Out in the Silence

Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer's documentary about small-town attitudes regarding homosexuality is shot in Wilson's hometown of Oil City, PA, where Wilson decides to publish news of his same-sex marriage in the local newspaper, an act that triggers a wave of angry community responses. One letter Wilson receives, however, is from the mother of C.J. Springer, a gay teenager being harassed in the town's high school. Out in the Silence focuses on C.J.'s social isolation—the teen was forced to leave school and complete his education online—before expanding to look at the efforts of a lesbian couple whose attempts to renovate an old theater are thwarted by the intrusion of a right-wing busybody who rails on a Christian radio station against the “gay agenda.” While both of these stories provide a disturbing view of modern-day intolerance, Wilson unwisely adopts the role of an onscreen narrator whose continually perplexed reactions suggest he is far too naïve for his own good. A parallel third storyline with Wilson and a pastor who protested the newspaper announcement fast-tracks to a “Kumbaya”-like scene of camaraderie that never truly addresses the role that organized religion plays in contributing to anti-gay sentiments that often lead to hate crimes. Still, despite its flaws, Out in the Silence is worthwhile viewing that sheds necessary light on the plight of LGBT youth in a repressive society that is still unwilling to accept diverse sexual orientations. DVD extras include additional scenes and interviews. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)