Showing posts with label Amazing Race. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazing Race. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Luke, of the Amazing Race


Here was something I didn't know: Luke, of this season's Amazing Race, is gay. Here is the interview I just found, on a site I only just found: (hat tip to Emily DeClercq's facebook post) I was staying up late Sunday night to find out the results, and was really hoping the winners would be Kisha and Jen, who barely missed the final 3 because one sister had to stop to use the toilet.

Reading the interview, there's a question about when Luke came out as gay to his mom, Margie. What a wonderful mother to respond like she did. Here is what she said:

Margie: Luke told me when he was nineteen and he was a freshman in college. He told me in a text message from school, because that's how we communicate, through text or relay, and I said, "Okay. Thank you for telling me. Why did you wait so long?" He was surprised and said, "What?"

Luke: No, no, no, Mom. I wanted to make sure I was actually gay. There was a time in my life that I was a little bit confused. I felt kind of both ways about it, but I wanted to make sure before I said anything to you that I was gay.
Margie: Yeah, well, Luke sends me this text message and says, "I have something really important to tell you, and I don't want to hurt your feelings and I don't want you to be mad, but I'm gay." And I was like, "Thank you for telling me." And he was like, "You're not mad?" And I just said, "Why would I be mad? I've known your whole life." [laughs]
It doesn't change who Luke is. He's my son. He's a wonderful person. If he likes a man or likes a woman, that doesn't make any difference to me. I just want him to be happy. I called his sister when he told me, and said, "Hey, Luke finally came out." And she said, "Oh, it's about time." [laughs] There was no drama, no surprise. Nothing really changed except I think Luke was able to take a breath and be himself a little more around us.

Luke: Actually, I felt a lot better after I did come out to my mom.


I wish I could call Margie and Luke, and tell them, "Congratulations," both for their Amazing Race competition and for the closeness they have as mom and son. I guess this note will have to be my message for them.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Amazing Race! Mel White and Mike White - starting Feb. 15, 2008


Mel White is one of my heroes. His book, "Stranger at the Gate," began to affect my way of viewing gay people, way back in January, 2005. Because he shared his life through this book, I began to realize that people could be gay and Christian. Mel founded an organization called Soulforce, which works for the rights and the acceptance of gay and lesbian people. Mel White helped me, and I love and admire him for that.

Today I got an exciting update from Soulforce! Mel and his son, Mike White, are going to be contestants on The Amazing Race, which is one of my favorite TV shows! Mike wrote the movie, "School of Rock," and he played the character, Ned Schneebly. How cool that they are going to team up for The Amazing Race!


This is what I copied from SOULFORCE:

We are thrilled to announce that our founder, the Rev. Dr. Mel White, will compete in the 14th addition of the CBS program, The Amazing Race!

Video of Mel White and his son, Mike, on the Amazing RaceMel and his son, Mike, a successful screenwriter whose writing credits include the feature films Nacho Libre and School of Rock, joined together to participate in this once in a lifetime experience -- spanning 40,000 miles and nine countries in just 22 days!

The Amazing Race premiers on CBS on Sunday, February 15, at 8pm ET/PT. Tell your friends and mark your calendars!

Go Team Soulforce!

For more information, go to
www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race