Have nothing to do on a Thursday evening? Join me in Kittanning PA for the screening of “Out in the Silence” a film about being out in rural PA. While the film has been shown in many small towns, the film’s reception in Kittanning has been unique. There have been threats made against the library and the staff there.

Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people live everywhere- in big cites, but all across the state and our country in small towns and rural areas as well. What does it mean when even showing a film, generates hostility and threats of violence?

The location of the screening has interest for me personally, I lived in that area (Ford City to be more accurate) when I was 4 or 5, and my father still lives there. I have a half-brother who is 15 years younger than I who spent his whole life there until he left for college. Growing up, I had very little relationship with my father for a number of reasons, but I always felt as if part of it, was because I was “different” and not quite the son he wanted. Around the time my brother also came out as gay, our relationship changed and we have more of a relationship today than ever before. Still it has a long way to go.

I have often pondered what it must be like for him to think about having 2 gay children. The first, he could chalk up to my mother, and who knows what else. But the second, was born and raised in a small town, church going family environment. Does that impact how he views gay people?

I don’t think it does really, but should it?

So, I’m headed to Kittanning, and even if you have something else to do, why not skip it and join me to support the screening of this film. The gays and lesbians that live there deserve our support. And the little boys and girls who will not grow up to be straight, deserve our support. I invited my father, but he told me that he already had obligations, with this being the week before Easter.

The threatened violence- even the fact that there were threats- doesn’t matter if anything materializes from it, is a perfect illustration of why the screening of this film and a dialogue about it are so crucial there. Since my father isn’t joining me, how about you?

» Pittsburgh Gay Groups Show Support of Library.