Documentary to Focus on Nature of Hate and on Portraits of LGBT Families

In the February issue of 10,000 Couples, I wrote about a TV/web show I'd just discovered, called "In the Life," which is a documentary-style program - an hour, divided into two or three segments/stories - seeking to inform and educate viewers about various aspects of the gay experience and, in so doing, reduce prejudice and discrimination.

The April episode is available online as of April 1, 2010, and can be seen on 68 percent of the PBS stations across the nation sometime during the month (schedules vary; you can check local listings from the IN THE LIFE website).

The April program is divided into two stories: "The Nature of Hate" and "Alix Smith: States of Union" (see photo of Ms. Smith at left). 

An email alert from IN THE LIFE (subscribe to such alerts at the website) states, "In our lead segment, we look at hate-speech and whether, in a nation lacking legal protections for LGBT people, it incites violence against the LGBT community." Special consideration is given to the fact that many of the negative messages we hear have been "crafted by a well-resourced media machine."

As a person of Christian faith, I am especially interested in viewing this segment because I do not believe, in any way, shape, or form, that God condones hate and violence against anyone. In both the Old and New Testaments, the overarching command of God is to love: "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:39). I also don't believe God condemns homosexuals, but if a person happens to disagree with me, there are non-hateful, non-violent ways to express that.

The second segment promised on April's IN THE LIFE features photographer Alix Smith, who "seeks to expand public perception" of family "by framing LGBT families into conventional portraits." I look forward to viewing this as well from my faith perspective. While many faith traditions have lifted up traditional images of family as composed of a married man and woman and their children, the Bible offers a much broader range of people close enough to be considered family, including some combinations not generally accepted today, such as a man and several wives (think Jacob) or a man marrying his first cousin (think Isaac). Understandings of family change from century to century, place to place, and culture to culture. In light of what science and psychology have taught us in this century, I hope many people will glimpse - and study - Ms. Smith's portraits and be moved to a new acceptance of families composed of two same-gender, committed adults and, perhaps, some children lucky enough to be raised by two loving parents. 

The IN THE LIFE website offers various web-exclusive videos, action/advocacy suggestions, and subscription options. Check it out!

A NOTE FROM ALIX SMITH: 

Please VOTE for STATES OF UNION for a PEPSI REFRESH grant to continue the project: http://www.refresheverything.com/statesofunion