The film advertisement shows two suited men standing arm in arm, their backs to the camera, as they face capitol hill with an American flag soaring overhead. The caption beneath the title, reads: Do Ask. Do Tell.
The documentary, Outrage, by film maker Kirby Dick exposes the anti-gay voting record of powerful and closeted gay men, such as Florida governor Charlie Crist, David Dreier (R-San Dimas), once a contender for the House majority leader post, and Ed Koch former mayor of New York. Even news anchor Sam Shepard of Fox is cited.
Outrage is Not Outrageous
Kirby makes the valid point that closeted gay men such as Crist, Dreier, Koch and others are the epitome of hypocrisy. Not only do they deny evident tendencies of their own sexuality, they actively influence political policy denying equal rights to all homosexuals. In addition, these men embrace a political party that made history in 2006 by trying to promote an historically discriminatory piece of legislation known as the Federal Marriage Amendment.
What Kirby gets right in Outrage is the answer to the obvious question of Why? If these political honchos are gay, why would they so vehemently deny their own best interests? If the question is framed from the perspective of someone desperate to conceal himself, and to further his ambition, the question easily becomes: Why not? Gloria Steinem, feminist and founder of Ms Magazine, once said, “The closer we are to power, the more passive we have to be kept.”
Outrage Lacks Documentation and Sources
What Kirby gets wrong are his sources. He does not definitively out one politician or public figure who has not already acknowledged his sexual orientation. Florida citizens may or may not believe Charlie Crist is gay, but it is not convincing evidence to film a friend who told a friend about a male gubernatorial paramour (who is now conveniently dead) or that the governor was spotted in a gay bar by an anonymous source. Kirby, using the beleaguered former senator Larry Craig as a foil, frames his suspects who dare to protest as doubly pathological without any real proof.
Even Kirby’s explanation about the media “protecting” gay Republican politicians rings false on more than one level. Is such discretion “protection” or common decency? Small wonder that Winter Park, Florida’s Enzian Theater’s Movie Club is hosting a panel discussion, entitled, Outrage: Artistic Responsibility vs. Sensationalism.
Kirby also presents Outrage as a primarily male outrage and does not spend any time demonizing gay women, beyond obvious Judettes such as Mary Cheney. Is he implying that all lesbian politicians are open about their sexuality? Or is he saying that they don’t really have any influence anyway, so it doesn’t matter? Either way, the implication is biased.
Outrage Offers Platitudes Instead of Solutions
The viewer is left grappling with the sage moral that gay politicians only hurt themselves with their deceptions, and if they would bust open the closet door they’d feel so much better, and they would do so much good. Unfortunately Kirby does not provide any evidence to support that theory. Most politicians who come out, consequently resign, like McGreevey, former governor of New Jersey. Even if they don’t resign, can they get reelected? Kirby glibly reassures the viewer that most voters don’t know much about the issues, and they just rely on their government representatives to tell them how to vote. If their leaders told them to accept gay legislation, they would just do it.
If Kirby can minimize the real issues of hate crime, prejudice, and homophobia just to further his documentary agenda, then the viewer has no choice other than Outrage.
