Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 21:51:53 -0500
From: tillery@infi.net (Garland Tillery)
Subject: Robertson Fulfills One of Mel White's Requests

Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 11:40:52 -0500

 A Bearing Witness News Release, March 30, 1995

 PAT ROBERTSON CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST GAYS AND LESBIANS

 Virginia Beach (March 29, 1995)
           During the 27th minute of today's '700 Club' broadcast, Pat
 Robertson took the first step in responding to the request made by Dr. Mel
 White during their meeting in the Virginia Beach City Jail, March 8, 1995.

  "We abhor violence against homosexuals," the televangelist said quietly.
 "...We would counsel strongly -- in relation to homosexuality -- that you can
 hold your religious beliefs without beating people up and being violent."

         "It is a small but very real victory," said Dr. White from his home
 in Texas where he is recuperating from the prison fast.   White, once
 Robertson's ghost writer, now a national minister with the Universal
 Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches,  fasted 23 days urging
 Robertson to acknowledge and condemn hate crimes against "God's gay and
 lesbian children."

       "I congratulate Pat on saying the words we've waited so long to hear,"
 White added,  "Now I urge him also to meet with the Bearing Witness/ PFLAG
 delegation.  If Pat will take just one hour of his time to meet with gay and
 lesbian people and with our friends and families, he will begin to see that
 we are not a threat to this nation or its values.  Quite to the contrary, we
 are loyal and loving Americans who have been demeaned and dehumanized by
 Pat's misinformation campaign."

        When asked if he would continue his crusade against the antigay
 rhetoric, White added, "We've just begun.  The false and inflammatory
 teachings of Robertson, Falwell, Kennedy, and the others pollutes the
 national environment.  Their untrue words and the intolerant political
 actions by Pat's Christian Coalition lead directly to discrimination,
 suffering and death.  We must continue to use every possible means to
 confront and condemn their untrue, un-American and un-Christian campaign
 against us."

     On Monday, March 27, Dr. White met in Virginia Beach with more than 100
 volunteers from  Bearing Witness, the interfaith clergy and laity who
 mobilized to support White's confrontation with Pat Robertson.  Under the
 motto, "Let truth prevail," the Bearing Witness team is monitoring the
 televangelist's anti-gay rhetoric and preparing a long-term, nationwide
 campaign against it.  (Anyone who wants to join in that campaign can contact
 Mel White or Dawn Rankin-Phelps at the numbers listed below.)

       On Tuesday, March 28, in the Virginia Beach Criminal Court, Dr. White
 learned that Robertson had dropped the "trespassing" charge against him.
  "That means," White said smiling broadly to reporters, "that I can go back
 to CBN at any time to visit my old friend Pat to congratulate or confront
 him.  He knows we're monitoring every word he says, every fundraising letter
 he mails, every political action he inspires.  Maybe next time we sit down
 together it won't have to be in jail."


      FOR MORE INFORMATION OR INTERVIEWS CONTACT:
          For Dr. Mel White-
             Fax requests directly to 214-875-4858.
          For the Bearing Witness/PFLAG delegation
             Contact Dawn Rankin-Phelps 804-543-2460.