Towards a Welcoming and Inclusive Church
Video Archive
Save Me
SAVE ME is the acclaimed drama directed by Robert Cary about a young gay man and the Christian retreat he is brought into. A World Premiere at Sundance 2007 and selected as the Opening Night Film at OutFest Los Angeles later that year, SAVE ME is a subtly nuanced and deeply sympathetic look at both sides of one of the most polarizing religious and sexual debates in America: the conflict - and possible reconciliation - between homosexuality and Christianity.
Mark (Chad Allen) is a young gay man who is addicted to sex and drugs. After a particularly nasty binge his brother checks him into Genesis House, a Christian retreat in New Mexico miles from anywhere. Run by a compassionate husband and wife team, Gayle (Judith Light) and Ted (Stephen Lang) have made it their life’s mission to cure young men of their ‘gay affliction’ through spiritual guidance. At first, Mark resists, but soon takes the message to heart and begins to bond with his fellow residents…in particular Scott (Robert Gant), a mentor charged with guiding Mark through his conversion. As their friendship evolves into romance, Mark and Scott are forced to confront their true selves, while Gayle and Ted find the values they hold as absolute truths to be threatened.
Powerful, restrained performances and a provocative yet believeable plot bring light to this contentious subject. Like the recent documentary FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO, SAVE ME offers healing, clarity and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.
Reconciling Journeys
Reconciling Journeys introduces Reconciling Ministries Network and the Reconciling Process to individuals, groups and congregations in The United Methodist Church.
For your community to become Reconciling, our basic requirement is a public statement of inclusion that particularly mentions "all sexual orientations and gender identities." This statement must be approved by a leadership group within the congregation or community.
Reconciling Journeys was part of a DVD sent to all 2008 General Conference Delegates and Bishops. You can purchase a copy at the Reconciling Ministries Network Online Store.
Equality U
by director Dave O’Brien
Equality U is a feature-length documentary following a group of 33 young activists on the Soulforce Equality Ride, a first of its kind, two-month, cross-country tour to confront antigay discrimination policies at 19 conservative religious and military colleges. It is a human story of a group of young people struggling to stand up for what they believe is right. Against the backdrop of the Equality Ride, the film focuses on seven of the “Equality Riders” and two courageous students they encounter along their journey.
At each stop, the Riders exercise “relentless non-violent resistance” and often face arrest for trespassing. Can this small group of activists sow the seeds of dialogue as their bus rolls down the highway? How will the road change them? For the Riders that identify as both Queer and Christian, how will the journey challenge or transform their faith? And what happens to the outed gay students they encounter and then leave behind? Incorporating verité footage, interviews, and personal video journals recorded by the six central Riders themselves, Equality U focuses on the personal stories of our lead characters and the journeys they take during this foray into activism.
Gay couple from Minneapolis will say 'I Do' in CA wedding
They say the third time is a real charmer. In that spirit Reverend Rebecca Voelkel and Maggie George will tie the knot next month, for the third time.
"We laugh all the time. Here we are, raising a family in south Minneapolis causing problems for the rest of the world," George joked about her upcoming nuptials to her partner, Voelkel.
Theatrical Performance Activist Peterson Toscano
Peterson will be performing his new show, Transfigurations—Transgressing Gender in the Bible at the Many Stories, One Voice conference this September. Here is a profile on him and his show Doin' Time in The Homo No Mo Halfway House that appeared on Logo Channel's Be Real (Season 2, Episode 2)Bishop Gene Robinson at Creating Change 2008
Bishop Gene Robinson was a keynote speaker at the National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, held in Detroit in January, 2008. He was introduced by the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, Faith Work Program Director for the Institute for Welcoming Resources.
- Bishop Gene Robinson at Creating Change 2008 (Part 1)
- Bishop Gene Robinson at Creating Change 2008 (Part 2)
- Bishop Gene Robinson at Creating Change 2008 (Part 3)
- Bishop Gene Robinson at Creating Change 2008 (Part 4)
A Jihad for Love
Fourteen centuries after the revelation of the holy Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Islam today is the world's second largest and fastest growing religion. Muslim gay filmmaker Parvez Sharma travels the many worlds of this dynamic faith discovering the stories of its most unlikely storytellers: lesbian and gay Muslims. Filmed over 5 1/2 years, in 12 countries and 9 languages, A Jihad for Love comes from the heart of Islam. Looking beyond a hostile and war-torn present, this film seeks to reclaim the Islamic concept of a greater Jihad, which can mean 'an inner struggle' or 'to strive in the path of God'. In doing so the film and its remarkable subjects move beyond the narrow concept of 'Jihad' as holy war.
Bishop Gene Robinson on NBC's Today Show
Episcopal bishop Gene Robinson knows he is inviting death threats by entering into a civil union with his gay partner on the eve of his church’s biggest ecclesiastical conference. And he says it is worth it, because he is doing what God asks of him.
- New England cable news interview
- PBS interview with Kim Laughton
- NPR's Fresh Air with Terry Gross Interview
Transgender Basics
Transgender Basics is a 20 minute educational film on the concepts of gender and transgender people. Two providers from the Gender Identity Project discuss basic concepts of gender - sex, identity and gender roles - as three transgender community members share their personal experiences of being trans and genderqueer. The film targets service providers and others working with the LGBT community, but it also provides a fascinating glimpse into gender and identity for the general public.
Call Me Troy
Call Me Troy is the truly inspirational story about a remarkable and dynamic individual whose activism was decades ahead of its time; the Reverend Troy Perry. Call Me Troy celebrates Rev. Perry's life as a civil rights hero and his legacy of spiritual service to the GLBT community where he had the audacity to claim Christianity for himself and his community. Documenting four decades of unwavering service, this film is a nostalgic reminder of where we come from for some, and an astounding story of our roots for others. For more information...
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