George wasn't living in sin, but he did have a problem. There is a difference between loving someone who has a problem (we ALL have those!) and loving someone who is living in sin. One thing I learned from this tragic incident was that the Christian church was doing a very poor job at loving homosexuals. And he didn’t want to bring shame on his Lord by doing so. The temptations were so great but he was unwilling to commit any homosexual act. Sadly, some time after that meeting (about a year later, if I recall correctly), George committed suicide. It opened my eyes to understanding the issues a lot better. But he added, “I’ve never committed any homosexual acts.” His was only a predisposition, not a behavior. At that time, George confided in me that he was a homosexual. I was visiting California one summer while I was a master’s student at Dallas Seminary. A couple of decades ago, a young man who had been in my youth group (when I was a youth director at Mariner’s Church in Newport Beach, CA) told me something that caused my views to do a 180. But before I discuss his book, I wish to share a part of my background in how I view homosexuality. To see more, visit Fresh Air.Some readers may recognize the name of Mel White. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Mel said, 'I couldn't pay for what The Amazing Race did for me, to have this time with my son.'Ĭopyright 2022 Fresh Air. The father-son duo agrees that their participation provided a priceless bonding experience. He was a writer on the critically acclaimed series Freaks and Geeks, and he has written the screenplays for popular comedies like School of Rock and Nacho Libre. Mike is an actor, writer producer and director. In 1994 he published his book Stranger At The Gate: To Be Gay And Christian In America. For decades, Mel struggled with his sexual orientation, undergoing a range of 'therapies' that included prayer, fasting, exorcism and even electric shock. Before coming out, Mel was a leader in the evangelical Christian community and served as a ghost-writer for Billy Graham, Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. Mel White is a gay rights activist and writer. But when his partner dropped out, Mike decided to team up with his father, Mel.

Each episode, the last team to arrive at a destination is eliminated.Ī fan of the show, Mike White originally applied to be on The Amazing Race with another screenwriter.

The show features pairs of contestants who travel from country to country completing challenges and collecting clues about future destinations. Screenwriter Mike White and his father, gay rights activist Mel White, recently danced, ran and even bobsledded around the globe as a team on the CBS reality series The Amazing Race.

Stranger at the gate by mel white