Outrage (2009 film) explained

Outrage
Director:	Kirby Dick
Producer:	Amy Ziering
Music:	Peter Golub
Cinematography:	Thaddeus Wadleigh
Editing:	Douglas Blush Matthew Clarke
Studio:	Chain Camera Pictures
Distributor:	Magnolia Pictures
Runtime:	89 minutes
Country:	United States
Language:	English
Gross:	$287,198^[1]

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.^{[2] [3]} 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.^[4]
• Ken Mehlman, the former Republican national chairman, was named in the film as a closeted homosexual though he was against policies friendly to gays.^[5] 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.^{[6] [7]} Craig pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct by signing and mailing a plea petition. He paid $575, including fines and fees.^[8]

Interviews

People interviewed in Outrage include:

Openly gay politicians

• Tammy Baldwin, former Congresswoman of Wisconsin, now Senator^{[9] [10] [11]}
• Barney Frank, former Congressman from Massachusetts^{[9] [12] [13] [10] [11] [14]}
• David Catania, District of Columbia Council member^{[10] [15]}
• Neil Giuliano, former Mayor of Tempe, Arizona^[16]
• Jim Kolbe, former Congressman from Arizona^{[17] [9] [12] [11] [18]}
• James McGreevey, former Governor of New Jersey^{[17] [9] [12] [13] [10] [11] [14]}

Others

• Wayne Barrett, investigative reporter and senior editor for the Village Voice
• Elizabeth Birch, former Executive Director of Human Rights Campaign^[18]
• Kirk Fordham, former chief of staff to US Congressman Mark Foley^[9]
• Patrick Guerriero, former Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans
• Dan Gurley, former Field Director of Republican National Committee^[15]
• Jim Hormel, former US Ambassador to Luxembourg^[16]
• Larry Kramer, founder of AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power^{[9] [14] [19]}
• Tony Kushner, playwright of Angels in America^{[9] [13] [18]}
• Rodger McFarlane, former Executive Director of Gay Men's Health Crisis^[20]
• Kevin Naff, Editor at The Washington Blade^[18]
• Michael Rogers, founder of Blogactive^{[9] [12] [10] [18] [14] [15] [19]}
• Hilary Rosen, Democratic lobbyist^[18]
• Michelangelo Signorile, radio host^{[20] [18] [19]}
• Andrew Sullivan, columnist for The Atlantic^{[9] [20] [18] [14]}
• Rich Tafel, former Executive Director of Log Cabin Republicans^{[9] [20] [18]}

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Organization	Category	Result
2009	Jury Award	Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival	Best Documentary	Won^[21]
2010	Emmy Award	National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences	Outstanding Investigative Journalism: Long Form	Nominated^[22]

Reception

Film critics responded, for the most part, with positive reviews. Scott Foundas of The Village Voice praised Outrage for its "well-honed arguments, sound sourcing, and journalistic boldness",^[23] and the San Francisco Chronicle's Jonathan Curiel described it as "essential viewing".^[24] Variety's John Anderson wrote that the film "is operating from a position of righteous indignation, and that indignation is infectious", while criticizing the film's lack of evidence in making certain arguments.^[25] Critic Armond White disliked the film, calling it "no more serious than the spiteful gossipy clown Perez Hilton", and writing that the decision to only out conservatives "influences ideological separatism, encouraging the idea of elite gay privilege".^[26]

Controversies

Naming

While some journalists named the political figures discussed in the film,^{[27] [28] [29]} other prominent news organizations, such as The Washington Post, CNN, and NPR, did not report names.^{[30] [31] [32]} Dick questioned this reluctance, saying, "The press often reports on things that are very painful to the subjects they are writing about. [Closeted gay politicians] are public officials; this is reporting on hypocrisy, and there is an obligation on the press to write about it."

NPR review

In a review for NPR,^[19] film critic Nathan Lee named Outrage's primary subjects. NPR altered Lee's review by removing these references.^{[33] [34]} Lee responded in a comment on NPR's website:

NPR deleted this comment as well. An NPR editor later explained these actions, noting that, "NPR has a long-held policy of trying to respect the privacy of public figures and of not airing or publishing rumors, allegations and reports about their private lives unless there is a compelling reason to do so."^[35] This statement drew immediate criticism, as NPR had previously speculated on the sexual orientation of public figures such as Adam Lambert and Queen Latifah.^[36] This led to questions about why closeted entertainers presented a "compelling reason" for reporting while closeted politicians did not.^[37]

GLAAD Media Awards

Outrage did not receive a nomination for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation's 21st GLAAD Media Awards.^[38] Some journalists wrote that this decision must have been a deliberate snub because Outrage had been one of 2009's most prominent LGBT films.^{[39] [40] [41] [42]} GLAAD responded to the criticism by arguing that Outrage "doesn't promote awareness, understanding and respect for LGBT lives and thus does not fit the criteria for the GLAAD Media Awards".^[43] Dick said that he was troubled by GLAAD's apparent stance against reporting on closeted anti-gay politicians, noting that "by taking this position, GLAAD is playing into the same philosophy that has kept the closet in place in politics for decades and has caused so much damage".^[44]

See also

• List of federal political sex scandals in the United States
• Outing

Further reading

• Newsweek. How Queer Is That? - Funny how prominent conservatives with antigay records are so often caught in gay sex scandals, isn't it?. June 7, 2010. 155. 23. 56. Back Story . 0028-9604. Newsweek Inc.

External links

• • • Interview with film director Kirby Dick at Salon.com

Notes and References

1. https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=outrage09.htm Outrage (2009) - Box Office Mojo
2. News: Andy . Humm . Ed Koch: 12 Years as Mayor, A Lifetime in the Closet . . New York . February 3, 2013 . May 27, 2014.
3. News: Meredith . Bennett-Smith . Ed Koch Gay? LGBT Community Weighs In On Late NYC Mayor's Polarizing Gay Rights Record . . February 1, 2013 . May 27, 2014.
4. News: Judging Mayor Koch's AIDS Record, Whispers Aside . Ginia . Bellafante . Big City (column) . . January 18, 2013 . May 27, 2014.
5. News: Ken Mehlman Owes Gays an Apology, Says Gay Activist Who Outed Him . August 26, 2010 . Wachter . Paul . . April 12, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120315024603/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/08/26/ken-mehlman-owes-gays-an-apology-says-gay-activist-who-outed-hi/ . March 15, 2012 .
6. Web site: Tourists flock to Minneapolis airport men's room . Jeanne . Huff . September 17, 2007 . . March 10, 2010.
7. News: HBO documentary 'Outrage' hits hypocritical gay politicians with an angry call to clean the closet . October 5, 2009 . . New York . March 10, 2010.
8. State Of Minnesota vs Larry Edwin Craig. Case No. 27-Cr-07-043231. . Hennepin County District Court . 07/02/2007 . http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/default.aspx . May 7, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071118170020/http://pa.courts.state.mn.us/default.aspx . dead . Note: In order to access the records, search by name or case number in the Criminal/Traffic/Petty Case Records database.
9. Web site: Behind Washington's closet door . O'Hehir . Andrew . May 7, 2009 . Salon . Salon Media Group . April 12, 2013.
10. News: 'Outrage' Drags Politics' Conservative Wingtips Out of the Closet . https://archive.today/20130615192713/http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2009-05-08/news/36848305_1_gay-rights-director-kirby-dick-outrage . dead . June 15, 2013 . Zak . Dan . May 8, 2009 . Washington Post . April 12, 2013.
11. News: 'Outrage' takes on closeted gay politicians . Guthmann . Edward . May 10, 2009 . San Francisco Chronicle . SFGate.com . April 12, 2013.
12. News: 'Outrage': Documentary opens the closet door on gay politicians . Paris . Barry . June 18, 2009 . Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . April 12, 2013.
13. News: Outrage peers behind the closet door at Washington's not-so-secret gays . Foundas . Scott . June 11, 2009 . Dallas Observer . April 12, 2009 . February 9, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150209111738/http://www.dallasobserver.com/2009-06-11/film/outrage-peers-behind-the-closet-door-at-washington-s-not-so-secret-gays/full/ . dead .
14. News: Secret Lives in the Age of Gay Rights . Scott . A. O. . May 7, 2009 . The New York Times . April 12, 2013.
15. Secret Lives: Kirby Dick's new documentary looks at closeted politicians . Plant . Tim . May 7, 2009 . Metro Weekly . Washington, DC . April 12, 2013 . February 6, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130206172908/http://metroweekly.com/arts_entertainment/film.php?ak=4225 . dead .
16. Web site: Full cast and crew for Outrage (2009) . Internet Movie Database . April 12, 2013.
17. News: Kirby Dick Is Outraged! . Milvy . Erika . April 27, 2009 . Advocate . Here Media . April 12, 2013.
18. Web site: Closeted Gay Politicians Hung Out to Dry in Outrage . Towle . Andy . Andy Towle . Towleroad . April 23, 2009 . April 12, 2013.
19. News: White-Hot 'Outrage' Over The Capitol Hill Closet . Movies . NPR . May 8, 2009 . April 12, 2013 . Lee . Nathan. This NPR piece is reported to have previously included the byline of Nathan Lee, and to have listed Charlie Crist. Megan Slack (May 29, 2009), "'Outrage' Documentary: Activists Outing Gay Conservatives, Huffington Post.
20. The elixir of role-playing: Notes on Outrage . Thompson . N. P. . Slant . June 7, 2009 . April 12, 2013.
21. News: Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival . Best Documentary . . April 24, 2009.
22. News: Two films with Idaho political connections to be honored at Emmy Awards . The Idaho Statesman . July 21, 2010 . Dan . Popkey.
23. Web site: Kirby Dick's Outrage Outs Closeted Pols and the Media that Protect Them . Foundas . Scott . The Village Voice . 2009-05-05 . 2009-06-17 . 2009-06-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090614141446/http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-05-06/film/kirby-dick-s-outrage-outs-closeted-pols-and-the-media-that-protect-them . dead .
24. Web site: Review: Outrage . Curiel . Jonathan . The San Francisco Chronicle . 2009-05-08 . 2009-06-17.
25. Web site: Outrage . Anderson . John . Variety . 2009-04-25 . 2009-06-17.
26. Web site: Outrage . White . Armond . New York Press . 2009-05-06 . 2009-08-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090509093248/http://www.nypress.com/article-19762-outrage.html . 2009-05-09 . dead .
27. Web site: Movie Review: Outrage . Turan . Kenneth . The Los Angeles Times . 2009-05-08 . 2009-06-17.
28. Web site: Outrage: Dick Outs, Gays Hide . Foundas . Scott . LA Weekly . 2009-05-06 . 2009-06-17.
29. Web site: New film doesn't 'out' Gov. Crist . Reinhard . Beth . The Miami Herald . 2009-05-01 . 2009-06-17.
30. News: Documentary's Camera Aims To Shed Light On D.C.'s Closet . Leiby . Richard . The Washington Post . 2009-05-06 . 2009-06-17.
31. Web site: Outrage: New film outs gay politicians . CNN . 2009-05-03 . 2009-06-17.
32. Web site: White-Hot 'Outrage' Over The Capitol Hill Closet . NPR.org . 2009-05-08 . 2009-06-17.
33. Web site: "Outrage" Review Spiked for Naming Names . Hernandez . Eugene . indieWIRE . 2009-05-11 . 2009-06-17.
34. Web site: NPR Censors Its Own Review of Outrage, Cites "Old-Fashioned" and Quite Possibly Dishonest Policy . Baron . Zach . The Village Voice . 2009-05-11 . 2009-06-17 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090614135617/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2009/05/npr_censors_its.php . 2009-06-14 .
35. Web site: NPR's Hypocrisy: Outrage Review Censored, Gay Idol Speculation OK . Buchanan . Kyle . Movieline . 2009-05-11 . 2009-06-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090514144514/http://www.movieline.com/2009/05/nprs-hypocrisy-outrage-review-censored-gay-idol-speculation-ok.php . 2009-05-14 . dead .
36. Web site: Why Is NPR Picking And Choosing Which Public Figures To Out? . Queerty . 2009-05-12 . 2009-06-17.
37. Web site: NPR Responds to Movieline's Accusations of Hypocritical Outrage Handling . Buchanan . Kyle . Movieline . 2009-05-22 . 2009-06-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090527014635/http://www.movieline.com/2009/05/npr-responds-to-movielines-accusations-of-hypocritical-outrage-handling.php . 2009-05-27 . dead .
38. Web site: 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards . Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation . 2010-01-13 . 2010-11-05.
39. Web site: Outrage Endures the Final Insult with a GLAAD Awards Snub . Abramovitch . Seth . Movieline . 2010-01-13 . 2010-11-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101228131334/http://www.movieline.com/2010/01/outrage-endures-the-final-insult-with-a-glaad-awards-snub.php . 2010-12-28 . dead .
40. Web site: "Outrage"-ous GLAAD Media Award Nominees . Knegt . Peter . Indiewire . 2010-01-13 . 2010-11-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100323024523/http://blogs.indiewire.com/thelostboy/archives/outrage-ous_glaad_media_award_nominees/ . 2010-03-23 . dead .
41. Web site: GLAAD Nominates Every Movie + TV Show With Gay Characters, Appeal, Punchlines. Except Outrage? . Queerty . 2010-01-13 . 2010-11-05.
42. Web site: Did GLAAD Snub Outrage? . Bolcer . Julie . The Advocate . 2010-01-15 . 2010-11-05 .
43. Web site: Outrage not Nominated for a GLAAD Award . Rogers . Mike . BlogActive . 2010-01-15 . 2010-11-05 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101222141945/http://blog.blogactive.com/2010/01/outrage-not-nominated-for-glaad-award.html . 2010-12-22 .
44. Web site: Outrage Director Kirby Dick Responds to Awards Snub: 'Isn't it Time for GLAAD to Stop Protecting the Closet?' . Towle . Andy . Towleroad . 2010-01-20 . 2010-11-05.