Hate Crime: The Movie

I was invited by the writer/director, Tommy Stovall, to attend the NYC opening screening of his new film, Hate Crime, at Two Boots' Pioneer Theater on E. 3rd street. It was a special night because it also benefited The Anti-Violence Project (which I turned to for help several years ago when in a violent relationship).
IMDb synopsis:

Robbie Levinson and Trey McCoy suddenly encounter intolerance and hostility at the hands of their new neighbor, Chris Boyd, the son of a fundamentalist preacher. One evening, Trey sets out on his nightly walk with their dog and never returns. Immediately, fingers are pointed and Chris and Robbie become the prime suspects. With no support from the authorities, Robbie receives help from some unlikely sources to execute a desperate and dangerous plan that uncovers secrets that will turn many lives upside-down and ultimately bring the perpetrator to justice, regardless of the consequences.

After the screening, a couple of the actors, the director and producers, and Clarence Patton(Exec. Dir. of AVP) fielded questions. Fellow blogger Richard(PAYOR), asked about the rise in GLBT hate crime and what can be done about it. Clarence offered an interesting synopsis of the recent rise and some key indicators as to why.
He stated that after the landmark 2003 Lawrence v. Texas Supreme Court decision that, in effect, struck down sodomy laws, we gays experienced a glimpse of freedom and celebration not seen in a while. He called it a "gay summer," as in, it was ours and we owned it. Remember?
But evil and discrimination was watching and about to raise its ugly head. Concurrent with the visibility of gays in mainstream society, hate crimes and discrimination seem to keep up a steady and equal pace.
That summer of 2003 - our summer - saw the beginning of a sharp rise in hate crimes against the GLBT culture. It jumped, for example, from 3% to 26%. It jumped even more in 2004. Why? Well it was an election year, and every fag knows that hating us is the golden key to winning mainstream America's heart and vote. Clarence noted, incidentally, that prison inmates who had committed hate crimes against gays overwhelmingly used the Bible as a defense and justification for their crimes and murders.
I stated how I sometimes have a dark view of the future for gays in these, our United States of America and how I can easily take a comparative view of European Jews during pre-WWII Germany. There are those that get out early (I have friends who have already immigrated to Canada), and then there are those of us who stay, bite the bullet and say, "but this is America." I just don't know.
I then asked if the panel felt that things were looking better or worse for gays. Clarence of AVP then made an encouraging, yet chillingly ironic statement - things are looking better for us (read: hate crimes seem to be waning) because, despite "Brokeback," we are experiencing less visibility in the mainstream media and consciousness. If that is true, it seems cruelly indicative of our true status in society: we're tolerated as long as we're not seen and don't make much noise. THAT rings true to me. Not sure about this? Read an article in the Washinton Post and discover what happens to gay youths in schools as our gay visibility rises:
Anti-gay slurs common at school: Some say insults increase as gays visibility rises
I mentioned to the director as we were leaving the theater that seeing this film was a very visceral punch in the gut. I was so tense and disturbed throughout the film because I identified so closely with the gay characters and recognized so easily the ugly culture of American religious hatred. A thought bubbled to the surface of my mind that I sometimes feel quick, almost imperceptible flashes of fear to love my boyfriend because he could be harmed or taken away from me by hate crime (e.g. Torch Song Trilogy). After all, it's not an irrational fear and is backed up by facts and figures. I wonder if anyone else feels this. It must be a reality that some gay couples consider, just like how all gays live with the secret thought that they might one day contract HIV - simply because they are gay. Anyone who's had an HIV test knows what I'm talking about.

Go see the film. It plays every night at 9 PM at The Pioneer through next Wednesday the 22nd. Check your local listings in other cities, and/or ask your local art film house to show it.