By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Gay New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson has joined those saying they don't want pastor Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at Barack Obama's inauguration. Robinson's intolerance is disappointing.

After all, Robinson's relationship with another man has deeply split the Episcopalian Church. Its decision to allow a gay man to become a bishop has cost the church tens of thousands of members in America.

I'm a member of the Episcopalian Church and have no problems with the Robinson decision.

However, Robinson's views on Warren surprise me.

Warren's latest sin, in Robinson's eye, was campaigning for Proposition 8, a California constitutional amendment that passed in November to ban same-sex marriages.

"In some ways he's a very brave person, but he's woefully wrong about the issue of homosexuality," Robinson said of Warren. "He needs to be confronted about the lies he told about gay people to the people of California."

But remember, a majority of Californians opposed same-sex marriage -- just as do the majority of voters in Missouri and other states that have outlawed gay marriages.

Robinson says it's wrong for Warren to appear in front of tens of millions of Americans on Inauguration Day.

Yet look at the issue a different way.

The controversy over Warren has spotlighted the inclusiveness of an Obama administration. That's a good thing.

And the controversy has prompted Robinson and many others in the gay community to speak out and get attention for their causes.

Again, a good thing.

Let's hope Obama does not back down and, despite pressure from gays, allows Warren to speak on Jan. 20.

His words just might surprise and gratify some people.