Your Thoughts

Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments Karly.  Please let your friends know that we’re going to have a series of screening events in small towns across Oregon this November in collaboration with Basic Rights Oregon and the Rural Organizing Project.  We’re hoping to spread the message of OUT IN THE SILENCE to rural communities across the country.

I am not a gay person but when I was 12 years old my mother came out to me as a Lesbian. The year was 1992, we were living in a very small town in Oregon and the reason my mom was coming out to me was because the state was trying to pass an anti-gay rights bill called Measure 9.  She wanted me to understand the importance of gay rights and that it affected us directly. Even though I was only 12 and didn’t understand sexuality let alone homosexuality, I did understand that I had to stand up for my mom. There was never any question in my mind that what my mom was doing was ‘wrong’, she was my mom and I loved her, and that was all that mattered

This movie has touched a cord in my heart that I haven’t felt since those early days of living in fear in my small home-town. Roxanne and Linda remind me so much of my own mother who owned a small local business with her partner in our home town and who also faced bigotry and boycotting simply because of her sexual preference.

I see the same ignorance and intolerance in the face of Diane as I saw in my hometown’s local hate monger (Lon Mabon), and I feel the same frustration that there is no way to get through to these types of people.

But most of all I see the love and support that CJ’s mom gives to her son. It’s that kind of unwavering love that you can only feel when a family member tells you they are gay. It’s what changes you from being just another straight person who thinks it is not your problem, to an activist. Because now it’s personal. It’s what makes you fight the insurmountable odds to try and open even just one mind to the idea that it’s okay to be gay.

As a child who was raised by a Lesbian I am proof that gays are not destroying the family unit. They are not exposing us to dangerous activities and they have no agenda. “What they call our agenda we call living our lives”, truer words were never spoken.

Thank you for this film, thank you to everybody who shared their stories in this movie and thanks for fighting the good fight. Maybe someday we won’t have to fight anymore…

This documentary warms my entire body. Being gay myself, growing up in a small town, I can Identify with CJ. Although I still haven’t come out but to my immediate family and close friends, I feel the urge to tell everybody I know. I cannot express to you how much this documentary has helped me, even in the last 2 hours that I watched it.

CJ’s story is one we hear too often, and at the same time, not enough. To know that there are people in this world that have the courage to do what CJ has done makes me beleive in the good of humanity whereas before I could only see the bad.

Don’t let the hate of others bring you down!!
I was brought up as a str8 boy but my secret to my family was , I am Gay! I have loveing friends and a vary pro-Jesus family. I am so happy someone is going to bat for this kid !! I was not out to my friends growing up and played football and other sports and was leading the lie like most young gay kids do growing up facing fear.  I was brought up in Jacksonville Florida with the belief as long as nobody knows its ok. I am out and lost a vary good job because i am gay from a pro-Jesus agency. I got in the Bail Bonds industry at about age 21 and I am now 39.
This was the best show Hulu has ever put up on this site !!!
I have the rebublic at heart and bleed ,red ,white, and blue!
I am gay and tuff and tired of keeping my mouth shut !!

I just watched your film “Out in the Silence”. Great stuff. I was raised in a mountain community in California. I’ve always heard it called “redneck central”. Unlike C.J., I was able to exist as a gay young man. I was never harassed, or made to feel that bigots are expected. I see many similarities between my teenage attitude an C.J.‘s. It makes me wonder why there are two different results from the same situation. I wanted to say thank you for bringing this story to production. If you have the opportunity please let C.J.know that the struggles that he has faced will help make the path of others who come after him, a little easier.

Lived in State College, Pa for 7 years in the 1990s and worked at WPSU and am glad to have found the film.  We aired it on WILL-TV, where I know work, in central Illinois tonight. 

I remember this preacher named Gary who used to preach anti-gay remarks on the PSU campus.  Every week day he’d be outside Sparks building saying his stuff.  One day my girlfriend and I kissed in front of him and there were many gasps.  It was a provocative thing to do and took some courage.  We were treated OK as a same-sex couple and organized many rallies and talks. 

I thought the film was excellent.  Thank you for this labor of love and all of the relationships you portrayed.

I have also thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the comments posted by viewers.

Thank you all!

I recently had the privilege of seeing your film. Your approach and sensitivity to the matter really made me think. Hopefully it will affect others as it has affected me.

Having downloaded the film, I will now be buying my own copy to support your work.

Our PFLAG Chaper just used some grant funding to order 10 copies of this excellent film. It speaks to several important issues about making our schools and community open and safe for everyone- but also about creating economic viability across our nation. Increasingly people want to live and raise their families in places that respect diversity. This film helps us understand that in a meaningful way.

I left Franklin some 30 years ago. I am glad this film exists and glad that I was able to see it on a local PBS station. I’ll show it by sending them a check. I’m saddened but not surprised to learn about the young men’s experiences with bigotry. A line from the film stays with me; something like, “what they call an agenda we call our lives.”

I have one friend left in the area. I rarely visit but I still feel enough attachment to feel ashamed of my hometown.

Over the years I have had friends and aquaintences that were both bi and gay. I have suppprted womens rights, gay rights, aboriginal rights and I do not know what else because I could not tolerate intollerance (there must be an oxymoron in there somewhere!?).

NO person should be judged because they are different than anyone else.  No person should have to suffer intollerance because of ignorance.  Education should start early in life and be reinforced through the community and education system

My support of your struggle and the tribulations of untold millions of people is - and shall not be - another footnote in history, but shall be proclaimed in headlines and writ large!
Do not ever question yourself or who you are - you are a person equal to all others, and a leader, mentor, peer, inspiration to those who for many reasons can not find or do not have a voice.

As a middle aged straight male secure with my sensitive, new age, or whatever the hell you want to call it, side - I send you my best wishes, support, and a hug.