THE FAMILY AND THE WIFE SUBMISSIVE. wIFE SHOULD NEVER QUESTION HER HUSBAND EVEN IF HE IS WRONG. READ LA TIMES OPINION SECTION FROM MONDAY. HE MIGHT BE DOING THIS FOR PR. LOOK AT HIS PREVIOUSLY STATED VIEWS BEFORE THE ELECTION. JUST BECAUSE HE DOES CHARITY, HELPS WITH AIDS,ETC HIS HATEFUL IDEAS SHOULDN'T BE IGNORED.

Posted at 8:27PM on Dec 24th 2008 by RICKWARRENISABIGOT

79. I'm gay and I need MORE attention.

Posted at 8:29PM on Dec 24th 2008 by toomanydoggies

80. i saw erol on the cbs early show and i really like him hes smart articulate and his eyes are incredible.....why dont u guys at tmz bring him on board over there.....he could give dax a run for his money lol and it would be good to have an openly gay guy whos as cute as your other men on there too

Posted at 8:30AM on Jan 17th 2009 by mark

81. I think Warren is trying to show that he is not your typical evangelical hate preaching idiot, i.e. Farwell, Dobson and the likes. If he is true to what he's said over the last few days, he is doing What Jesus would have wanted him to do. Jesus never would have treated gays the way some Christians do. I believe and have always believed that Jesus would have concentrated his actiona and message around love for everyone, whether straight, gay or other. If the Bible is accurate, and most of us Christans think that it is, I never read that Jesus condemn gays. He instructed us to love our brothers, and that includes gays, and God will be the only judge of our actions. We as Christians do not have the power to change men, but we do have the power to love them.

Posted at 3:45AM on Dec 25th 2008 by joey

82. "He looks like a bear hugging on his cub....gay love how sweet...he is such a closeted gay"

It's comments like that that CAUSES homophobia. People will stop hugging on gay people because people like you will call them gay.

That's so Jr. Highish and bigoted.

Posted at 7:34AM on Dec 25th 2008 by Kevin

83. If the gay community knows that bo is a racist due to his cult racist church that he takes his children to what would make you think that he is tolerant?

Posted at 9:35PM on Jan 13th 2009 by Big Will

84. I think RW is allegedly the most closeted gay in the world. He's mananged to build an empire on evangelical christianity and so now there's no turning back. Where's the best place to hide? Out in the open...who'd ever think of looking there? If so, he's, brilliant, though his light is still under a bushel.

Posted at 3:44PM on Dec 26th 2008 by ignacious

85. Rick Warren is awesome! He does so many amazing things for the community (gay or straight -rich or poor- black or white) He practices what he preaches and what he believes in. It's the angry gay community that looks bad here! Not Rick! Truth is people can agree to disagree and can be civil about it! Just stop acting like children and get over it!

Yay for Rick Warren! Yay fo Obama for asking him to be at the inauguration!

Posted at 12:25AM on Dec 27th 2008 by Veggiegrl

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