Mississippi: I Am

'NSYNC singer Lance Bass, who came out as gay in 2006, is the co-producer and host of this documentary directed by Katherine Linton and Harriet Hirshorn, which focuses on a number of young LGBT Mississippians who are out and proud. Bass and his family faced a harsh reaction from his home state when he declared his sexual orientation, and while homophobia has hardly disappeared from Mississippi, a new generation of LGBT youth is openly pushing back against the intolerance and (in many cases) violence aimed at them. The most prominent among those featured here is Constance McMillen, who made national headlines in 2010 when she challenged her high school's policy of forbidding same-sex couples from attending the senior prom; facing a lawsuit, the school cancelled the event rather than allow McMillen to attend with her girlfriend. Others profiled here have not gained similar attention, but they celebrate their everyday lives and activities with a level of comfort that was unthinkable even a decade ago. The creation of the LGBT-inclusive Safe Harbor Family Church also provides a local sanctuary for those who cannot accept the heavy-handed anti-gay rhetoric from many Mississippi congregations. Mississippi is, admittedly, a bit slow to embrace change—the Confederate war banner is still a part of the state flag. Nonetheless, this film offers evidence that equal rights for LGBT Americans have taken root and blossomed in the Magnolia State. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)