Out in the Silence (2009)

Out in the Silence (2009)


Directors: Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson
Genre: Documentary
Country: USA
Language: English
Duration: 56 min
Year: 2009



Stars: C.J. Bills, Diane Granley, Linda Henderson,Roxanne Hitchcock,Mark Micklos

Out in the Silence is a 2009 documentary film by Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer. It chronicles the chain of events that occur when the severe bullying of a gay teen draws Wilson and his partner back to the conservative rural community of Oil City, Pennsylvania where their own same-sex wedding announcement had previously ignited a controversy. The film focuses on the widely varying, emotional reactions of the town's residents including the teen and his mother, the head of the local chapter of the American Family Association, and an evangelical pastor and his wife.

The Out in the Silence Campaign for Fairness and Equality in Rural and Small Town America uses the film as a tool to raise the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and promote dialogue and bridge building[14]. The campaign has held over 500 grassroots screenings in town halls, schools, churches, and community centers, many in isolated areas that had not previously experienced any openly LGBT events. The Center for Social Media and the BRITDOC Foundation have highlighted the campaign as an example of using film for social change.
In 2011, the Campaign initiated the Out in the Silence Youth Activism Award to highlight the work of young people on LGBT inclusion and equality.