Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal church, on delivering the benediction at the pre-inaugural event at President Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Evangelical pastor Rick Warren gave the inaugural benediction.:

I was so honored to be asked by him to offer the invocation at the Lincoln Memorial. In some ways, it was so profoundly moving for me to be standing in the place where Dr. King delivered the “I Have A Dream” speech, where Marion Anderson sang and with Lincoln’s words behind me, you know, I didn’t care who else was praying. I was just so blessed to be asked. But it does matter. It does matter.

Image of Marion Anderson at the Lincoln Memorial via Wikicommons

I’ve been a real loud active voice in the movement to get marriage equality. And I had gone up the month before to Albany, when they were days away from that historic vote, to rally and to see who I could talk to, and just be another face out there saying let’s do the right thing here. … I had read a beautiful story in The New York Times about the couple who were getting married, and that Mayor Bloomberg was going to preside over their wedding at Gracie Mansion. And my friend called me and said, ‘They’d love to have you come and sing.’ And I was floored. I was so honored. And I cried like a baby at that ceremony. And I brought my daughter. And it was a very moving moment and a very teachable moment having my daughter there. And as far as she was concerned, it was just another wedding. She doesn’t really see the issue, which is great. So that’s how it came about. It was a beautiful day.

— Audra McDonald on performing at the first legal gay wedding in New York City