What a year 2012 turned out to be for the "Seventh-Gay Adventists" film and movement! We couldn't have imagined in January of last year what the year ahead would hold. For one thing, we were almost completely out of funds, and we weren't completely done with the final film touches (color and sound---also the most expensive steps!). We didn't know if we'd screen in any film festivals, knowing that this film has always been a bit on the margins, just like our film subjects who feel that their LGBT identity puts them on the margins of their faith even though their profound faith and identity in a church that isn't known for tolerance much less acceptance can also keep them on the margins of the gay community. Happily, this film has found an audience in both of those communities, and we've now had 43 screenings with well over 8,000 audience members. We've gotten used to going from gay/lesbian film festival audiences to church crowds, as both audiences have been appreciative of the film's tone, questions, and the chance to engage in one of the most important issues of our time through this particular lens.

Response & Endorsements

Almost every screening has been beyond capacity, and we ended the year with a church screening with over 1,000 people giving the film a standing ovation. Moments like that have kept us going when the travel and logistics of screening trips for a three (now four-year-old) have felt overwhelming! Even the smaller screenings in very conservative parts of the country where it's clear that just coming to a screening for a film that includes the word "gay" in its title is a big deal, we've sensed how the film has given a community permission to engage in a topic that just isn't broached and crack open in the best of ways. We really have seen what an appetite there is to have this conversation about faith, identity and belonging in an authentic way, and the stories in this film provide an excellent lens to enter the conversation. 

The feedback from a wide range of audience members has been incredibly encouraging and energizing. Just feeling an audience fall in love with the subjects of the film and journey with their deep, moving, and raw emotions as they negotiate how to follow their hearts and their faith is motivation enough to keep going. And then we get emails and Facebook messages from all walks of people affirming how powerful the film has been for their own lives and family relationships. The one I've got printed out above my desk to get me through hard times reads:

"I thought that I should send you a quick note to let you know how much good you have done. My father went with me to see your screening when you were here. It has completely changed the way he views homosexuality and Christianity. Not that everything is perfect, but he has let go of judgment. I just want to say you have changed his and my relationship...as well as the relationship I feel I can actually have with God. You are amazing people doing amazing work. Thank you for all that you do." 

The encouragement and endorsements the film has received from a wide variety of thought leaders, advocates, gay Adventists, and those who just feel inspired by the film to take tangible action in their own circles is encouraging. Check out a selection of endorsements and feedback on our new Endorsements page.

More Festivals & Screenings

We've got more community screenings and discussions planned in the next few months, as well as the Melbourne Queer Film Festival that we're thrilled to be able to attend. We've also had several other film festivals ask us to submit the film. Keep an eye on the Screenings page for details. 

And, while we sequester ourselves more to focus on getting a DVD ready to share and take the conversation to the next level, we're planning to use a service that helps anyone plan a community screening and discussion in a local theater. Stay tuned for details, and drop us an email (daneen at daneenakers dot com) if you'd like to coordinate a screening in your community.

Gratitude

A film like this doesn't happen without a huge grassroots community coming together to make it happen. It would have been impossible to imagine four years ago that not only would this film happen but that so many screenings and transformative discussions would happen as well. Hundreds and hundreds of you who believe in the power of stories have come together to make this happen, and you have our deepest gratitude. You are--we all are--the small group of thoughtful, committed people who will make change happen, and it begins by sharing authentically, listening respectfully, and learning to engage and love despite difference. Thanks for making that ethos what this film and movement is about. 

We'll sign off with a few favorite endorsements that have recently come in as the film has reached a wider audience:

"This is a beautiful and compelling film that speaks for many within the Seventh-day Adventist and larger Christian community. It has the potential to do much good, particularly among religious conservatives because of the way it engages with those of devout faith. Although it's set in the context of Seventh-day Adventism, anyone who has felt that their faith and sexuality are in conflict will instantly get this film." - Sharon Groves, director, religion and faith program, Human Rights Campaign

"The film is superb--a poignant and profound experience beyond any I've seen on the subject." Chris Blake, author and professor of English, Union College

"Thank you for telling our story! I walked out of the screening feeling respect and love in a way I've never experienced before. The space you nurtured and protect could only be created by allies like you. Please keep up the good work! Your work has the potential to save many lives, families and communities." - Freddy Lee

It's been a whirlwind of activity as the Seventh-Gay Adventists film finally premiered. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for those of  you who came to the premiere in Miami Beach and helped make that event so successful (especially those who drove long distances!). The Saturday night before the premiere in Miami Beach, I walked for several hours, taking in the tropical scene and trying to quell my rising panic. I'd checked out the theater where our premiere was going to happen, and it was huge! I suddenly was fearful that only a handful of people would come, and this film that we've worked so hard to craft would just disappear. But I took a deep breath and reminded myself that at some point, I can only do so much. It was time to release control and let the audience take over. Of course my fears were for naught. It was a wonderful screening--a great crowd came, engaged thoughtfully with the film, and lingered to talk afterwards until the next film kicked us into the foyer. People who hadn't heard of Adventists before talked about how much they still identified with the spiritual journeys of the main film subjects, and many affirmed what an important time in history it is to be examine this intersection of faith and sexuality. We also got a great review from a local paper, and two of the people featured in the film were in attendance, which was really special for the audience.

At almost the exact same time, Stephen was in Lincoln, Nebraska for a private screening of the film there. That was a packed theater with more than 200 Adventists including many faculty, staff, and pastors from the local Adventist college and church in Lincoln. A couple in the film who have deep ties to the Lincoln area came with him for the screening. All reports said that it was a tremendous screening with incredible energy, and the entire audience gave the film and the couple from the film who were in attendance a standing ovation. The conversation afterwards went on for an hour until the next movie was about to start, and it was one of those transforming community events that you can tell will really start sincere conversations. Many people commented about the theater feeling like a sacred space, which is an extra beautiful reflection from an Adventist because movies and theaters were taboo for Adventists for most of the denomination's history. 

All in all, it's been an encouraging debut. It was affirming to know that two of the main audiences we envisioned for this film--the LGBT community and the moderate religious one open to conversation--both responded well and on the same day and in places as different as Miami Beach and Lincoln! And since then we've had two more at-capacity screenings in Vancouver, B.C. and Washington, D.C. Again and again, even though my nerves get the better of me prior to a screening, the actual screening is beyond my expectations. Audiences just open up and engage with these stories--even those who would classify themselves as traditional conservatives on this topic--there's something about hearing someone's soul and seeing their spiritual journey that softens us all. And there's something about seeing Haystacks on the big screen that reminds every Adventist in the crowd that there's a lot more than a set of beliefs that makes someone Adventist.

The Vancouver screening was especially promising because it was a very mixed crowd. I often joke that Adventists need to see this film, LGBT individuals need to see this film, and anyone who gets the deep role of spiritual identity needs to see this film, but sometimes those are very different crowds, and framing the film for all of them in the same room has taken practice! The most powerful feedback for me that a woman (who is not LGBT) shared during the post-screening discussion was that "This film made me feel more human. I am so glad that I came." It's that sort of connection, despite our seeming differences, that we hope the film continues to promote.

More Screenings Coming

We're gearing up for many more screenings this summer and fall. Our vision is to continue to go slowly with this release so we can continue to have quality conversations. A film like this in an incredible emotional journey for the audience, and the experience is one that allows a space to open up afterwards for conversations that wouldn't have been previously possible. These are transforming spaces, spaces where you can feel the palpable energy as people engage on an entirely new level. In many ways, these post-screening conversations are why we made this film in the first place, and we want to continue to have them in a thoughtful way in communities where there are willing audiences. Of course the film will be on DVD before too long, but we're still planning screenings at festivals and other community spaces for the next several months. And we're relishing this time to see the film connect with real audiences in powerful ways.

We've just added a new "Screenings" page on our website where you can see upcoming dates and locations (just added Orlando, Portland, Leesburg, Nashvile and New York with more to come soon!). Please contact me if you'd like to help coordinate a screening in your area. And all of this requires a great deal of energy and resources. If you'd like to contribute to help make screenings and discussions happen, please consider a generous tax-deductible contribution. I know I didn't realize three plus years ago that making a film was only half of the job. But, these days, especially for indie films like this one with a unique voice and audience, making the film is the first half of the job, screening it is the next. It's the community coming together that made this film happen, and it's the community that is continuing to make these screenings possible. Here are a few comments from our Facebook wall that warmed our hearts: 

"Was lucky enough to attend the screening in Lincoln today and was blessed beyond belief. Thank you for creating this work of art and I truly pray that everyone sees this movie and feels all of the love that is pouring out if it." - Taryn Moore Rouse

"Wonderful screening tonight—thank you so much for telling these powerful stories in such a generous way. This is a film destined to make a difference. " - Ray Tetz

"Many LGBTQ folks like myself grew up in religious environments that were harmful. Seeing this film was a healing experience for me.  It simultaneously connected me with painful experiences of my past, while bringing a sense of hope and redemption.  I know a number of people who would be similarly impacted.  I am already advocating that they see it the first chance they get." - Eric Mason

"It was a pleasure seeing your work last week. As an openly gay man who grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist church, I deeply appreciate this documentary, the stories shared in it, and the significance of this film for the community. I have already felt the effects of this film through discussions with my friends and family members. It is pushing people to think from other angles and challenge some of their concepts of what it means to be gay within the church and SDA community. Please keep the conversation going!" - Timothy Elliott

Those are just a few. If you've seen the film, please drop us a note or comment on our Facebook page. Hope to see you at a screening soon!

We have great news! After three years, 150 hours of footage, the incredible support and encouragement of a grassroots community committed to this project, and the amazing courage and honesty of the main film subjects who share the deepest moments of their spiritual journeys with us all on the screen, I am thrilled to announce that Seventh-Gay Adventists will be premiering on Sunday, April 29th at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival! We're looking forward to being part of the conversation there this year, and we'd love to see you and yours at a screening.

World Premiere Details

Seventh-Gay Adventists will be premiering at the Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival on:
Sunday, April 29th at 3:30 p.m.
Regal Cinema South Beach
1120 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139

Festival Page: http://www.mglff.com/films/view/19

Tickets are available now for $9 if purchased in advance:
https://tickets.completeticketsolutions.com/mglff/Online/default.asp

Seventh-Gay Adventists is a character-driven documentary about faith on the margins set in the context of the fastest growing Christian denomination in the United States (and one of the fastest growing denominations worldwide) with a membership of approximately 17 million. The film follows three gay and lesbian Seventh-day Adventists as they wrestle with how to reconcile their sexual orientation and their deeply held faith, and it explores what it means to belong when you find yourself on the margins.

The film was created with the intent of promoting conversations about religion and sexuality with an opportunity to hear rarely heard voices in the larger conversation about gay rights, particularly in faith communities where the debate is often quite shallowly as God vs Gays. But the subjects of this film don’t fit easily into any box and exist on the margins of all of their communities of belonging. Their church is uncomfortable with their sexuality, yet they often don’t feel like they fit in the larger LGBT community because of their loyalty to a church which has not always been tolerant much less accepting and affirming of their sexual identities. Their yearning to belong, to fully embrace themselves and define a spirituality of their own is compelling for all of us, even for viewers who can’t tell their Adventists from their Mormons.

Please help us spread the word about this screening--we'd love to see you there. 

It's been almost exactly three years since Stephen and I first realized that the best way to respond to our deep disappointment about Prop 8 (the same-sex marriage ban in CA that passed in November of 2008) was to make a film that focused on the stories of gay and lesbian Adventists. We had realized in our phone banking and advocacy work that religion was the big, white elephant in the room that nobody talked in the marriage equality movement talked about, but it was the driving reason why people had voted to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage. And we realized that the intersection of faith, identity, and sexuality that we'd witnessed in several of our LGBT Adventist friends was a very interesting space to explore. It had the makings of a very good story. Three years and 150 hours of footage later, I am happy to say, it is a good story.

I have a distinct memory of walking around our neighborhood park in San Francisco with our three-week old daughter, Lily, asleep in a wrap on my chest. Stephen and I had debriefed the night before with the others who had started the advocacy campaign, Adventists Against Prop 8, and Stephen kept saying that the only way people change stereotypes and perceptions is from knowing people, from really hearing their stories. I remember stopping at an intersection and saying something along the lines of, "You know, we could make this film. We are looking for a new film project, and this is something we're passionate about." 

It took a while to let that idea sink in--mainly we wondered if two straight filmmakers could make this film--but, in some ways it wasn't a choice, it was an awareness of stepping into where we felt most called. And, especially being new parents, we felt like we owed it to our daughter to help make the world the place that we wished it was for her. 

It has not been easy, and I've personally come close to a breakdown at times because the nature of this sort of work if very day-by-day; you never really know until the last minute if funding is going to come through. At one point we were literally down to $2 to our name (this was while filming in Atlanta), and we realized we couldn't even pay our baggage fees to get home (and with a baby and camera gear, we had more than fits in an overhead bin!). Needless to say, we talked about putting the film on a back burner and finding other work, but within days, a check for $20,000 came into the San Francisco Film Society earmarked for our film, and we breathed again. The entire project has been a series of stories like that. Whenever we feel like we've reached the end of the road, another door opens, and now we're embarking on the final chapter of this process--screenings and outreach.

I am so happy to be able to say that the film is nearly complete. The final piece right now is finishing our color grade, updating our website with new artwork, and making a few final tweaks. If things continue to go according to plan, we'll finish this spring.

Initial Response

We've had a few work-in-progress screenings to get input and feedback, all of which has been hugely helpful as we try to make sure the film is one that will speak both to the moveable middle in the Adventist church but also beyond to anyone interested in learning more about what it's like trying to reconcile two deeply held identities that seem--at least at first--to be in deep conflict. The feedback we've gotten has helped us realize that anyone who has wrestled with their identity and what it means to belong gets the journeys that the characters in this film go on. And even for viewers who can't tell their Adventists from their Mormons, the film is compelling and interesting because these are perspectives and voices not often heard in the often shallow rhetoric of the "God vs Gays" culture wars. And with the Seventh-day Adventist church recently named the fastest growing denomination in the United States, this is a little-known denomination that is interesting for curious, documentary lovers to learn more about. We've worked very hard to try to make sure that the pull of the Adventist community is understood by non-Adventist viewers. As one of the major film subjects says, "It's an entire culture…you aren't just going to take a shower and wash it off. It's there; it's who you are."

There was a college student at our last work-in-progress screening. He described himself to me afterwards as all sorts of things that didn't work with being gay--African-American, son of a cop/ex-Marine, and a Christian. He said he'd been really nervous coming, not sure what to expect, but he found himself so moved at the end that he didn't applaud with the rest of the audience. Naturally, that raised my curiosity, and he explained that it was because he felt like the film had told his story, that it was about him and his journey too, so it didn't feel like he needed to applaud for himself; rather, he let the audience applaud his story. That response made me eager to experience the film at an LGBT film festival.

And the response from Adventists, even conservative ones, has so far been very positive. Maybe it's because the title has them worried that it's going to be a combative film, but so far the test viewers have been absolutely riveted by these stories. After a private screening here in San Francisco for a group of  Adventist theologians and religion teachers, the feedback that we kept hearing was, "The tone of this film and the story approach is the best way to move this conversation forward in a positive way in the church regardless of theological differences." If the film continues to be received that way, it will do much to encourage compassion and understanding around one of the trickiest topics for a conservative church to talk about.

Demand to come the work-in-progress private screenings has so far been huge in the Adventist community. While I'd like to think that word is spreading about the quality of the film, I really think this huge interest shows that people are eager, very eager, to have this conversation in a new way and through a new lens. The old way has only resulted in hurt and battered souls, and people really want a new narrative, especially given the prominence of marriage equality movements in so many states right now. It feels like the right film at the right time.

More screenings to come this year

As we put the finishing touches on the film, we're also submitting to film festivals. As soon as we know when our official premiere will be, we will be able to plan more screenings with more certainty. The discussions we've had have left us very eager to have more. We can't wait to share and discuss the film with you, and then let you in turn share it and discuss it. That's how change happens.

I keep Margaret Mead's incredible quote about how change happens printed out above my desk."Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  The way a huge grassroots community has come together these past three years to make this film a reality has been breath-taking and courageous, and that was before the film was even done. As we enter the final stage of the project to plan screenings and outreach, I'm looking forward to meeting and talking to people all over the country (and, hopefully, internationally) about this film and what steps we all can talk to do more. If you aren't yet on our newsletter list or Facebook page, please do get in touch so you'll know when screenings are in your area. (And please use the Contact link above if you'd like to help in this screening and outreach phase.)

After almost three years since we first had the idea that the stories of gay and lesbian Adventists trying to reconcile their identity and their faith would make for an interesting film, we finally are nearing completion. It's been a packed summer and fall editing or thinking about edits around the clock. We've been hugely fortunate to have an incredibly talented editor and assistant editor (sadly, she had to return to school after her summer internship in San Francisco), and several other story consultants and trusted advisors have given us valuable feedback and insights as we've been crafting the film.

I think you will be pleased with the film that has emerged. We've now shared the work-in-progress film three times in small, private screenings to get feedback form different types of audiences (Adventist, gay Adventist, and general documentary lovers). So far the response has been overwhelmingly affirming. People from every background are drawn into the stories and find them compelling. They laughed and cried (in the right places), and they've had helpful suggestions as we've continued to tweak and polish the film. 

This past weekend we shared the film with a small group of Adventist religion teachers and theologians who were in San Francisco for a conference (many of them had agreed to be interviewed by us two years ago when we though we were making an issue film rather than a character-driven film). I was quite nervous because I knew many individuals were brilliant scholars who hold very traditional views of biblical morality; however, even they found the stories compelling and the experience valuable. Here are a few of the comments I can remember:

"I was very resistant to this film coming in. I really just came out of obligation, but somewhere in the middle I completely changed my perspective. I was so taken in by these stories. I feel like I've just experienced some really deep spiritual growth, and my stereotypes and theology got rubbed in a way that needed to happen."

 "Thank you for making this film. I think this tone is exactly what the church needs around this topic, and I don't think anyone--no matter where they stand theologically--can help but be utterly moved by these stories."  (This point was the prevailing theme of the comments.)

 "This is exactly the right way to go about changing the tone of the conversation. Nobody can help but love the people in this film." 

And LGBT advocates and secular professionals have connected with the spirit of the film and the hearts of the main subjects as well--we all get wanting to belong and wanting to have a safe spiritual home to raise our families, and the main subjects of the film are just absolutely amazing people. I fall in love with them every time I see the film. They inspire me to show up more intentionally in my community, to parent better, to love more authentically despite differences. 

A Gentle Film

The film that has emerged is actually a gentle and quiet film, and I mean that in all the right ways. At some point we realized that the only people who watch combative films are those who already agree with the filmmaker’s premise. Several people commented that it was a “peacemaking” film. It’s contemplative, a powerful and revealing look at the inner spiritual world of the main subjects who have to struggle mightily with how to reconcile their religious and sexual identities. It’s a compelling intersection of faith and identity.

I can’t wait to share it with you! Before that happens though, there is still actually a lot of work to do. We still are tweaking, polishing, and trying to arrange for a host of final pieces (like a sound mix and color correction). 

What's Ahead

What’s ahead besides actually finishing the film is submitting to festivals. That’s a slow process, and we won’t know the results for several months. So, when people ask when it will premiere and where they can see it, I truthfully don’t know yet. It all depends on which festivals accept the film. Please know that I will be shouting it from the rooftops when I know. After it plays at festivals, we absolutely want to plan an extensive screening campaign to play the film around the country (and internationally as that is possible).

The Part About Money

The great news is that the incredible community that has sprung up to make this film happen raised enough money to cover all of our post-production expenses (and we even won some grant money). I'm afraid that I'd hoped that would be all of the fundraising we ever had to do, but I'm realizing just how expensive it is to actually get the film seen. We're committed to not just making the film but making sure it's seen wherever people are willing to hear these stories. We'll need funds for marketing, travel, and screening expenses (such as renting a theater).  I'm not launching a campaign for that yet because I don't feel like I know enough of the need yet, but I did want to let people know as they're planning year-end tax-deductible contributions that this is still a worthy project to give to, and you can still donate through the San Francisco Film Society. Thank you, thank you for all this community has done to make this film happen. Our credits list is long and growing! 

Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving, and please stay tuned for updates as we have a firmer sense of when and where the film will be showing.

Summer is a relative term around here. We’re currently in the midst of San Francisco’s famous summer fog. While it may be cold and gray, it’s actually great weather for hunkering down to edit a movie. And that’s what we’ve been doing.

If you follow our Facebook page, you know that we’ve had an editor and an intern working out of our apartment this summer—we actually moved our bed into our living room to make a separate office, which sounds extreme but has actually been working really well. Now we can at least keep Lily out of the office, although she does like to sneak in to “help.”

It’s been an extremely busy summer, but a productive one. We’re aiming to make some fall film festival deadlines, and I think with some more late nights, some luck, and some divine grace, we are going to make it. I saw a rough cut of act one last night (films typically have three acts), and I was blown away. Of course, it’s the people who have generously agreed to let us into their lives to share their stories who make it compelling, but our editorial team has been absolutely rocking it.

Meet the Team

Richard Levien, film editorWe feel extremely lucky to have Richard Levien, a local editor and filmmaker, on board as our editor. We met him a few years ago after the screening of D-Tour, a local documentary that had just won an award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. Stephen and Richard also took a master’s editing class together from the great Walter Murch the next year, and when we started asking around for editor recommendations, people kept mentioning Richard. He’s known to be especially good in situations where the director/producers are very close to the film subject. He actually has a PhD in theoretical physics from Princeton, and while he’s a Kiwi, he says that he’s “one of the few New Zealanders who played no part whatsoever in the making of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy.”

Abby Potts, assistant editor

Our intern, Abby Potts, whom we’re crediting as an assistant editor because she’s been that good, actually sent me an email this spring asking if she might be a good fit for this film. She’s a grad student at USC in their film program specializing in editing, and she had been following the project and wanted to be a part of it. In the small world of Adventism, it turns out that she and I shared a beloved favorite English Professor who had been at PUC but is now at Andrews. A generous friend in San Francisco who was off to Germany for work for the summer offered to let Abby stay in her apartment while working with us, and she’s been here long hours assembling scenes for Richard to polish. She’s also very patient when Lily wants to help, which has endeared her to all of us! We’re already feeling very gloomy that USC will be back in session soon.

We're Getting Close and Need Your Help to Finish

We still have a great deal of work to do, but I am energized and enthused about how things are coming together. I feel like there was a period this past winter when we were faced with a mountain of footage to shape. I had moments of feeling overwhelmed and not fully up to the task, but now the shape has emerged, the stories are clear, and I know this is going to be a powerful film. (And we're going to have the world's best special features section on a DVD one day with all of that additional footage!)

This is still the most expensive phase of the film because we have to hire others to help and because the final touches of a film are done on expensive equipment (music composing, sound mixing, and color correction). In my last newsletter, I shared the good news that we’d received half of our post-production funding. Well, it's time to begin raising the other half now.

If you're able to contribute to help us finish the film, we need your support one last time.

I’m in awe of what this community has done so far to get this film made. There are hundreds of people who have contributed, and many who have done so very generously. I’m humbled by your trust. And I finally feel fully confident that we will be watching it with you soon.

Thanks so much for being on this journey with us.

A fan of the film on Facebook recently sent me a message teasing me about when he’s going to be able to see the film, “I'm excited to see the movie finished. Everybody says it will be done soon, but there is no date announced...sounds to me like the Coming of Jesus—it will be soon, but we don't know the date!”  

I hear you! And I feel the same way. It really is coming along, but it’s just a lot of work, most of it difficult to make visible to the film fans unless you want to come sit in front of our computer monitors as we go through footage and work on the script.

I wanted to give you all a spring update on just what’s been happening with the film.

The Big News: First, the really, really good news is that we just found out that almost half of the funding we need for post-production is in the mail! Wow. If I tell you that I was actually playing the Hallelujah Chorus on my computer when news of this came in on my email, you’ll think I’m exaggerating. But remember, I’m a documentarian, so I only tell the truth! (Lily likes big, grand pieces of music right now, hence the melodrama.)

I cried with relief and joy. It was the first moment when I felt like I could honestly know that this film will get done. We will need definitely need more funds—this final phase of the film is actually the most expensive because it’s no longer a phase where we can do pretty much all the work ourselves, but critical mass we needed to build momentum, both for ourselves and with the other supporters who support the vision of the film.

So thanks to the donors who step in big ways, but an equally big thanks to the many, many of you who continue to support the film in your own capacity. Truly, it wouldn’t be happening without all of you. We have a friend from college who contributes $20 a month, and her encouragement and support is just as vital to preserving the momentum and vision of the film. I’m absolutely amazed beyond belief when I think of how many people have contributed to this film. I continue to live by Margaret Mead’s words, “"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

It Gets Better Video: As many of you know, I also produced a short project as part of the “It Gets Better” campaign with the help of Traveling Muse Pictures and New Name Pictures in Hollywood. Especially after the suicide in the Kinship family at Christmas, it felt like an appropriate response to try to get the message out to Adventist LGBT youth that it can get better—sometimes even in the church. (We featured people who have stayed in the church and those who have left to find spiritual wholeness). It was an incredible shoot, and I’ll be meeting with the editor next week to trim the first cut down.

What’s Next: For the SGA film, the timing always depends on funding, which is why I tend to say “soon” instead of give a real date. My personal goal is to be screening the film by this fall, and after the good funding news that we got this week, I am starting to feel pretty strongly that that is going to happen.

Our next step is to find an editor (we’ll still direct and produce—and write—through the editing process). If we can’t find the right editor with availability this summer, then Stephen will edit the first cut, and we’ll bring another editor in for a consult and polish after that.  And then we’ll have music, sound mix, color correction, website design (I want the website to be a place where people can continue to share stories), and, one day not-too-far-off, screenings and discussions! We still are planning some production travel—we’re not done shooting, but we’re just a lot more focused on what we need. One big July event is the wedding of one of our main characters in Canada.

Thank you so much for your support and ongoing encouragement. Your feedback and thoughts are always welcome. 

Back to that small group of committed people…

I attended a workshop a few weeks ago on emotional intelligence at our church, and the presenter (a widely respected brain function expert), said that it only takes five percent of the population having a consciousness shift to have a ripple effect on the rest of the population. She was actually referring to the recent events in the Middle East, but I suddenly felt really positive about the potential for this film to start a movement not just within the Adventist church but also in other conservative religious circles.

Here’s to the five percent! 

Now that we’ve spent much of the past two years immersed in the stories and politics surrounding gay rights in religious communities, I’ve had my eyes opened to an entire world of hurt, pain, and downright hypocrisy that I’d not really stopped to listen to before.

Of course I had heard a story here or there, sat through the occasional sermon that threw around phrases like “the gay agenda” in ominous tones, but I hadn’t had a true or authentic encounter with a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person until I started going to an inclusive (truly non-traditional in the best sense of the concept) church in San Francisco.

When I finally started paying attention, there wasn’t a lot to give me hope for real and transformative change—my home state had just passed Prop 8 and stripped people I knew and loved of their newly acquired right to marry, and the Adventist churches around me were preaching outrageous sermons and slowly but surely shutting their doors to gays and lesbians.

And now that I have actually journeyed with several people who mean a great deal to me over the past two years and heard their stories (and the stories of their friends), it’s gotten harder in many ways.

When I hear that someone I know was just told that she can no longer play her instrument in church because that might be seen as “condoning her lifestyle”, it just hits me at my core.

When I get an email from a friend saying that his church board just stripped him of his Sabbath School class teaching duties because he personally believes that committed, monogamous same-sex relationships might not be sinful (even though he never said anything on the topic in class), I feel utterly discouraged and start to wonder what the heck we are even thinking in attempting a film project like this.

What was missing was the stories…

But last week I had a conversation with a friend that reminded me again why there is good cause for hope.

My dear (straight, formally conservative Adventist) friend Heather came to visit me last week. We stayed at her house twice while filming, and she has heard me talk a lot about the people and stories we’ve encountered with this film.

As we walked to one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood, she suddenly stopped and said:

“By the way, I have to thank you so much for doing your film project. I’ve always had compassion around the whole gay topic in the church, but I didn’t know what to do with it. What was missing for me was the stories. Real people and real stories. What you have shared with me about the people you are filming has completely transformed me and my heart. Thank you.”

Her testimony couldn’t have come at a better time. Stephen has been logging long hours in front of the computer editing the nearly 150 hours of footage we have, and we’re in that space that comes with every creative endeavor of knowing there is something very good ahead but not being able to see exactly how we’re going to get there. It’s really like walking with a flashlight in the dark to a great destination—morning will come, but right now, we can only see a few feet ahead, and not all that clearly.

Hearing Heather affirm how her heart was moved and transformed by the stories of LGBT Adventists is what’s keeping me fueled for the next few months. And as Stephen said later, “And she hasn’t even seen the movie yet!”

So here’s to the Heather’s out there giving me hope that stories do have immense power. Thanks for being willing to listen. Oh—and can you sit on a few more church boards?

 As 2010 draws to a close, I've been reflecting on what has happened with the film since last Christmas. Last year at this time we were just returning from our 10,000 mile road trip around the country. We filmed dozens and dozens of LGBT Adventists as well as several friends and allies sharing their stories. (The first teaser using this footage is now posted on the home page.)

This year we've finished major filming with our main subjects (this time traveling by air!), and we're moving into the post-production phase. All this time, you, dear film supporter, have been an integral part of production. We've raised 65% of our budget, all from direct contributions from people who believe in the vision of this film.

Thank you for being an integral part of the Seventh-Gay Adventists production. As you know, this is an independent film, and your contributions are vital. I am writing to ask you to support the film with a tax-deductible year-end gift. And by this time next year, you may very well be watching this film at a screen near you!

We are moving from an active production phase to the post-production phase. Even though there will certainly be more to film, we have enough footage (over 100 hours!) to begin the editing process.

We have started the process of applying for post-production grants and have now submitted three major proposals. It’s a long, arduous, and highly competitive process, but we’ve got our fingers crossed that the right foundations will see that stories of gay and lesbian Adventists offer a compelling look at the intersection of faith, identity, and sexuality with implications that go far beyond Adventism. Unfortunately, we won’t know until June if we’ve even made the first cut. Until then, we still need your support as we start shaping the film in the edit studio.

Here are some highlights of what your tax-deductible gift of any amount will help support:

-       An edit space: A friend and supporter of the film has offered us an ideal editing space at an incredible price, and we’d like to move in our gear right after Christmas and start sifting through footage.

-       Media drives: Digital filmmaking has absolutely revolutionized film, especially small films like this one that just could not have been made with the expense of film. However, we have an enormous amount of data that has to be securely stored and backed up in multiple places (I’ve have an entirely new appreciation for Stephen’s insistence on robust back-up systems after seeing what a toddler is capable of!). We are in dire need of several more drives to back-up content.

-       A Jamaican filming trip: One of the film’s main subjects is from Jamaica. Part of his story is his attempt to get asylum in the U.S. so that he does not have to return to a very homophobic home culture (gay cruises won’t even stop there). What I didn’t know until I met our subject was that Adventism is huge in Jamaica. One in 12 Jamaicans is Adventist. Just think about that. Only about one in 350 Americans is Adventist, so Adventism is a huge presence in Jamaica, which is why we feel that to adequately tell his story we need to do some filming there and explore in what ways Adventism’s narrative and doctrines about homosexuality contribute to the homophobic conditions.

-       Archival film footage of the Phil Donahue Show: Many of you may know that the Adventist church was one of the first denominations to really embrace and support “change/reparative” therapy. In the 80s, Colin Cook—supported by the church—started Quest Learning Center in Reading, Pennsylvania. Although he wasn’t a therapist, he counseled gays on how to overcome their homosexual tendencies (he claimed to have overcome his homosexuality). In 1985, he was featured on the Phil Donahue show, and thousands of calls came in for more information. The center eventually closed amid scandal when it was revealed that he was molesting many of his clients. We’d like to look into this chapter of one way Adventism has attempted to address the needs of its gay members. Obviously it was pretty much an unmitigated disaster that damaged many people, but it’s a compelling story. We need funds to acquire archival footage and documents.

-       An animation sequence telling the highlights of Adventism: While we know the first viewers of this film will likely already be fans of haystacks, we also hope that this film will have a broader appeal, and to that end we envision a short animation sequence that tells the history of the church in a fun and engaging manner. Ascension robes, anyone?

Those are some of the specific projects we have planned in the next few months. Post-production is actually the most expensive phase because this is when it all comes together—music, sound, color correction, online edits, animation sequences, and more. But we’re planning to continue taking it one step at a time.

Making this film has been an exercise in faith and stepping into a vision without fully knowing how all of the necessary resources and funds will come together. There have been very rough patches when I question our sanity—I mean, who makes a film about sex and religion, two tricky topics most people avoid? But it’s actually because we avoid and ignore that we have a problem. People fear what they don’t know. And the best way to mitigate fear is to share our stories with each other. When you get to know the other, it turns out that we’re not all that different.

Thank you, thank you for your continued support and encouragement. 

As you know, change happens slowly, but just look at the historic changes in Washington this week as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" finally joins the dustbin of history. What a Christmas present for our gay and lesbian troops! If the military can change, churches can change. But all of this change is happening because we are getting to know each others stories.

As you plan your year-end giving, please consider a generous, tax-deductible gift to help us share the stories of LGBT Adventists. If all goes well, by this time next year we’ll be sending you screening times and DVD offers! Donate Now!

Merry Christmas!

Meister Eckhart, the 13^th century Christian mystic and philosopher famously said, “If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is ‘thank you’, that will suffice.”

It seems fitting this Thanksgiving week to take a moment and think about what we have to be thankful for this year in the context of our documentary film and for the larger cause of inclusivity and affirmation within religious spaces for those who are most often cast in the role of The Other, namely LGBT individuals who are frequently marginalized or outright ostracized in our churches. So here’s my list of top five things I’m grateful for as we near the end of the production phase of the film:

Gratitude #1: I’m grateful to be almost done with production! We’re home from our two-month production trip this fall (hooray for a toddler who travels well!). We have two more filming trips (a quick trip to Chattanooga and Los Angeles), and then we’ll officially enter the post-production phase of this project. Now that doesn’t mean that we’ll be completely done filming, but we will be getting a whole lot closer to finishing! A huge thank you to all of the many courageous individuals who have opened their hearts and shared their stories with us.

Gratitude #2: I’m grateful for churches that are courageous enough to actually follow Christ’s example of radical love and acceptance. There are still far too many stories of rejection and hurt, but there are a growing number of churches, pastors, and thought-leaders who are unwilling to continue supporting the second-class citizenship status of gays and lesbians in the church.  Here’s the story of just one church.

The great side upshot of this that I’ve witnessed when visiting churches like this is that everyone feels safer. Once a church becomes accepting and grace-oriented for one demographic, the ripple effect of authenticity and welcoming embrace impacts every demographic. Suddenly church is a safe space to actually be yourself and come as you are without your mask or pretentions, and that’s when real transformation becomes possible.

Gratitude #3: I’m grateful for Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International, a support ministry for LGBTI Adventists that has been around since the 80s and was actually sued by the Seventh-day Adventist church over their title for trademark infringement and brand dilution (why does that sound familiar?) in the early 90s (the church lost). I have a distinct memory of the first time I met the Kinship board members. Lily was three months old, and I nursed her under a hooter hider as we sat around a conference table while trying to explain our vision and hope for this film. We were bitterly disappointed over the Prop 8 results and had seen first-hand what the hurtful sermons had done to people we loved and cared about, and we felt that a film sharing stories would be the very best way to ultimately impact hearts and minds in the pews and get a real dialogue started.

They were very supportive—as one board member later told me, “I was just excited after so many years of work to have someone from outside of Kinship—who wasn’t even gay—want to do a project like this. It was a very encouraging sign.” So this year-end, as you consider good causes and favorite non-profits to donate to, consider supporting the work of Kinship. Especially with the slew of tragic stories this fall about bullying and gay teen suicides, I think the work that Kinship does to let LGBT Adventist youth know that God loves them and that it’s not incompatible to be both gay and Adventist is hugely important work.

Here’s their donate page. 

Gratitude #4: I’m grateful for Steve Moran. A self-described conservative Seventh-day Adventist, Moran makes a beautiful and compelling argument for why he’s a pro-gay Adventist. He represents a growing momentum that I’ve sensed as we’ve visited many Adventist institutions having conversations around the film. This is clearly on a lot of hearts and minds. 

Gratitude #5: I’m grateful for you, a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens. You, dear supporter, have been absolutely vital and incredible during this filmmaking process. This film is an independent, non-profit production and is being funded primarily by tax-deductible donations from individuals who are committed to the film's vision.

Being independent gives us full editorial control and a great deal of freedom to tell the stories of LGBT Adventists in an honest and authentic manner, but it also means that we tend to always need to be reminding people that this film won't get made without their tangible support.

You have risen to the occasion time and again when I’ve been close to giving up. And I thank you. You give me hope that a group of committed individuals, however small, can indeed change the world. As Margaret Mead reminds us, that’s the only people who ever have accomplished change. As the year ends, I’m sure we’ll remind you that your contributions are fully tax-deductible (and, if desired, they can also be anonymous). Here's all the info you need on our donate page.

Thank you. You are my miracle this Thanksgiving.

With gratitude,

Daneen Akers, producer

P.S. Several of you have asked for updates on our legal situation. It’s really still in limbo. As before, we aren’t entirely opposed to a title change, but we haven’t found another one that fits the film’s subject and subjects better. We did just find an absolutely fantastic entertainment lawyer who specializes in trademark law and is fully committed to pro bono work (especially around GLBT issues), so that has been a huge relief should the church chose to pursue their objections to our title.