Release Date:	March 7, 1995
Contact:	Dawn Rankin-Phelps
		(804)543-2460

Jailed Homosexual Minister Begins 4th week of Fast

Today, Mel White begins the 4th week of his jail fast to protest the anti-gay
rhetoric of Pat Robertson, the 700 Club and the Christian Coalition.

On February 15, Dr. White was arrested for "trespassing" at CBN Center, the
televangelist's world headquarters in Virginia Beach, VA.  After refusing for
20 months to meet with White, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches Minister of Justice returned in person with an interfaith
delegation of 12 clergy and lay leaders.

Today, over 30 people lined the sidewalk along Indian River Road in silent
vigil supporting the delegates of Bearing Witness who delivered a message
from White to Pat Robertson.  "We had hoped that Robertson would meet with
us," says the Rev. Bob Bradford, a retired Presbyterian minister and member
of White's delegation.  We are desperate to discuss with him the current rise
in hate crimes against God's gay and lesbian children (my own son included)
and how he may be helping to incite those crimes with his false and dangerous
rhetoric."

During the 21 days of White's prison fast, Robertson's spokesman, Gene Kapp
has insisted that the televangelist has said nothing negative about
homosexuals and that he stands against all violence.  White is available in
the Virginia Beach City Jail for print, radio and television interviews.
 Call Captain J. Cox (804) 427-4850.  A letter written by Mel White, from
jail yesterday, to Gene Kapp is available upon request.

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