Outrage (2009 film)
Outrage is a 2009 American documentary film written and directed by Kirby Dick. The film presents a narrative discussing the hypocrisy of people purported in the documentary to be closeted gay or bisexual politicians who promote anti-gay legislation. It premiered at the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival before being released theatrically on May 8, 2009. It was nominated for a 2010 Emmy Award, and won Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival's jury award for best documentary. The documentary's prime subject was Michael Rogers, founder of BlogActive.com. Synopsis Overview Outrage argues that several American political figures have led closeted gay lives while supporting and endorsing legislation that is harmful to the gay community. The film examines the mass media's reluctance to discuss issues involving gay politicians despite many comparable news stories about heterosexual politicians and scandals. Outrage describes this behavior as a form of institutionalized homophobia that has resulted in a tacit policy of self-censorship when reporting on these issues. The film is based on the work of blogger Michael Rogers and his site blogactive.com. Subjects Among other subjects, the film includes: Ed Koch, Democratic Mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989, was a lifelong bachelor, dogged by "endless gay rumors", who publicly denied being gay. Although his record on LGBT issues is generally positive, he is blamed for treating the emerging AIDS pandemic in the gay community reluctantly, unlike the health crises he handled in other situations. New York and San Francisco were the main epicenters of AIDS in the early 1980s. Critics, most notably Larry Kramer, believe Koch handled the AIDS crisis poorly because he was closeted. Ken Mehlman, the former Republican national chairman, was named in the film as a closeted homosexual though he was against policies friendly to gays. Mehlman publicly came out in 2010. Larry Craig, former Republican politician and Senator from Idaho. In 2007, Craig was arrested at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport on suspicion of lewd conduct in a men's restroom, where he was accused of soliciting an undercover police officer for sexual activity. Craig pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct by signing and mailing a plea petition. He paid $575, including fines and fees. Interviews People interviewed in Outrage include: Openly gay politicians Tammy Baldwin, former Congresswoman of Wisconsin, now Senator Barney Frank, former Congressman from Massachusetts David Catania, District of Columbia Council member Neil Giuliano, former Mayor of Tempe, Arizona Jim Kolbe, former Congressman from Arizona James McGreevey, former Governor of New Jersey Others Wayne Barrett, investigative reporter and senior editor for the Village Voice Elizabeth Birch, former Executive Director of Human Rights Campaign Kirk Fordham, former chief of staff to US Congressman Mark Foley Patrick Guerriero, former Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans Dan Gurley, former Field Director of Republican National Committee Jim Hormel, former US Ambassador to Luxembourg Larry Kramer, founder of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power Tony Kushner, playwright of Angels in America Rodger McFarlane, former Executive Director of Gay Men's Health Crisis Kevin Naff,