Proposition 8 Documentary Criticizing Mormon Church Premieres Without Protest
Posted: 25th Jan 2010 Author: Michelle Penny Topics: Film
Rumors that there were would be antigay protests at the screening of a Proposition 8 documentary about the Mormon church’s role in the 2008 political campaign appeared to be untrue as last night the Sundance Film Festival documentary played to a receptive crowd. However it was not to go completely without disturbance as around 24 gay marriage activists gathered in the parking lot outside the premiere of 8: The Mormon Proposition chanting “Separate, church from 8″.
Produced by Reed Cown, who was a former Utah Mormon, the film acts to uncover the fact that the locally based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was the driving force behind Proposition 8 which acted to ban gay marriage. Met with protest from the Utah anti-gay equality group, America Forever who sent over 80,000 faxes denouncing the festival, film and it’s makers, the Mormon church has however stayed silent on the matter.
Known for their work in fighting marriage equality legislation across the U.S. since the early 1990s, and their position of not being opposed to civil unions and limited rights if they did not impinge on religious liberties, the actions of church leaders to urge Mormons to donate millions of dollars to the Yes on 8 campaign still came as a shock to many gay right advocates who expressed their anger via marches and protests following the vote.
A spokeswoman for the Mormon church, Kim Farah, said that church officials had no yet seen the film, but she believed from the trailer that both
“…accuracy and truth are rare commodities in this film”
and that
“Judging from the trailer and background material online, it appears that accuracy and truth are rare commodities in this film,” Farah said. “Although we have given many interviews on this topic we had no desire to participate in something so obviously biased.”
Featuring narration by the Mormon raised Academy Award winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, the film follows the Proposition 8 campaign and is integrated with stories both gay and heterosexual Mormons. Two of those featured are Tyler Barrick and Spencer Jones, a couple who married on June 17, 2008, the day same sex marriage became legal in California.
Speaking about their role in the film Jones said
“The film found us … We’re just two gay guys from Utah who were able to get married. Our story is really a lot of people’s story.”
Exploring not only their story, but also how their lives and choices have affected others around then, the film explores how Barrick’s family quite the church over the decision of the couple to marry whilst Jones’s family have objected to the marriage, and according to Jones have refused to find any joy” in his happiness. He also spoke of his hope that they don’t see the film as attacking the church because “It’s not about that. The message is mutual respect. We should be just as respected under the laws of California as anyone else.”
You can see the trailer for this Proposition 8 documentary below, and find out more about the film itself at the 8: The Mormon Proposition website.
