Knight at the Movies Archives
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
A riveting documentary on the clash between conservative Christians and gays, a camptacular, one night only special event for
Chicago area fans of disco roller skating musicals hosted by the alter ego of yours truly
Chicago area fans of disco roller skating musicals hosted by the alter ego of yours truly
About midway through For the Bible Tells Me So, Daniel Karslake’s riveting documentary about the decades long pummeling
gays have been subjected to by religious fundamentalists a woman holds up a protest sign that reads, “Stop Spiritual Violence.”
After 30 plus years of a non-stop media campaign (from Anita Bryant to George W. Bush) from these fear mongering religious
conservatives here at last was the phrase that hits the nail on the head. Subconsciously, that’s what I’ve been reeling from since
Bryant went public in the mid 70s with her anti-gay rhetoric – the first celebrity that I can recall spewing this nonstop form of, yes,
“spiritual violence.”
Bryant eventually got dumped as the spokesperson for Florida orange juice for her strongly held convictions that we homos were an
abomination but did enormous damage that still lingers. She was famously caught on camera during a press conference taking a
pie in the face for her intolerant stance in 1977 and it’s this footage that opens Karslake’s film. The clip includes what came after –
when Bryant ignored the dripping pie and seized on the chance to further dramatize the moment. Clutching the hands of her
cohorts, she immediately leads a prayer for the soul of the depraved “fruit” pie thrower and his ilk – sure to be damned to the
proverbial “lake of fire” if the “sin” of homosexuality wasn’t renounced forthwith.
But as Karslake’s movie asks, “Is the Bible an excuse to hate?” and, “Can the love between two people be an abomination?” These
are huge questions for one movie and Karslake’s film obviously can’t answer them but it does delve into how this social conundrum
came to exist. It also traces the rise of religious intolerance for Our People fostered by our fear based society as it follows the
stories of several gay and lesbian individuals raised in families with strict religious beliefs and their relationship to these families
over the process of their coming out. The profiles include the troubled journeys to acceptance of two well known leaders in the gay
community among them – Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson and Chrissy Gephardt, daughter of politician Richard Gephardt.
Interspersed among these stories are a group of religious scholars who examine the questionable way homosexual references have
been historically twisted by fundamentalists to line up with their narrow viewpoints.
Many of these religious right leaders are defined as being biblical literalists who interpret ancient scripture through a modern prism.
The scholars point out the craziness of this literal point of view and Karslake includes a scene from an episode of “The West Wing” in
which Martin Sheen as the President confronts a fundamentalist to emphasize the point. Karslake also points out that the majority
of these religious leaders are raking in millions – a convenient lapse in adherence to biblical literalism. But none of these
conservative big guns are taken to task for their misguidance or are confronted on camera. I’d have liked a more hard hitting
approach to the topic (as in the recent documentary on abortion Lake of Fire) which on camera interviews from the opposing viewpoint
might have offered and Karslake includes a potentially galvanizing “what if?” moment when at one point David Poteat, a young gay
activist and his parents who have converted to true Christian values do try to meet with Focus on the Family’s James Dobson in
Colorado but only get as far as stepping onto the property before being arrested.
This isn’t surprising. With such a great fear based; hated filled cause useful in raising millions for their coffers which one of these
media savvy fundamentalist leaders would be expected to backtrack – especially on camera? What’s in it for them? But even
though For the Bible Tells Me So doesn’t give us confrontations and bites off more than it can chew plenty of anecdotal evidence to
hope that these intolerant, prejudicial opinions will move in a more enlightened direction is offered up. The heartbreaking example
of Mary Lou Wallner, a former arch conservative whose rigidness led to the suicide of her lesbian daughter is more than enough of a
lesson to serve as a warning of the terrible price religious ignorance can garner. Here’s hoping that those who need to hear it most
are listening. Plays exclusively at the Music Box Theatre, November 30-December 6. www.musicboxtheatre.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In addition to the heart wrenching, fascinating For the Bible Tells Me So Chicago's Music Box Theatre is also offering something much
lighter, a Windy City first: a one night midnight screening of Sing-Along Xanadu. This sure to be memorable showing of the
rancid but beloved 1980 roller disco musical starring Olivia Newton John, her leg warmers, hunky Michael Beck, and Gene Kelly in his
last film will be emceed by Dick O’Day, the alter ego of yours truly. My Dick O’Day character has joined with Hell and a Handbag
Theatre’s Artistic Director David Cerda and members of the Handbag company to present the first in a seasonal series of
“camptacular” midnight screenings of camp classics called appropriately enough “Camp Midnight.” The Saturday, December 1st
Midnight screening of Sing-Along Xanadu will include lots of games and surprises as well as prizes (including a pair of tickets) from
“Xanadu on Broadway” and an audience of queens belting out “Magic,” Xanadu,” “I’m Alive,” and all those other songs. Costumes
and roller skates are encouraged. Tickets are $12 and are available in advance. www.musicboxtheatre.com
gays have been subjected to by religious fundamentalists a woman holds up a protest sign that reads, “Stop Spiritual Violence.”
After 30 plus years of a non-stop media campaign (from Anita Bryant to George W. Bush) from these fear mongering religious
conservatives here at last was the phrase that hits the nail on the head. Subconsciously, that’s what I’ve been reeling from since
Bryant went public in the mid 70s with her anti-gay rhetoric – the first celebrity that I can recall spewing this nonstop form of, yes,
“spiritual violence.”
Bryant eventually got dumped as the spokesperson for Florida orange juice for her strongly held convictions that we homos were an
abomination but did enormous damage that still lingers. She was famously caught on camera during a press conference taking a
pie in the face for her intolerant stance in 1977 and it’s this footage that opens Karslake’s film. The clip includes what came after –
when Bryant ignored the dripping pie and seized on the chance to further dramatize the moment. Clutching the hands of her
cohorts, she immediately leads a prayer for the soul of the depraved “fruit” pie thrower and his ilk – sure to be damned to the
proverbial “lake of fire” if the “sin” of homosexuality wasn’t renounced forthwith.
But as Karslake’s movie asks, “Is the Bible an excuse to hate?” and, “Can the love between two people be an abomination?” These
are huge questions for one movie and Karslake’s film obviously can’t answer them but it does delve into how this social conundrum
came to exist. It also traces the rise of religious intolerance for Our People fostered by our fear based society as it follows the
stories of several gay and lesbian individuals raised in families with strict religious beliefs and their relationship to these families
over the process of their coming out. The profiles include the troubled journeys to acceptance of two well known leaders in the gay
community among them – Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson and Chrissy Gephardt, daughter of politician Richard Gephardt.
Interspersed among these stories are a group of religious scholars who examine the questionable way homosexual references have
been historically twisted by fundamentalists to line up with their narrow viewpoints.
Many of these religious right leaders are defined as being biblical literalists who interpret ancient scripture through a modern prism.
The scholars point out the craziness of this literal point of view and Karslake includes a scene from an episode of “The West Wing” in
which Martin Sheen as the President confronts a fundamentalist to emphasize the point. Karslake also points out that the majority
of these religious leaders are raking in millions – a convenient lapse in adherence to biblical literalism. But none of these
conservative big guns are taken to task for their misguidance or are confronted on camera. I’d have liked a more hard hitting
approach to the topic (as in the recent documentary on abortion Lake of Fire) which on camera interviews from the opposing viewpoint
might have offered and Karslake includes a potentially galvanizing “what if?” moment when at one point David Poteat, a young gay
activist and his parents who have converted to true Christian values do try to meet with Focus on the Family’s James Dobson in
Colorado but only get as far as stepping onto the property before being arrested.
This isn’t surprising. With such a great fear based; hated filled cause useful in raising millions for their coffers which one of these
media savvy fundamentalist leaders would be expected to backtrack – especially on camera? What’s in it for them? But even
though For the Bible Tells Me So doesn’t give us confrontations and bites off more than it can chew plenty of anecdotal evidence to
hope that these intolerant, prejudicial opinions will move in a more enlightened direction is offered up. The heartbreaking example
of Mary Lou Wallner, a former arch conservative whose rigidness led to the suicide of her lesbian daughter is more than enough of a
lesson to serve as a warning of the terrible price religious ignorance can garner. Here’s hoping that those who need to hear it most
are listening. Plays exclusively at the Music Box Theatre, November 30-December 6. www.musicboxtheatre.com
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
In addition to the heart wrenching, fascinating For the Bible Tells Me So Chicago's Music Box Theatre is also offering something much
lighter, a Windy City first: a one night midnight screening of Sing-Along Xanadu. This sure to be memorable showing of the
rancid but beloved 1980 roller disco musical starring Olivia Newton John, her leg warmers, hunky Michael Beck, and Gene Kelly in his
last film will be emceed by Dick O’Day, the alter ego of yours truly. My Dick O’Day character has joined with Hell and a Handbag
Theatre’s Artistic Director David Cerda and members of the Handbag company to present the first in a seasonal series of
“camptacular” midnight screenings of camp classics called appropriately enough “Camp Midnight.” The Saturday, December 1st
Midnight screening of Sing-Along Xanadu will include lots of games and surprises as well as prizes (including a pair of tickets) from
“Xanadu on Broadway” and an audience of queens belting out “Magic,” Xanadu,” “I’m Alive,” and all those other songs. Costumes
and roller skates are encouraged. Tickets are $12 and are available in advance. www.musicboxtheatre.com
What Hath God Wrought:
For the Bible Tells Me So-Sing-Along Xanadu
11-22-07 Windy City Times Knight at the Movies Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
For the Bible Tells Me So-Sing-Along Xanadu
11-22-07 Windy City Times Knight at the Movies Column
By Richard Knight, Jr.
