April 27, 2009 11:00AM EDT

Q&A: Outrage

Kirby Dick's new documentary Outrage comes from a deeply impassioned and angry place. It aims to correct the "conspiracy" of mainstream media to keep gay politicians in the closet, and it's done through the director's carefully researched and supported muckracking journalism, which outs hypocritical closeted politicians. The inspires a range of emotions, from anger to curiosity to frustration, but ultimately, it's absolutely tragic.

It's a documentary that hits its targets—some on the money, others less so. As you may have read in earlier accounts, the heart of the film is Dick's testimony from a variety of sources that outs Florida Governor Charlie Crist, California Representative David Dreier, 2004 George Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman, former New York City mayor Ed Koch, Senator Larry Craig, Jim McCrey (R-La.), Ed Schrock (R-VA.), and Fox News anchor Shepard Smith*. He makes the case that these closeted politicians have used their power against the gay community, whether by their abysmal voting records on gay rights (most average 0%-10%, save one) and their complicit silence on, for example, the early rise of AIDS in the gay community.

[*Smith, by far, is the weakest case, mostly supported by a Washington Blade editor saying that he hit on him. He's a target, however, since Fox News is complicit in the "machine that has contributed to this anti-gay hysteria," according to Dick.]

And yes, of course this is a slanted work of documentary. And the movie part is very messy and human. (The wives of Craig and "Gay American" and the former Governor of New Jersey Jim McGreevey get face time, but their facade and sadness is another story.) Dick makes his point in a crisp ninety minutes; considering the amount of stories and questions the film raises, or even the difference between this version and a previous cut, it's clear that Outrage could easily be much, much longer, detailing forty years of gay panic and hypocrisy. [The ethics of outing are another conversation. One that you could have with Dick at the Outrage panel on Friday, May 1.]

In the Q&A after the screening, a theater packed full of audience members—after congratulating the director on his "powerful and necessary" film and its bipartisan tone—asked, "Why didn't you delve deeper into McGreevey's story? Why didn't you talk about the shameful Democratic positions on gay rights, including President Obama? Why don't you mention Craig's initial 'entrapment' case?"

Dick agreed that these points of view could be in the film; that said, McGreevey had to resign thanks to his phalanx of scandals, but his coming out was a milestone. The Democrats—despite being way, way "too careful on this. The hedging on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' has been appalling"—are not, ultimately, closeted men. For the last question, Dick said, "I 100% agree with you," continuing that "Craig was a case of entrapment. It was completely wrong, but we had a limited amount of time."

Outrage makes an eloquent argument that the hypocrisy from actions like staying in the closet leads to a screwed up, brutal society fueled by intolerance: examples include public health failures (Reagan's closeted cabinet and refusal to acknowledge the AIDS crisis until 1987) and a rise in hate crimes (politicians speaking against gay marriage is linked explicity to cold blooded murders of gay teenagers). Moving swiftly though gay history, Dick contrasts the pursed lips and non-denial denial of closeted politicians, the camera lingering painfully on newsroom footage of Charlie Crist announcing his engagement; these scenes are contrasted with the freedom (and mordant wit) of out men and women, often in politics, who "know their truth," to quote McGreevey.

One of the saddest stories belonged to the late lover of one of these politicians. He died of AIDS in 1996. Both his trustee and another friend reveal exclusively to Dick that he was seeing this particular politician who ran the guy out of town—the spurned lover was unemployable—once his profile rose. Exiting the theater, one of the audience members whispered to another one: "Yeah, that story? It's true. I knew the guy and used to have dinner with him and he would always talk about [the politician]."

The film ends on the words of brutally slain out politician Harvey Milk, a man who came out later in life: "If every gay person in the closet would come out...we'd win." For Dick, who believes that right now (particularly in the light of California's Proposition 8) is "a very critical time in this country," hopefully the film will add to the effort to get 100% civil rights in this country: "Once people write about this, the closet will disappear."
 

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There's a lot to talk about with Outrage. (I didn't even get to any Barney Frank bon mots, and that man is quippy.) What's your take? Check out more screenings later in the week and tell us what you think.

Read more Festival Q&As.