Not long ago, Mitchell Gold got a note from an 80-year-old woman in Winston-Salem. She wrote that she'd never thought about homosexuality except to be judgmental.
The book Gold edited and paid to publish changed that.
"Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay in America" features pieces contributed by names readers will recognize, such as Barney Frank and Martina Navratilova.
"A lot of them I knew already," Gold said. "As soon as I told them what I was doing, they said, 'That's exactly what America needs to heal.'"
Far more common are stories from everyday people including writers, editors, ministers, students, doctors and others. Most suffered a crisis, a "black cloud," Gold calls it in his own story, not because they were homosexual, but because of the fear their world — families, friends, the people they loved — would reject them because of it.
Gold said he could have had the book published traditionally, without having to shell out the money himself, if he was willing to wait eight months or a year to see it. He wasn't.
"Every day, kids are killing themselves," Gold said. "Millions are depressed and feeling suicidal. I have a real sense of urgency about the issue."
He recruited the writers and put together the book, he said, to create awareness about the misuse of religion to subject gay teenagers to depression, fear, rejection and physical violence.
Gold hopes people will come who are questioning their beliefs or who don't fully understand the harm that comes from prejudice against homosexuals. He said it also is an opportunity to hear people of faith talk about having compassion and respect for gay people.
He guarantees the conversation will be polite and civil.
Matt Comer, the 22-year-old editor of "Q-Notes," a gay newspaper, submitted a story for "Crisis" about the condemnation he felt from his church and the suicidal thoughts he entertained as a result.
He hopes Thursday's discussion will put a human face on the issue of homosexuality and the bigotry.
He would encourage fellow Christians to come.
"I'd point to Jesus meeting with people he didn't agree with," Comer said.
Brent Childers wrote in "Crisis" that he experienced a spiritual awakening once he walked away from the belief that homosexuality was a sin and homosexuals couldn't be Christians.
He said Thursday's discussion and question-and-answer session will be an opportunity for a conversation in a comfortable atmosphere.
"This issue is going to continue to be at the forefront of public discourse," he said. "If people want to really understand some of the issues involved with why gay and lesbian Americans are seeking full and equal rights, then I think they would find a discussion that's very beneficial."
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