Stuart Miller - Prayer Warriors - The TRUE Story of a Gay Son, His Fundamentalist Christian Family, and Their Battle for His Soul

Welcome to the official Author web site of "Prayer Warriors: The True Story of A Gay Son, His Fundamentalist Christian Family, and Their Battle for His Soul." This book, published by Alyson Publications in May, 1999, tells my personal coming out story to my fundamentalist Christian family in Tennessee. It chronicles their extreme reaction through the formation of a group of individuals my father dubbed the "Prayer Warriors" who sent me hundreds of letters warning of God's ultimate judgement against me which they deem as both physical and spiritual death. It also follows my own difficult struggle to forge a life and family of my own in the face of overwhelming, and sometimes heartbreaking, betrayal from my biological family.

Often I am asked how and why I wrote this book. The answer is multi-faceted. Six years ago, when the Prayer War began, I put the letters in the bottom drawer of my dresser-more to hide them from my view than with any thoughts as to their future use. As time went on, and the drawer began to bulge with letters, I realized that God must have had a reason for all of this to happen. Then one day, I received a letter that not only hurt me for my own predicament, but made me realize that there were others facing this same issue. Families across the country were rejecting their loved ones-often teenage children-all in the name of God. Writing a book gave me the perfect opportunity to not only work through my own pain, but to hopefully help heal other individuals and families. Finally, it was an opportunity to expose how the rhetoric of the radical religious right's leadership trickles down with devastating consequences for families across the country.

Whether you are a gay man or lesbian facing rejection from your own family, a family member trying to understand the feelings of a gay loved one, or a supporter of gay and lesbian issues who has not been exposed to this kind of "Christian love", I believe Prayer Warriors will speak to your heart and help you take action to share God's message of love and tolerance. I hope you will take a moment to check out the rest of the site. You can even share your own story or leave a message in our special forum section.

Please know that God loves you and created you as perfect. I wish you all the best in your journey and sincerely hope that your life is blessed.

"For people who haven't been exposed to the kind of 'Christian love' practiced by many Southern fundamentalists, Stuart Miller's harrowing account of his family's heartless psychological warfare against him in the wake of his coming out will be an eye-opener."
--Bruce Bawer, author of Stealing Jesus: How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity and A Place at the Table.

"If you are struggling to accept your homosexual orientation as a gift from God, and if you have religious parents who stand in the way, read Stuart Miller's story. It will bring hope and healing to your wounded heart."
--Mel White, author of Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay And Christian In America