Gay filmmakers face opposition in Pa. town

[davidinalameda]

A Washington, D.C., gay couple who made a documentary of gay life in the Pennsylvania hometown of one of the men attracted controversy when they held a screening of the film at a public library on July 28.

Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer’s 2009 movie “Out in the Silence,” which follows an Oil City, Pa., gay high school student named C.J. Springer as he navigates his life and education in the town the filmmakers say was often hostile to gays, was screened last week at Coudersport Public Library in Coudersport, Pa., a small town in north-central Pennsylvania. The men are on a tour, seeking to have the film screened in all 67 counties in the state. They’ve shown it about 50 times so far but say the Coudersport controversy, in which a local pastor and a Tea Party activist attempted to halt the screening, was the most opposition they’ve encountered.

“This was probably the biggest blow-out to date,” Wilson said. “We’ve had some opposition on one or two other occasions. The common denominator is that in most places it goes off without a hitch but in places where there are fundamentalist activists based there, they start to stir the pot.”

The news site CoudyNews.com reported that Coudersport Free Methodist Church was calling for “a peaceful phone-in protest” and that Pastor Pete Tremblay urged supporters to “call the library … and in a Christian manner inform them that this event is not a benefit to our community and ask that it be canceled.”

http://www.washingtonblade.com/2010/08/06/gay-filmmakers-face-opposition-in-pa-town/

[joeybee12]

1. Fuck you Tremblay!

Yeah, I'm exercising my free speech just like the filmmakers.

yeah, Fuck you!


Ain't the constitution grand?

[napi21]

2. I know that area pretty well. Many of my hubby's family is from

ea and it don't surprise me one bit that they would have a real problem discussing or seeing gay a lifestyle in a film. I remember visiting his relatives while we were still dating back in the early 60's. Most of the people I met didnt have a TV because what was broadcast on TV was against their religion to watch. The really funny thing was that they didn't have a problem visiting the occasional person who DID have a TV and pretending not to watch and consistantly falling into the temtation. Everything they talked about & did revolvd arund their church.

[Smarmie Doofus]

3. The film is *excellent*, BTW. PBS in NYC showed it in June.

An old story... small town, one or two out gay subjects, how they cope, survive, etc. Could easily have come off as stale or trite. But it *doesn't*. Good filmmaking and memorable characters.

Ya gotta see CJ Springer; what a kid. Takes no prisoners. None.