Rich Merritt was born in 1967 in Greenville, South Carolina. In 1973, his parents enrolled him in the first grade at Bob Jones Elementary School where he would receive his education all the way through high school. He then attended Bob Jones University for two years.

While still attending BJU, Merritt enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. After returning from boot camp at Parris Island, Bob Jones University seemed unbearably narrow-minded and the exclusivity demanded by fundamentalism seemed the height of arrogance.

Within two semesters, Rich Merritt was expelled from Bob Jones University. He graduated from Clemson University and became an officer in the Marines, serving nearly eight years on active duty. He "came out" of the closet - at least, the closet of denial - at the age of 25 while stationed in Okinawa, Japan.

In 1998 Rich Merritt received an honorable discharge from the United States Marines Corps and in 2001 he graduated from the University of Southern California Law School. He is presently an attorney in New York where he enjoys many Broadway shows with his "very own Jonathan." (See p. 59 of Secrets of a Gay Marine Porn Star for an explanation.)

Rich Merritt now spends much of his time speaking to a variety of organizations. Among the messages he shares is a plum piece of advice given to him by a wise therapist:

Our secrets keep us sick.