Award-Winning Documentary For the Bible Tells Me So Makes Local Premiere at Wexner Center in November

Panel Discussion Featuring Religious and Community Leaders Scheduled

The Wexner Center, Equality Ohio, and the Human Rights Campaign present the local premiere of the award-winning documentary For t Bible Tells Me So, a moving examination of how people of faith struggle to reconcile sexual orientation with the word of God as it’s preached by organized religion. The film, which Variety called “heartfelt and provocative,” screens on Wednesday, November 14 at 7 and 9 pm in the Wexner Center’s Film/Video Theater and again on Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 pm in the Wexner Center’s Mershon Auditorium. A panel discussion featuring religious and community leaders, including Archbishop Philip Zimmerman of the Reformed Catholic Church and Pastor John Keeny of King Avenue United Methodist, follows the Thursday screening (more panelists to be announced). The panel will be moderated by Equality Ohio’s John Kalis. The Illuminati, an ensemble of the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, will also give a brief performance at 7 pm on November 15.

Winner of the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Seattle International Film Festival, filmmaker Dan Karslake’s thought-provoking documentary focuses on how average church-going American families persist in belief when faced with intolerance justified in a literal reading of the Old Testament. The film also explores the experiences of five Christian families—including those of former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and Episcopalian Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop—as they learn how to handle the realization of having a gay child. Interspersed among these personal testimonies are appearances by an array of theologians, priests, ministers, and rabbis, such as Bishop Desmond Tutu, Harvard’s Peter Gomes, Orthodox Rabbi Steve Greenberg, and Reverend Jimmy Creech, who demonstrate with passion and compassion how believers in the 21st century can live by the Book. More information on the film is available at its official website.

Tickets are $7 for the general public, $5 for Wexner Center members, students, and senior citizens and are available at 614-292-3535 or at the Wexner Center ticket office.

Prior to the Wednesday evening screenings, The Ohio State University GLBT Alumni Society, OSU’s Pride Network and the Wexner Center are hosting November’s Network Columbus meeting at 6 pm in the Wexner Center’s lower lobby; guest speaker will be OSU President E. Gordon Gee, giving remarks at 6:30 pm. Light appetizers will be provided by Cameron Mitchell Catering, and a cash bar will be available. This event is open to the public.

EVENT SUPPORT

Community partners: Equality Ohio and the Human Rights Campaign—Columbus Steering Committee.

MEDIA SUPPORT

Outlook Weekly

SEASON SUPPORT

Major support for the Wexner Center’s 2007–08 film/video season is generously provided by Abercrombie & Fitch and Mills James Productions. Significant contributions are also made by the Rohauer Collection Foundation. Additional funding is provided by the Corporate Annual Fund of the Wexner Center Foundation and Wexner Center members.