The most pro-gay presidential inauguration ceremony in history concluded Monday (21 January) concluded with a benediction from an Episcopalian priest who included gays as among those created in God’s image.

The Rev. Luis Leon of St. John’s Church, located across the street from the White House, prayed that ‘with your blessing, we can see each other created in your image, a unit of God’s grace, unprecedented, irrepeatable and irreplaceable.’

‘We pray for your blessing because without it, we will see only what the eye can see. But with the blessing of your blessing we will see that we are created in your image, whether brown, black or white, male or female, first generation or immigrant American, or daughter of the American Revolution, gay or straight, rich or poor.’

Leon’s inclusive words came after Robert Blanco, a gay man, delivered the inaugural poem and after President Barack Obama gave an address that mentioned gays and lesbians as well as the Stonewall riots which sparked the modern day gay rights movement.

Leon replaced original choice Louie Giglio who dropped out of the program after a controversy arose over an anti-gay sermon he gave in the mid-90s.

Giglio had stated that homosexuality is a sin, that homosexuals are going to hell and he endorsed ex-gay reparative therapy in the sermon, comparing homosexuality to things like alcoholism and overeating.

Below is video of Leon’s benediction: