Mel White on Jerry Falwell

As you know, Rev. Falwell passed away last week. If you've seen our movie, you know Rev. Dr. Mel White and his extensive past (and present) as Falwell's ghost writer and church attendee. GLAAD, who will be running a workshop at our Conference in Nashville August 3/4 (register at the button on the right), posted the video interview with Anderson Cooper and Rev. White about Falwell. Take a look, tell a friend. White is featured in our movie, get a copy on DVD to the right to see what else he said about Falwell and his past.

CNN Anderson Cooper 360: Coverage of Falwell death including interview with Neil Giuliano — May 15, 2007 Link to Video

Happy Monday.

Yolanda King, MLK's daughter is in Heaven Too

Yesterday was a really crazy day on the equal rights front. Rev. Jerry Falwell, 73, passed away in his office at Liberty University while sitting as his desk. Yolanda King, 51, Martin Luther King's eldest daughter and most visual in following in her father's equality rights vision, suddenly collapsed walking down a hallway after a speech given for the American Heart Association raising awareness to black women and strokes.

Both passed while in their place of passion, in their work and they literally worked until the moment they died. It's hard to grasp why King would go so young. It's curious why God had them go on the same day, especially considering one preached separatism and superiority and the other unity and equality. Two powerful voices silenced at the same time.

Relating to my blog about my friend who died of a rare cancer (This Cubicle Supports Gay Marriage) where I'd noticed there were people around me who recently had lost someone, it seemed in a month or two like a domino effect. In the last two weeks, I've had three friends lose a parent - 2 cancers and a car accident.

It's such a reminder how we don't know how long we have and that's okay. It's okay when we know authentically that what we're doing right now...and now....and now...are the best things we could be doing. We're doing it with passion, with meaning, all the while asking, how can I serve, how can I give, what can I share? As wise ones have said in the past, once we accept our own death, can we really live.

Falwell and King left legacies, they spread consciousness, they were powerful and charismatic. We're not all meant to be in the media spotlight like them but what we do really really matters to those around us and even the strangers we encounter in the post office line. I pray that we use our power, our lives, our words for good, for benefit, out of love. That's the kind of legacy I'd like to leave.

To help remove some of the emotional blocks you might be encountering, strongly consider coming to our conference in August in Nashville, TN. Be there and be moved.

Peace and Blessings to Rev. Jerry Falwell

This morning at the age of 73, Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, passed away. It's been interesting seeing the press releases and statements from several LGBT organizations as the census is mixed emotions. People feel a sadness at the loss, a celebration as he gets to know all the answers and dance with the angels, a curiosity of what happens now with Falwell, Robertson and Dobson all of the same mindset on the LGBT conversation and of similar age range.

Hopefully, people don't get scared and emotions coming from that fear of losing their leader create more pain and harm. I'd prefer to feel confident that it opens up the conversation, allows more room to openly talk and allow people to get to know each other without concern of repercussions or having their Christian card revoked.

I really do have faith in people, like Anne Frank, that fundamentally people are good, or at least they are often trying to do what they think is best or maybe even out of love, they just have a really funny way of showing that love.

Falwell was committed, he apparently did what he thought was right in God's eyes, he had a funny way of showing God's love to LGBT people. As he is transformed now, I hope we take the similar opportunity and find ways for our thoughts and actions to transform, to become more of who we are, who God made us to be.

Peace and blessings to Falwell's church and family.