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My name is Larry Craig, and I am a gay American. | Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Forget Social Security, closeted homosexuality in Washington D.C. is the true third rail of American politics, and provocateur extraordinaire Kirby Dick firmly places his foot on it in his bracingly honest documentary, Outrage. The film covers in meticulous detail the sad truth that virtually all of the mainstream media knows but would rather ignore: there are many politicians and media personalities who lead double lives. Dick's film goes where none before it have dared: he puts names and sources on the record to startling, often tragic effect.
However, to reduce Dick's film to a mere exercise in outing -- as some surely will -- would be unfair. His intent is far more specific: to expose the hypocrisy of those -- to be fair -- mostly Republican individuals who legislate against gay issues from the relative safety of the closet. And, as stated above, Dick doesn't hold back: Charlie Crist, governor of Florida, is gay; Ken Mehlman, former RNC Chairman, is gay; David Dreier, congressman from California's 26th district, is gay; Shepard Smith, anchor on Fox News, is gay. And the list goes on.
My name is Barney Frank, and I am also a gay American. What's the big deal? | Photo courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
Conservatives will surely label the film as an attack piece meant to embarrass Republicans. Kirby is a liberal man, so I don't doubt that there is at least some truth to that statement. What that criticism misses, though, is the kernel that lies at the center of Dick's film: living in the closet prevents you from leading an honest life. And when you go out and attack those gays who don't live in the closet -- by trying to prevent them from getting married, or adopting, or being protected from job discrimination -- that secrecy gets perverted into malevolence.
The tragic component to all this, of course, is that these closeted politicians are damaging themselves and their families as well. Witness the case of former New Jersey Governor Jim McGreevey. He was a fast-rising star in Democratic circles until forced to resign after a clandestine gay affair with a staffer was revealed. Dick's film replays the press conference where McGreevey comes out with his wife by his side. Later interviews reveal the damage that still lingers with both. He is wracked with regret; she believes her entire life with him was a lie.
Is that any way to live? It apparently is to former Idaho Senator Larry Craig. He was caught about as red-handed as you can -- soliciting sex in a men's airport bathroom. Further, the Idaho Statesman found numerous men willing to go on the record and say that they have had sex with Senator Craig. In Dick's film, one even provides details of the inside of Craig's house! And yet Craig clinged to his denials and continued to vote against virtually every piece of gay-related legislation that passed through Congress. It would be sad were it not so cruel.
A recent poll found that for the first time a plurality of Americans believe that gay Americans should be allowed to enter into the same compact of civil laws to which millions of heterosexual Americans are already allowed. Or, to put it another way, we are starting to believe it's okay if gay people get married. As this acceptance continues to deepen within our culture, it is to be hoped that a related phenomena will occur on the issue of coming out of the closet. To any who care about any of these issues, Outrage is a must-see documentary.
________________
Outrage opens tomorrow at the Sunset 5.
My interview with Kirby Dick will run tomorrow in this same space.
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Good reportage Josh!
Jabberwonk posted the trailer for "Outrage" last week. I was curious when and where it would open.
Thanks!!
I will definitely be checking this out. Thanks a ton, Josh!
And I am still 12 years old, because I giggled every time I read "Dick's."
A recent poll found that for the first time a plurality of Americans believe that gay Americans should be allowed to enter into the same compact of civil laws to which millions of heterosexual Americans are already allowed. Or, to put it another way, we are starting to believe it's okay if gay people get married.
This includes not only people who think gay marriage should be allowed, but those who DON'T want gay marriage, but think civil unions are okay. IMO, the latter is still a form of discrimination.
msmerymac --
I share your distaste for so-called "civil unions". I thought our country had gotten past the whole "separate but equal" mindset. It's disheartening to see people who are ostensibly pro-gay rights (e.g. uh, the President) still adhering to the civil unions language because of their putative "religious beliefs" about marriage.
I haven't heard anyone saying the government should force churches into accepting gay marriage -- nor should they. Religious institutions should be protected from government interference just as government should be protected from religious interference. That said, what the government should be doing is extending access to that compact of civil laws which comprise -- from the government's perspective-- "marriage" to all law-abiding Americans.
Now, will someone please give me a hand so I can step down from this soapbox?
On a related subject, I got this e-mail from Human Rights Campaign today if antone is interested in calling our Senators about this...
Dear jrb,
You're not going to believe what they're saying about the Matthew Shepard Act, S.909.
Yesterday, far right groups launched their latest attacks: action alerts and online videos with outrageously false claims that the Matthew Shepard Act would "give legally protected status to pedophiles."
Senate offices are being blasted with calls trying to pawn off these ridiculous lies and scare senators.
We need you to call your senators to make sure that they are hearing from fair-minded people like you.
It takes about 45 seconds to call each one of your senators – and each one of them needs to hear from you today. So set yourself a reminder on your computer. Make the call on your way to lunch. Or stop reading this and do it right now.
Whatever you do, make sure to CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY.
If you've never called Congress, let me assure you, it's easy.
Before 5 p.m. ET, call Sen. Boxer at (202) 224-3553 and Sen. Feinstein at (202) 224-3841.
Most likely, one of your senator's interns will answer and ask where you're calling from and why. You're calling to urge the Senator to support the Matthew Shepard Act (S. 909). Most calls end right there. But if you like, you can add:
Sexual Orientation is already defined in Federal law and clearly does not include any of the criminal acts right wing groups are claiming it does.
In fact, hate crimes against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are on the rise. One out of every six hate crimes is because of the victim's sexual orientation.
Hate crimes have more than one victim. They are intended to create an atmosphere of fear and terrorize entire communities.