Titled, The Rhetoric of Intolerance: An Open-Letter Video to Pat Robertson from Dr. Mel White, this video provides a point-by-point destruction of Robertson's homophobic social and religious paradigm. Throughout the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, Pat Robertson--founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network [CBN], Regent University, and the conservative American Center for Law and Justice, and one of the loudest voices in the Religious Right--spread a relentlessly homophobic message through his television program, The 700 Club. Mel White, a closeted gay man who ghost wrote autobiographies for such homophobic Christian fundamentalists as Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and Billy Graham, came out in 1994 and became an outspoken queer activist associated with the Metropolitan Community Church. For documentary materials associated with The Rhetoric of Intolerance ..., see MS-00802, box 8 ["Discrimination - The Rhetoric of Intolerance"] in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Special Collections Department. [00:00:00 - 00:30:03]
Archival Collection
Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ Collection
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Collection Number: MS-00251 Collection Name: Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ Collection Box/Folder: Box 19, Digital File 00
Peter Todd was a significant figure in the gaming, entertainment, and financial industries of Las Vegas, as well as a queer activist in the Las Vegas AIDS community. Todd was co-founder, with Bree Burgess, of the Golden Rainbow AIDS organization and served as financial officer for Aid for AIDS of Nevada [AFAN]. When Todd was diagnosed in 1992 with lung cancer that had spread to his liver, he had no medical insurance. This benefit was a fundraiser to help cover expenses for Todd's treatments. The event's host/emcee was queer entertainer RIchard Powell [d. October 29, 2021]. The event included performances by Las Vegas Strip entertainers, testimony from Todd's friends and a thank-you speech from Todd himself, who died April 8, 1993. For biographical information on Todd, see "Four Individuals Win AFAN Humanitarian Award" [Las Vegas Bugle, April 1991, pp. 26-28, 30], and "Todd Honored as LV Men's Club 'Man of the Year' " [Las Vegas Bugle, September 1992, 24]. For information on the benefit event, see "300 Persons Honor Peter Todd at Benefit" [Las Vegas Bugle, November 1992, 18]. For Todd's obituary, see the Las Vegas Sun, April 9, 1993, 2B, and "Peter Todd Leaves Golden Legacy of Memories" [Las Vegas Bugle, April 1993, 20] [00:00:00 - 01:59:06]
Archival Collection
Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ Collection
To request this item in person:
Collection Number: MS-00251 Collection Name: Las Vegas, Nevada LGBTQ Collection Box/Folder: Box 19, Digital File 00