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Lecturer urges homosexual awareness

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Dr. Mel White spoke at the Fasnacht lecture. The title of his speech was “Stranger at the Gate,” in which he talked about his life as a Christian homosexual living in America. He concluded with a short story about a bird and a bat and said, “we may be different, but we are friends.” / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Dr. Mel White spoke at the Fasnacht lecture. The title of his speech was “Stranger at the Gate,” in which he talked about his life as a Christian homosexual living in America. He concluded with a short story about a bird and a bat and said, “we may be different, but we are friends.” / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Martha I. Fernandez
Managing Editor

Spreading his message of truth and love to end injustice towards homosexuals, Dr. Mel White, this fall’s Fasnacht lecturer, shared his personal story, Tuesday, in his speech and led a panel discussion that evening.

Dr. White, a gay Christian, has reconciled his sexual orientation and faith. He dedicates his life to informing others that “God loves gay and lesbian children, too.”

In his lecture, Dr. White shared his personal struggle with his sexuality with the Founder’s Auditorium audience.

He went through years of anti-gay therapy, including fasting, prayer and exorcism. Also, Dr. White married and formed a family with hopes of ridding himself of his homosexuality.

“Since I was 13 or 14 years old I prayed and fasted that God would forgive me and take away all this stuff that I didn’t understand,” he said.

Frustrated with his homosexuality and religious beliefs, Dr. White even pondered suicide as the avenue to end his suffering.

“Then one day I found myself picking up a coat hanger and opened the wire and began to slash my wrist,” he said. “I didn’t want to work at it anymore, I wanted to kill it.”

It took his wife’s words for him to accept and live with his homosexuality, “Mel, don’t you think it is time you choose life? Regardless of your homosexuality, we all want you to live.”

After he separated from his wife, Dr. White read religious, scientific and homosexual literature. His studying took him to the conclusion that “God is on the side of justice, the creator is on the side of truth.”

“Gays and lesbians throughout history have been at the heart and spiritual life of this great planet,” he said.

In his lecture, Dr. White did not condemn those who are against homosexuality, but referred to them as “victims of misinformation.”

Stories and examples were used throughout to illustrate the injustice and unjustified stereotypes associated with homosexuals. Dr. White shared with the audience that 97 percent of child molestation is instigated by heterosexuals in the child’s family. Also, one out of three runaway children who have fled their homes after being disowned by their families is gay and in one out of three teen suicides, the individual is gay.

“All this untruth is killing,” he said. “Look at all the young lives that are being killed because of all the misinformation floating around.”

Dr. White closed with a story about a bat who lived among a robin family and didn’t understand why it was so different. Later, it finds its natural family and goes back to thank the robins who took care of it. With this story, Dr. White expressed, “we are so different, but we are friends.”

Senior Gabriela Tempestoso said it was this story that touched her the most, “with his story about the bat he showed how everyone is different, but needs to be accepted.”

It was this theme that dominated the panel discussion that evening in La Fetra Lecture Hall. A panel of individuals who have dealt with homosexuality and its issues shared experiences and voiced opinions.

Dr. Dan Campana, associate professor of philosophy and religion, stated that the purpose of the panel discussion was “not to bring extremes of the issues, but people who are working through this from the same perspective.”

The seven-member panel included Charles Boyer, senior pastor from the La Verne Church of the Brethren; Dr. Jim Dunne, professor of education; Dr. Kim Martin, associate professor of behavioral science; senior Skip Sams, sophomore Shannon Beets and Dr. White.

Each panel member shared his or her personal testimony while cards and pencils were passed out to the audience for questions to be written down.

Boyer spoke about his congregation’s acceptance towards people of any sexual orientation. In response to a question about whether the Church would accept gays and lesbians into the ministry, he said “If you are here tonight and you are a gay or lesbian person who wants to consider the ministry, I’d love to talk to you and encourage you and try to support you.”

Dr. Martin spoke about the privilege and honor of being the adviser of the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Student Union and a professor who teaches sexual issues. She also spoke of a past female student who had a crush on her.

“We talked about it and she knew I didn’t have any feelings for her, but she really didn’t have anybody to turn to about this issue.

“She really needed a group like the one that we founded last year by a group of courageous students.”

Dr. Dunne spoke about his personal struggle with his sexual orientation and Christian faith. It was not until recently that he could feel supported by the Church. “I’m thrilled when I see a communion of people who welcome gays,” he said. “Maybe sometime soon I will end my fight with religion and my spiritual quest.”

Sams shared childhood memories that he has remembered throughout his life, such as singing “Jesus loves me” when he was three years old and seeing a wedding announcement for two gay men in the newspaper.

Sams also expressed gratitude for being allowed to join the panel. “I feel privileged to sit here as a person,” he said.

Beets expressed the confusion of coming out of the closet. “A year ago I thought I was a straight pre-law major, and in the last year I have decided that really, in my heart, I am a bisexual religion and philosophy major.”

Dr. White emphasized the importance of the Tuesday Supreme Court hearing on Colorado’s Amendment Two and urged the audience to write to the justices to halt the proposal.

The amendment would eliminate any protection for gays and lesbians and deny homosexuals the right to appeal to the court for injustices they suffer.

“Today is the most important day [in gay history] since Stonewall,” he said.

He also commended the University for allowing a forum for people to feel free to reveal themselves. “Your voices to each other are so much more important than my voice to you.

“You’ve created an environment where people can disagree amicably,” said Dr. White.

Martha I. Fernandez, Features Editor
Martha I. Fernandez
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