# Mel White

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American clergyman and author (born 1940)

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Mel White White in 1995 Born James Melville White[1] (1940-06-26) June 26, 1940 (age 86)[1] Santa Clara, California, U.S.[1] Alma mater Warner Pacific College University of Portland Occupations Author clergyman activist Spouses Lyla Lee Loehr ​ ​ (m. 1962; div. 1982)​ Gary Nixon ​ ​ (m. 2008; died 2024)​ Children 2, including Mike White

**James Melville White** (born June 26, 1940) is an American clergyman and author. White was a behind-the-scenes member of the [Evangelical](/source/Evangelicalism) Protestant movement through the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, writing film and television specials and [ghostwriting](/source/Ghostwriting) autobiographies for [televangelists](/source/Televangelist) such as [Jerry Falwell](/source/Jerry_Falwell), [Pat Robertson](/source/Pat_Robertson), and [Billy Graham](/source/Billy_Graham). After years of writing for the [Christian right](/source/Christian_right), he [came out](/source/Coming_out) as gay in 1994[2] and devoted himself full-time to minister to [lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people](/source/LGBT_community), also writing extensively on the subject of [gay Christians](/source/Christianity_and_homosexuality).

## Life and career

White was born in Santa Clara, California, the son of Faythe Alvera (Rear) and Olin "Carl" White.[3] White graduated from [Warner Pacific College](/source/Warner_Pacific_College) and married Lyla Lee Loehr. They had two children, one of whom is the actor and filmmaker [Mike White](/source/Mike_White_(filmmaker)).

After receiving his BA from [Warner Pacific College](/source/Warner_Pacific_College), then graduating with an MA in communications from the [University of Portland](/source/University_of_Portland), White followed with graduate work in communications and film at [University of Southern California](/source/University_of_Southern_California), [UCLA](/source/UCLA), and [Harvard](/source/Harvard). He received his [Doctorate of Ministry](/source/Doctor_of_Ministry) from, and was a professor of communications and preaching for over a decade at [Fuller Theological Seminary](/source/Fuller_Theological_Seminary). During this time he also worked as an [evangelical](/source/Evangelism) pastor.

After their marriage, White admitted to his wife that he had always been attracted to men. He embarked on a long process of attempted ['cures' for his homosexuality](/source/Conversion_therapy), including [psychotherapy](/source/Psychotherapy), prayer, [electroconvulsive therapy](/source/Electroconvulsive_therapy), and [exorcism](/source/Exorcism). None of these techniques changed his attraction to men, and after he attempted [suicide](/source/Suicide), he and his wife agreed to an amicable divorce. His son [Mike](/source/Mike_White_(filmmaker)) is bisexual.[4]

In 1984, White began dating Gary Nixon. In 1994, White wrote his autobiography, *Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay And Christian In America*, which detailed his former career in the [Religious Right](/source/Christian_right) and his struggle coming to terms with his [sexuality](/source/Sexual_orientation). His ex-wife wrote the foreword to this book. His latest book, *Holy Terror: Lies the Christian Right Tells To Deny Gay Equality* was released in hardback as *Religion Gone Bad: Hidden Dangers from the Christian Right*.

After coming out, White transferred his clergy credentials to the gay-affirming [Metropolitan Community Church](/source/Metropolitan_Community_Church).

In 1997, White was awarded the [American Civil Liberties Union](/source/American_Civil_Liberties_Union)'s National Civil Liberties Award for his efforts to apply the "soul force" principles of [Mahatma Gandhi](/source/Mahatma_Gandhi) and [Martin Luther King Jr.](/source/Martin_Luther_King_Jr.) to the struggle for justice for sexual minorities. He founded [Soulforce](/source/Soulforce_(organization)), a gay advocacy group, in 1998.

On June 18, 2008, White and Nixon were the first same-sex couple legally married at [All Saints Episcopal Church (Pasadena, California)](/source/All_Saints_Episcopal_Church_(Pasadena%2C_California)) following the May 16, 2008 action of the [Supreme Court of California](/source/Supreme_Court_of_California) overturning the [state's ban on same-sex marriage](/source/2008_California_Proposition_8).[5] Nixon died on August 12, 2024.[6]

## Writings and works

White [ghostwrote](/source/Ghostwriting) several books for fellow evangelicals, including Billy Graham (*Approaching Hoofbeats*), Pat Robertson (*America's Date with Destiny*), and Jerry Falwell (*Strength for the Journey* and *If I Should Die Before I Wake*).[7]

Since 1993, he has devoted himself full-time to minister to lesbians, gays, [bisexuals](/source/Bisexual), and [transgender](/source/Transgender) people, working on their behalf in the media, in the political process, and with fellow religious leaders.

White's autobiography, *Stranger at the Gate: To be Gay and Christian in America* (1994), is still being read widely, especially by LGBTQ people, their families and friends struggling to reconcile faith with sexual orientation. White's latest book, *Religion Gone Bad: Hidden Dangers from the Christian Right* (2007), is called "A consciousness-raising, must-read book" by Bishop [John Shelby Spong](/source/John_Shelby_Spong). It was reissued later in revised form with the title *Holy Terror: Lies the Christian Right Tells Us to Deny Gay Equality*.

He has produced, written, and directed 53 documentary films and television specials on [spirituality](/source/Spirituality).

He is also an author; among his 16 books (nine bestsellers), he wrote *Aquino*, a book about the Philippines' [Ninoy](/source/Ninoy_Aquino) and [Corazon Aquino](/source/Corazon_Aquino), *Deceived* about the [Jonestown](/source/Jonestown) tragedy, *David* about David Rothenberg (a child burned by his father, later depicted in the film *[David](/source/David_(1988_film)#Plot)*), and *Lust: The Other Side of Love*.

He was talk-show host/producer in *When the Going Gets Tough*.

## In popular culture

In 2009, White appeared on the [fourteenth season](/source/The_Amazing_Race_14) of *[The Amazing Race](/source/The_Amazing_Race_(American_TV_series))* along with his son [Mike](/source/Mike_White_(scriptwriter)). The two completed seven legs of the race before being eliminated in sixth place in [Phuket](/source/Phuket_Province), Thailand.[8] The team subsequently participated in *[The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business](/source/The_Amazing_Race_18)*, an edition featuring eleven returning teams.[9] They were the second team eliminated and finished in 10th place in [Yokosuka](/source/Yokosuka%2C_Kanagawa), Japan at the end of the third leg. Mel and Mike were eliminated after being hospitalized with hypothermia.

White is also a contributor to the DVD program *[Living the Questions](/source/Living_the_Questions)*, an introduction to [Progressive Christianity](/source/Progressive_Christianity). Dr. White is also featured in the documentary *[For the Bible Tells Me So](/source/For_the_Bible_Tells_Me_So).* Dr. White is also prominently featured in the documentary *True Believer* (2024) by Kristen Irving.

The Cambodian NGO New Future for Children is supported by White.

## Books and stories under his own name

- White, Mel (1978). *Lust: The Other Side of Love*. Fleming H. Revell. p. 191. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-8007-0932-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-8007-0932-2).

- White, Mel (1979). *Deceived*. Spire Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-8007-8367-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8007-8367-9).

- *Sam Clemens and the Notable Mare* (1993) (collected in [Mike Resnick](/source/Mike_Resnick)'s alternate history anthology *[Alternate Warriors](/source/Alternate_Warriors)*)

- White, Mel (April 1995). [*Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America*](https://archive.org/details/strangeratgateto00whit/page/325). Penguin Group (USA). p. [325](https://archive.org/details/strangeratgateto00whit/page/325). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-452-27381-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-452-27381-1).

- White, Mel (September 2006). [*Religion Gone Bad: Hidden Dangers from the Christian Right*](https://archive.org/details/religiongonebadh00whit_0/page/384). Penguin Group (USA). p. [384](https://archive.org/details/religiongonebadh00whit_0/page/384). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-58542-531-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-58542-531-1). Retrieved November 23, 2011.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-birth_date_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-birth_date_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-birth_date_1-2) ["California Birth Index, 1905–1995"](https://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5247). Ancestry.com. Retrieved December 27, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-MelWhite_2-0)** Steve Inskeep [Religion, Politics a Potent Mix for Jerry Falwell](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5522064) NPR June 30, 2006

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Olin White Obituary (2007) - Santa Cruz, CA - Santa Cruz Sentinel"](https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/santacruzsentinel/name/olin-white-obituary?id=8268727). *[Legacy.com](/source/Legacy.com)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Ferber, Lawrence. [White out: writer-producer Mike White comes out and discusses the gay subtext in his new comedy, Orange County](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/White+out%3A+writer-producer+Mike+White+comes+out+and+discusses+the+gay...-a082322838), [The Advocate](/source/The_Advocate_(LGBT_magazine)) (February 5, 2002). Retrieved on January 28, 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Susan Russell (June 18, 2008). ["InChatATime: They went to the chapel, and they got"](https://inchatatime.blogspot.com/2008/06/they-went-to-chapel-and-they-got.html). Inchatatime.blogspot.com. Retrieved June 29, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Gary Nixon Memorial"](https://soulforce.org/gary-nixon-memorial/). *soulforce.org*. November 6, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Colker, David (July 26, 1993). ["In a State of Grace: Religion: Writer and minister Mel White was a Christian evangelical success story until he came out of the closet. That's when former colleagues including Jerry Falwell and Billy Graham cut him off. But White says he is finding peace: 'I am gay, I am proud and God loves me.'"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-07-26-vw-17120-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. Retrieved July 17, 2013. The Rev. Mel White ghostwrote Jerry Falwell's autobiography, "Strength for the Journey," and Falwell's book about abortion. He ghostwrote Pat Robertson's "America's Dates With Destiny" and Billy Graham's "Approaching Hoofbeats."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Mel and Mike: Amazing Race"](http://www.cbs.com/shows/amazing_race/season/14/cast/). [CBS](/source/CBS). Retrieved January 26, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["'The Amazing Race' announces its All-Stars cast"](http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/01/the-amazing-race-announces-its-all-stars-cast.html). Latimesblogs.latimes.com. January 19, 2011. Retrieved November 23, 2011.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.melwhite.org/)

- [Mel White's GLBT organization](http://www.soulforce.org/)

- [Interview with Rev. Candace Chellew, Whosoever.org](http://www.whosoever.org/issue4/issue4_white.html)

- Mel White, [New Future for Children, Cambodia](http://newfutureforchildren.com/)

- [Mel White](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0925203/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

v t e Fuller Theological Seminary Founder Charles E. Fuller Presidents Harold Ockenga Edward John Carnell David Allan Hubbard Richard Mouw Mark Labberton David Emmanuel Goatley Faculty Founding Everett F. Harrison Carl F. H. Henry Harold Lindsell Wilbur M. Smith Former Leslie C. Allen Gleason Archer David Augsburger Justin L. Barrett Geoffrey W. Bromiley Oliver D. Crisp Richard J. Foster Daniel Fuller John Goldingay Donald Hagner Paul Hiebert Paul King Jewett Charles H. Kraft William Sanford La Sor George Eldon Ladd Ralph P. Martin James William McClendon Jr. Joy J. Moore Richard Muller J. Edwin Orr Robert N. Schaper Love L. Sechrest Lewis B. Smedes Glen Stassen Thomas Talbott Miroslav Volf C. Peter Wagner Neil Clark Warren Mel White John Wimber Ralph Winter Charles Woodbridge Present Warren S. Brown Scott Cormode William Dyrness John Goldingay Joel B. Green Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen Kirsteen Kim Sebastian Kim Seyoon Kim Nancey Murphy Richard Peace Soong-Chan Rah J. Dudley Woodberry Amos Yong

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mel White](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_White) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_White?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.