31 Facts About Gene Robinson

Vicky Gene Robinson was born on May 29,1947 and is a retired bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire.

Gene Robinson is widely known for being the first openly gay priest to be consecrated a bishop in a major Christian denomination believing in the historic episcopate, a matter of significant controversy.

In 2010, Gene Robinson announced his intention to retire in 2013 at 65.

Gene Robinson's parents were poor tenant farmers who worked in the tobacco fields as sharecroppers.

When Gene Robinson was born, he was so seriously ill that the doctor was certain he would not survive.

Gene Robinson was temporarily paralyzed from birth and his head was misshapen.

Gene Robinson's parents were members of a small Disciples of Christ congregation.

Gene Robinson chose the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, in 1965 because they offered him a full scholarship.

Gene Robinson intended to study towards a medical degree but decided to major in American studies.

Gene Robinson received his degree in 1973 and was ordained a deacon in June 1973 at the cathedral of the diocese of Newark, New Jersey.

Gene Robinson served as curate at Christ Church in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and was ordained a priest six months later.

Gene Robinson and Boo's first daughter, Jamee, was born in 1977, followed by a second daughter, Ella, in 1981.

Gene Robinson came out to his and Boo's friends in 1986 and he sold his share in the business to Boo.

In November 1987, Gene Robinson met his partner, Mark Andrew, while on vacation in St Croix.

Gene Robinson became Canon to the Ordinary in 1988, the executive assistant to the then bishop of New Hampshire, Douglas Theuner.

Gene Robinson remained in this job for the next seventeen years until he was elected bishop.

Gene Robinson was elected bishop by the New Hampshire diocese on June 7,2003, at St Paul's Church in Concord.

Consent to the election of Robinson was given in August at the 2003 General Convention.

The General Convention of 2003 became the center for debate over Robinson's election, as conservatives and liberals within the Church argued over whether Robinson should be allowed to become bishop.

Gene Robinson won the first two of three votes required for his election to be ratified, but allegations suddenly arose in August 2003 that Gene Robinson had inappropriately touched a male parishioner and had connections with OutRight.

Gene Robinson was already known to be associated with Outright, a secular organization for the support of young LGBT people.

The security was strong: just as Barbara Harris had to wear a bullet-proof vest at her consecration, Gene Robinson was showing his bullet-proof vest to Harris herself.

Gene Robinson was consecrated on November 2,2003, in the presence of Frank Griswold, Presiding Bishop, and six co-consecrating bishops: 48 bishops in all.

Reports from Britain describe how Gene Robinson has received death threats, had to wear bulletproof vests, and needed protection since his election and consecration.

In February 2006, Gene Robinson was treated at an inpatient rehabilitation facility to deal with his "increasing dependence on alcohol".

Gene Robinson was featured prominently in a documentary film entitled For the Bible Tells Me So, which screened at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.

Gene Robinson did however visit the United Kingdom privately in July 2008, during which he participated in a film screening and question and answer session with Sir Ian McKellen at the Royal Festival Hall, and was invited to preach at St Mary's Putney, events which attracted much media attention.

Gene Robinson asked the rest of the congregation, most of whom greeted the interruption with slow-clapping, to "pray for that man", before completing his sermon.

The Primate of the Episcopal Church of the Sudan, Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, on July 22 at a public press conference during the 2008 Lambeth Conference called for Gene Robinson to resign, and for all those who had participated in his consecration to confess their sin to the conference.

In 2009 Gene Robinson was selected to deliver the invocation at the kickoff event of President Barack Obama's inaugural weekend.

From 2017 to 2021, Gene Robinson served as Vice President and Senior Pastor of the Chautauqua Institution, a center for arts, education, recreation and religion in upstate New York.