Many of our 'friends' at DU seem to be having trouble understanding why we silly GLBTers won't 'get over' the Warren insult and trust Obama to do the right thing (even though he's never said he'd do the right thing by us), so I'm introducing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to maybe help explain why we're so pissed off over this 'little slight'.

Maslow stated that there is a hierarchy of needs that must be met with the basest needs coming first, followed by more intangible needs after. Without the needs of the previous tier being satisfied, it is impossible to fully achieve the next one. Pretty simple theory, really, but also very accurate.

Now that everyone should understand the concept, look at where "SEX" comes in. That's right, its in the first tier. Our need for sex is one of the basic necessities for moving forward toward self-actualization. Rick Warren and his circle of hate mongers is trying to stop us from experiencing a need that in many ways in on level with breathing and eating.

Of course, most of us ignore Warren and do have sex - for now that's not quite illegal for us (anymore), so we get to move to level two. But what do we find there? Ah yes, a need to be free from the fear of physical attack. I understand that most straight people don't think much about the fact that GLBTers ALWAYS have to worry about showing too much affection in public. They don't realize that all it takes is one ignorant thug in a crowd of thousands seeing a simple kiss or a held hand to create a violent scene in some darkened street. Then there is the security inherent in marriage, a right forcefully ripped from us by proposal 8, legislation spearheaded by Rick Warren.

Still many of us learn to live with the possibility of stalkers and gay-bashers to move onto tier three - Social needs. Once again, Warren and his hateful ilk work tirelessly to keep us from being part of the social fabric of this country. We are called perverts - no better than child rapists and animal molesters. They say we're not to be trusted with our nieces and nephews because of our 'predilections'. They work to make you fear us, or at least have doubts.

Some, but not nearly many as should, can find a home with family and friends who have resisted Warren's hate filled message so they get to move to tier four. Self esteem and reputation are tricky for any teenager but for a GLBT teen who hears constant reinforcement of the fundamentalists' beliefs when their called fags and dykes is incredible. When they are threatened for being too effeminate or for 'looking at me funny' they lose their self esteem and often their public reputation is taken with it. This works the exact same way at work in adulthood. Homophobic co-workers and bosses who can't promote you because of the 'sensitive' work environment effectively pushes us into the closet destroying our self esteem.

Very few are ever allowed past tier four to experience the benefits of the other levels because people like Rick Warren work night and day to ensure that our lives are kept as basic and primitive as possible. They want us to suffer, they want us to live in fear. We are an example of their power over others and they want everyone to see the public face of their hatred. They want everyone to view our humiliation and helplessness and shining a spotlight on Warren at the inauguration has shone a spotlight on his power over the GLBT community.

Barack Obama has honored a man who just worked to successfully take a basic human right - a tier two need - from us. He will begin his administration with words from a man who wants to take away, by force, our most basic needs. That is so unacceptable to us that we must speak out - loudly. It is our very survival.

Now, I know many of our 'friends' here will come in with the usual talking points - "It's just two bloody minutes"..."You're being intolerant of other people's beliefs"..."You need to trust Obama to do the right thing"..."It's a plan by Obama to prove he's not a Muslim"... - but I hope there are at least a few who can look at this chart and see what people like Warren are trying to take from us, where they're trying to keep us, and how Obama's invitation plays into their hands. I know I'll be subject to the usual flames, but perhaps a little understanding will happen as well.