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MEL WHITE, author of "STRANGER AT THE GATE: TO BE GAY AND CHRISTIAN IN
AMERICA," appears in the RAINBOW CAFE on America Online, Tuesday, January
23, 10 PM Eastern (7 PM Pacific). (AOL Keyword: RAINBOW)

On February 15, 1995, Dr. Mel White was arrested for "trespassing" at Pat
Robertsons' Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) Center. The story of his
arrest, his 22 day prison fast, and the "little victory" that followed
made news across the nation.

Until Christmas Eve 1991, Mel White was regarded by the leaders of the
religious right as one of their most talented and productive supporters.
He penned the speeches of Ollie North. He was a ghostwriter for Jerry
Falwell, worked with Jim Bakker, flew in Pat Robertson's private jet, and
walked sandy beaches with Billy Graham. What these men didn't know was
that Mel White -- evangelical minister, committed Christian, family man --
was gay.

In this remarkable book, Mel White details his 25 years of being
counseled, exorcised, electric-shocked, prayed for, and nearly driven to
suicide because his church said homosexuality was wrong. But his salvation
-- to be openly gay and Christian -- is more than a unique coming-out
story. It is a chilling revelation that goes into the secret meetings and
hidden agendas of the religious right. Told by an eyewitness, sure to
anger those Mel White once knew best, STRANGER AT THE GATE is a warning
about where the politics of hate may lead America...a brave book by a good
man whose works can make us richer in spirit, and much wiser, too.

"Across this country," Mel explains, "our gay brothers and lesbian sisters
are the victims of a tidal wave of intolerance, discrimination, and
violent crime flowing directly out of the anti-gay rhetoric and political
actions of the radical right. We Christians, gay and straight alike, must
take our stand to help end that suffering. The 'soul force' principles of
Gandhi and King will guide us on that journey to justice....Until this
nation accepts God's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered children as
full members of the human family, we must go on telling the truth in love,
whatever it might cost us."

During their first 36 months as gay activists, Dr. White and his partner,
Gary Nixon, have traveled to 36 states, speaking, organizing, lobbying,
confronting extremists, meeting the press, and protesting injustice. After
spending three years in the front lines of this war by the radical right,
and after a year-long study of his nonviolent resistance heroes, Dr. White
is now writing a sequel to STRANGER AT THE GATE called STORMING THE GATE,
A GAY CHRISTIAN DISCOVERS SOUL FOURCE.

PRAISE FOR "STRANGER AT THE GATE":
"A powerful call to tear down humanly built gates that needlessly
exclude....White's compelling story typifies the painful struggles too
many lesbian and gay Christians experience." --"San Antonio Express-News"

"White's ability to reconcile his divergent identities, as preacher and
gay man, gives his voice a unique, impassioned confidence....He seeks
acceptance and civil rights for other gay men and lesbians, yet also wants
to deliver his fellow Christians from their own hatred." --"Kirkus
Reviews"

"[Mel White is] perhaps the finest writer I know....A man of integrity and
fairness." --Jerry Falwell to Daniel Cattau of the "Dallas Morning News"

/s/ Deacon Maccubbin

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