Dateline: 10/22/99
Let's Get Ready to Rumble: White vs. Falwell
Gentlemen, start your engines.
A historic debate is taking place in Lynchburg, Virginia on October 23, 1999. One of the most conservative and outspoken representatives of the religious right, Rev. Jerry Falwell, will meet with the Rev. Mel White, co-founder of Soulforce, Inc. and a credentialed MCC minister.
The meeting comes on the heels of a series of letters from Mel White challenging Falwell on his views and statements, while asking a series of questions in an attempt to start this type of dialogue.
Soulforce is a self-described ecumenical group that "takes a page from the civil rights movement of the sixties and applies principles of nonviolence to advance gay rights."
Falwell and White plan to discuss how to end the "war of words" that has always characterized the interactions between Rev. Jerry Falwell and the gay community, as the gay community has seemingly been constantly required to respond to homophobic statements by Falwell.
This meeting is not being ignored - in fact it's big press. To add to the mix, each party has brought with them delegations of 200 individuals and the media feeding frenzy has started.
For example, the Rev. Mel White appeared on Good Morning America Friday, Oct. 22; he will be on the Saturday, Oct. 23rd edition of the Today Show, and is also scheduled to make an appearance on PBS. Major news stories have been printed in The New York Times, Washington Post and Village Voice and White has already met with editors from Time magazine and U.S. News & World Report.
The majority of Soulforce’s activities for that weekend will be in the form of community outreach. For example, the Soulforce delegation is contributing $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity in Lynchburg and will also donate cans and packages of food to Lynchburg food banks. A candle light vigil and memorial services for victims of hate crimes is also scheduled.
Soulforce delegates plan on participating in advanced training in nonviolence. They are also encouraged by the prayers and well wishes of those who could not join them in this journey.
The Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Vice Moderator of UFMCC, said, "I’m thrilled that Rev. Mel White is bringing Soulforce to bear on one of this country’s most outspoken conservative religious leaders, the Rev. Jerry Falwell. We applaud the willingness of both Rev. Jerry Falwell and Mel White to participate in this dialogue." Rev. Wilson once engaged in a debate with Rev. Falwell several years ago on the Ron Reagan, Jr. Show, and believes that "We must move from debate to dialogue. We believe this event will create a reduction in religious hate rhetoric. I applaud the 200 courageous people who are participating in this historic event."
This event is not exclusive to the United States, or even the American continent. The Rev. Elder Hong Tan, Pastor of MCC London, is in Lynchburg representing the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches’ (UFMCC) Board of Elders and the General Council. He said, "UFMCC endorses and celebrates this courageous effort. We’re very proud of Rev. Mel White, the former UFMCC Justice Minister and current MCCLA member. He and his delegation of 200 are sending a clear message to the world that peaceful and positive demonstrations, in the spirit of Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. can still get results even today."
While the world is watching, not everybody is happy. On either "side."
Bob Kunst is a gay activist from Florida who believes that "White has compromised himself and is trying to take the rest of us down with him" by engaging in any conversation with Falwell, who has gone far beyond "hating the sin" in some of his public comments.
Falwell's type of folk aren't that happy either. Fred Phelps, infamous owner of the "GodHatesFags.com" domain, home of some of the most vile hate speech on the net, condemns both Falwell and White for the event. Phelps believes that Falwell is sinning to an even greater than White. In Phelps' belief system, White commits sins for which he should be put to death, while Falwell is committing an even worse sin for meeting with such a sinner.
Isn't it nice to know that regardless of what happens, some things never change?
In Pride,
Deborah
P.S. Check back later this week for additions to our "Hate Mail" section.
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