Filmes de Interés Gay

"Deep in the heart
of the Bible Belt,
it is evident the fight
for equal rights
is far from over."

It's easy for city dwellers to take gay bars for granted, but Malcolm Ingram presents the other side of the picture. Social opportunities are more limited for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender citizens in rural America.

Deep in the heart of the Bible Belt, it is evident the fight for equal rights is far from over. Homosexuals in these areas lack social outlets, still face cruelty, ridicule and even violence. Despite being attacked on all sides by the Christian coalition, several spirited bar owners have created an oasis for gays to call home a Small Town Gay Bar.

Executive Producer Kevin Smith presents an intimate portrait of these establishments and the patrons who inhabit them. Exploring the gratefulness the patrons feel for these various places we learn there is much more provided than a evening of entertainment. With production assistance from Kevin Smith, Ingram focuses on several communities in Mississippi.

While some gay-themed documentaries are depressing and others inspiring, Small Town Gay Bar is a bit of both. Rick Gladis, for instance, owner of Rumors nightclub, created an oasis for the local GLBT community, but remains closeted from his Pentecostal parents. Scotty Weaver, on the other hand, was open about his orientation--and brutally murdered because of it (Ingram speaks with Weaver's family). As Gladis notes, "As far as being gay in Mississippi, it's hard, it's very hard." Proof comes in the form of Reverend Fred Phelps, who states categorically, "God hates fags."

Other subjects include patrons, bartenders, drag performers, and strippers. In addition, Ingram looks back on bars that have closed over the years, which lends the film a nostalgic air, though he concludes with new beginnings for two of them. Small Town Gay Bar isn't as heart-wrenching as Paris Is Burning or For the Bible Tells Me So, which cover similar territory, but that doesn't make its voices any less valuable--and a soundtrack filled with alternative acts like the Hidden Cameras and Broken Social Scene is a nice touch. ~Kathleen C. Fennessy

Film Information: 'Small Town Gay Bar'

Web: Cast, Bios and Additional Details at IMDb
Director: Malcolm Ingram
Writers: Malcolm Ingram
Cast: Full Cast, Crew & Credits
Genre: Documentary
Awards: 2 wins & 2 nominations
Runtime: 81 min
Spoken Language: English

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