CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien will interview Mitchell Gold, editor of the book “Crisis,” on Jan. 28 as part of Lenoir-Rhyne University’s Visiting Writers Series. The interview will take place at 7 p.m. in the P.E. Monroe Auditorium on the Lenoir-Rhyne campus in Hickory, N.C.

This event is free and open to the public. Students, educators and church members are especially invited to attend. Advance tickets are not required.

Soledad O’Brien has worked on CNN special reports including “Black in America” and “Latino in America” and is currently working on a “Gay in America” special report for the network.

“Crisis” describes the personal, social and religious pain of growing up gay in America. It is told through essays contributed by 40 successful and well-known professionals as well as not-well-known younger people. The foreword is written by tennis great Martina Navratilova.

Gold is co-founder of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, a nationally recognized furniture manufacturer headquartered in Taylorsville, N.C. He is also the creator of Faith in America, an organization dedicated to educating people about the harm of religion-based prejudice against the gay community.

“I’m looking forward to interviewing Mitchell about a topic that is at the very heart of America’s culture war,” O’Brien said. “Mitchell does it in a manner that shows compassion for all sides.”

Gold published the book, co-edited with Mindy Drucker, in response to what he calls a silent mental health crisis among the more than 1.6 million gay young people in America. “They are at significant risk for suicide, addiction, depression, and violence, and yet those who should be helping them may very well be contributing, if not causing, their heartache and confusion,” he said. “There are teenagers all over the world today in crisis mode because they fear what will happen if others discover their sexual orientation.”

Like the other contributors to the book, Gold has lived through this experience. As a gay teen, he was suicidal. Eventually, with the help of a psychiatrist and support from his friends, he learned to accept himself.

Gold now calls upon others, especially those in the religious community, to take the lead in creating an accepting atmosphere for young people experiencing this same crisis.

Some of the book’s contributors include the Right Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay man ordained by the Episcopal Church; acclaimed actor Richard Chamberlain; U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Massachusetts), chair of the House Financial Services Committee; and Hilary Rosen, a political analyst on MSNBC and political director for The Huffington Post.

The book also includes essays by two mothers of gay young people who died as a result of their sexual orientation. Another contributor to the book is former Reverend Jimmy Creech of Raleigh, N.C., who set out on a journey to study the Bible and science after one of his congregants came out to him more than 20 years ago.  He was defrocked by the United Methodist Church for performing a same-gender marriage ceremony.

Proceeds from the sale of “Crisis” are donated to non-profit organizations that help young people struggling with issues related to their sexual orientation.

The Visiting Writers Series is free to the public thanks to the support of sponsors. This year’s sponsors include Catawba Valley Community Foundation, UNC-TV, Hickory Public Library, United Arts Council of Catawba County, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Crowne Plaza hotel of Hickory, and WFAE 90.7 FM, Your NPR News Source.

For more information about the Visiting Writers Series at Lenoir-Rhyne University, go to http://visitingwriters.lr.edu or call 828-328-7077.

Established in 1891, Lenoir-Rhyne University is a private, coeducational university located in Hickory, N.C. It is affiliated with the N.C. Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is open to students from all religious backgrounds. Undergraduate degrees include bachelor of arts, bachelor of science and bachelor of music education in more than 60 majors and concentrations. Graduate degrees are offered in business administration, counseling, occupational therapy and athletic training. The Web site is www.lr.edu.