Photo: Roger Erickson
Our Out 100 honoree for Newsmaker of the Year, Bishop Gene Robinson, is apparently President-Elect Barack Obama's go-to guy for the toughest of questions: How do you survive being "the first"?
As the first out, non-celibate priest to be ordained a bishop in a major Christian denomination, Robinson has had plenty to endure, including death threats (he wore bulletproofing under his vestments at his ordination ceremony) and angry and virulent calls for his resignation from conservative bishops from around the world. A Times UK piece this weekend revealed that Obama three times sought out Bishop Robinson for a little reassurance.
As Robinson told the Times:
"The first words out of his mouth were: 'Well you're certainly causing a lot of trouble', My response to him was: ‘Well that makes two of us'."
Robinson's advice to Obama was straightforward:
"At the end of the day you have to decide whether or not you are going to be paralysed by threats and by violent possibilities or whether you just move on and do what you feel called to do despite the risks."
Read more about Robinson at the Out 100, and go to Out.com to see exclusive behind the scenes video.
Previously > Meet your President-Elect
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