Date: Fri, 07 Oct 94 10:09:04 EDT From: BoiseBear@aol.com By Robert Shaffer, Diveristy (tm) Idaho's lesbigay newspaper DiversityN@aol.com ==================================================== Gay Christian Minister Helps Idaho Face Proposition One AN IDAHO TOUR The Rev. Dr. Mel White of Dallas, Texas, the man who gave voice to the Radical Right movement, will be speaking in six cities throughout Idaho from October 13-16 in an effort to help raise awareness to the national implications of Idaho's anti-gay intitiative, Proposition One. Dr. White will address how Idaho's Proposition One is part of a national agenda of the Radical Right to enforce its own version of morality on our citizens. Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights, an inter-faith, ecumenical organization, is sponsoring the events which will be held mainly on college campuses in Idaho cities. These include: Boise, Twin Falls, Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Moscow and Couer d'Alene. REV. DR. MEL WHITE Mel White was a successful, best-selling Christian author and prize-winning film maker, pastor and seminary professor. He served as ghostwriter and film producer for Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, James Kennedy, Francis Schaffer, Jim Bakker and Ollie North. He was cast out of the Radical Right inner circle when he disclosed he was gay in 1991. When Communism ended and his old clients began to use the "homosexual threat" to raise money and mobilize their political forces, Mel realized that he could remain silent no longer. He has been interviewed on 60 Minutes, Larry King Live, numerous other national televisions, magazines and newspapers. Born into a conservative Christian home and educated in conservative Christian schools and churches, Mel White grew up believing that his gay feelings were sinful and worthy of death. For thirty years he fought his sexual orientation with prayer, "ex-gay" counseling, electric shock and exorcism. But, with the help of his wife Lyla, accepted himself. He is now divorced but Lyla supports him fully. They have two children and three grandchildren. He is currently living in Dallas, Texas where he is the Dean of the Cathedral, at the Metropolitan Community Church. His life story is chronicled in his book, "Stranger at the Gate," published this year by Simon and Schuster. IDAHO VOICES OF FAITH Idaho Voices of Faith was founded in Boise in 1993 with members of many faiths through out the state, including Catholics, Mormons, Methodists, Unitarians, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, etc. The group has sponsored Human Rights Day observances, Holocaust Memorial services, and clergy welcoming services. It is the first such interfaith organization in Idaho. Idaho Voices of Faith for Human Rights is opposed to Proposition One because the group feels it is divisive and its supporters attempt to wrongly use religion for political purposes. ==================================================== Submitted by BoiseBear@aol.com ====================================================