We did a double take upon hearing that members of the Virginia General Assembly objected to the prayer that opened the session this past Friday. Then we learned about the content of the prayer. We were less surprised.

During her invocation, Rev. Deborah Peevey was heard to say, “Holy One, convict those who are using their power not to lead or to guide but to harm the gay and lesbian citizens, a small minority in this commonwealth.”

According to the AP, via the Richmond Times-Dispatch, that didn’t sit well with conservatives, who took offense to the idea that they were using their power to harm gays and lesbians in Virginia. Republican Delegate Kathy J. Byron said as much. “I thought it was very inappropriate myself,” said Byron, a Republican of Campbell. “This individual basically said we were using our power to harm gay or lesbian citizens.”

This, from an assembly that recently embraced constitutional ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions, and that only narrowly defeated legislation prohibiting gays and lesbians from adopting children. And let’s not forget the bill about traditional marriage license plates.

Perhaps Del. Byron, or other members of the assembly could make the case that legalizing their inequality actually helps gays and lesbians in Virginia. We’d like to see them try. It might be amusing. Rev. Peevey may not have gotten many “Amens” from the Virginia delegates, but she gets one from this DCist.