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Release Date:   March 6, 1995
Contact:        Dawn Rankin-Phelps
                (804)543-2460

Homosexual Minister on Day Twenty-One of Fast in Virginia Beach Jail

Today, the Rev. Dr. James Melville "Mel" White entered day twenty-one of his
fast of prayer and protest.  He is the former ghostwriter for Pat Robertson,
Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Ollie North and other leaders of the so-called
religious right.  Dr. White now serves as the Minister of Justice of the
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, a 32,000 member
denomination for gays and lesbians.  On Wednesday, February 15, White was
arrested for trespassing at the CBN compound after making a second attempt to
set an appointment with Pat Robertson, founder and CEO of the Christian
Broadcasting Network (CBN).
Daily since Dr. White was arrested twenty days ago, delegates from Bearing
Witness have attempted to arrange a meeting for White with Robertson while
supporters line the sidewalk along Indian River Road in solidarity with the
delegation and White's mission.  Bearing Witness is a coalition of religious
leaders and community organizations who support White's belief that gays and
lesbians are being physically, emotionally and spiritually damaged by some
religious rhetoric and untruth.  Bearing Witness is supporting White's
efforts to get Pat Robertson to do two things: to acknowledge that anti-gay
rhetoric, such as used on the 700 Club, results in violence against the gay
community and to denounce those acts of violence.  
Today over 20 people braved the cold rain to show their support of the
delegation by lining the sidewalk along Indian River Road in silent vigil
while the delegation walked to the Studio Headquarters Building.  The Bearing
Witness delegation was led by Rev. Arlene Ackerman, District Coordination
(Mid Atlantic District) of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community
Churches, who drove six hours to be with the delegation.  Rev. Ackerman, who
noted that the security guard who met the delegates was very quiet, smiling
and friendly, but nervous, said this about today's visit, "I find going over
there to be so powerful.  Continuing to do this every day is vitally
important.  What we are doing here matters.  We can't underestimate the power
of this small delegation.  We will make a difference and a change.  It
matters!"
Bearing Witness returns daily at noon, or 3 pm on Sundays, to attempt to set
up the proposed meeting between White and Robertson.  Meanwhile, Dr. White
remains in solitary confinement in the Virginia Beach City Jail until his
March 28th court date.  White states that he will continue to fast until
Robertson agrees to the meeting to discuss the suffering of God's gay and
lesbian children.  "Until Pat agrees to meet with us, I must continue to
fast."
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Scott Safier                                 Robotics Institute
internet: corwin+@cmu.edu                    Carnegie Mellon Univ.
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