Films: Not That Kind of Christian!!

Not That Kind of Christian!!

USA, 2007, 81 Minute Running Time
Genre/Subjects: African-American, Documentary, GLBT, Political, Religion, Social Issues
Program: Documentary Films
Language: English

DIRECTOR: Andrew Grossman
Producer: Andrew Grossman, Paul Lee
Cinematographer: Samantha Schutz
Principal Cast: Louie Crew, V. Gene Robinson, John S. Spong, David Virtue, Douglas LeBlanc, Isaac Ihiasota

Not That Kind of Christian!! examines the struggle gays and lesbians are waging to gain acceptance within the Episcopal Church as well as the schism it threatens to create between conservative and liberal Anglicans worldwide – all while considering the potential it shows for preserving personal liberties at the highest institutional levels.

As he celebrates the headway made by activists seeking to overturn prejudicial canons, director Andrew Grossman doesn't hesitate to offer a critique of organized religion, highlighting the ways in which devout faith leads to the codification of nationalism, homophobia, and various other forms of oppression. Offering insiders' perspectives, Grossman's many Christian-identified interviewees suggest (intentionally or not) that those institutions most responsible for propagating bigotry may be the ones best suited to eradicate it – the Church included. Situating themselves all along the spectrum of the debate, these subjects include gay activist Louie Crew, founder of LGBT Anglican association Integrity USA; the self-professed agnostic bishop John S. Spong; Gene Robinson, the world's first openly gay bishop; and David Virtue, Anglicanism's most influential anti-gay spokesperson. Grossman also gives voice to the diverse Episcopalians with whom Louie Crew himself conducted anonymous telephone interviews to obtain an unprompted, uncensored account of the “average” parishioner's stance on sexual inclusivity. The documentary also includes commentary by Ernest Clay, Crew's African-American husband of thirty-two years – who, like Crew, emerged from the conservative religious environment of the Deep South to embrace a more liberal Episcopalian tradition. On the periphery of Not That Kind of Christian!! lies an understanding of the ways in which homophobia continues to operate in multiple cultural and historical contexts, encouraging viewers to extrapolate viable solutions.

In Cooperation with: GLBT Community Center of Colorado

The following short films will screen before this film...

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  I Just Wanted to Be Somebody

  USA , 2006 , 10 min.
  Director: Jay Rosenblatt What do the religious right and the gay liberation movement have in common? Both were fortified by the efforts of one woman – Anita Bryant.... more