Coming out in rural America
By Paige Reinsel
May 18, 2009 9:04 p.m.
Living in Los Angeles, we tend to forget that people in other parts of the country do not all live the way we do. For example, in Los Angeles, we are free to discuss and debate topics such as same-sex marriage in our newspapers, classrooms and even on Bruin Walk. However, there are still parts of the country where it is unheard-of to even mention the notion.
“Out in the Silence” is a documentary film that portrays such a place ““ Oil City, Pa. ““ and the struggle of citizens who challenge the primarily conservative environment. As part of the Sundance Works in Progress program, the UCLA Hammer Museum will screen the film tonight, followed by a Q&A with filmmakers Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer.
“Out in the Silence” tells the story of Oil City native Wilson and what happened when he put an announcement in the local newspaper about his wedding to another man. The action caused quite a stir in the small rural town, and Wilson and his husband, Hamer, were met with many opposing opinions and strong accusations.
“(There were) statements from people who were very angry and in our view quite hateful. It was a hurtful period for us to see that,” said Wilson, co-producer and co-director. “It was also very discouraging because it showed us that there was still a climate that was very problematic for gay people in small towns and conservative areas.”
That revelation was what initially sparked the idea for “Out in the Silence,” but further inspiration came in the form of a striking letter asking the couple for help.
“I think what really drew us … was when we got a letter from the mother of a teenage kid called C.J. talking about how he was being tortured at school, and no one would stand up for him. We wanted to help them and to tell their story,” said Hamer, co-producer and co-director.
C.J.’s story, which includes footage shot by the teen, is a significant aspect of the film and allows insight into the experiences of those who don’t fit into a conservative small town’s norms.
“We recognized that there were important stories unfolding in Oil City, Pa., that just would not be seen, heard or known about if somebody wasn’t willing to try to tell them,” Wilson said. “(We) use a camera … to empower people who have been told that they need to be silent about who they are.”
Aside from the controversial subject matter, the film is also notable in that it diverges from the traditional type of documentary.
“Joe is not just the filmmaker, he’s also the activist that’s making the action, and that’s a little bit unusual,” Hamer said.
Furthermore, though documentaries are often interview-based, “Out in the Silence” is story-driven and works to create distinct characters.
“There’s an interesting mix of characters in the film. … But maybe the most interesting character is a fundamentalist pastor who starts out writing a letter that condemns us, but then we actually develop a friendship with him. It’s pretty amazing,” Hamer said.
That unexpected friendship shows the filmmakers’ goals ““ to increase acceptance of homosexuality. On an even simpler level, “Out in the Silence” strives to remind us that not everyone in this country feels free to be open about who they are.
“(We hope that) the sharing of this kind of experience can really lead to creating public awareness around the fact that these kinds of things still exist in (the) 21st century,” Wilson said.
“Until we really start to change hearts and minds at the community level, we’re not going to have sustainable long-term change that affects people in their daily lives.”
