2008 Woodie Awards
When faith meets gay
Documentary this week depicts how families of faith deal with a homosexual child
by Nicole Smith
Issue date: 1/29/08
Section: Local and State News
While some documentary films deal with topics that, while interesting, may not concern the Mankato community, Daniel Karslake's documentary "For the Bible Tells Me So" is another story.
The 2007 documentary deals with the controversial issue of how families of faith deal with a homosexual child.
The film follows five conservative Christian families - including former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt - as they deal with tenets of their religion in regard to a gay child.
Phil and Randi Reitan and their son Jacob, former MSU student and current attendee at Harvard Divinity School, are among them.
The film discusses the misconceptions regarding the Christian faith and homosexuality, and works to depict the journeys of families of faith with a gay child or family member.
"So often, the only people who claim faith are speaking out on the side against the gay community and the people are rejected by their church and their families. This film really does a lot to counter that," Phil Reitan said.
Although the Reitans live in Minneapolis, Phil commutes to Mankato daily to maintain his local law practice, Reitan Law Office. The Reitan family had the opportunity to travel to the Sundance film festival, along with premieres in Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Ohio State University on behalf of "For the Bible Tells Me So."
Randi Reitan said the film not only works to depict the families, but also "takes a close look at the Bible passages that are used against the gay community. It was enlightening for me to see them discussed in that way," she said.
Three screenings of the documentary film will be held in Mankato this week: toda y and Thursday in the Maverick 4 Theater in Civic Center Plaza, and Wednesday in Ostrander Auditorium in Centennial Student Union.
All showings begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free to the public. Phil and Randi will hold a panel discussion at the end of each showing.
"We're very happy that it is playing at the college. If there are any closeted students on the campus, they will feel moved by the film and supported by the film, and loved by the film," Randi said. "There are still so many young people who remain closeted and have been raised in homes that are not accepting, so to see five different family journeys is very affirming," Randi Reitan said about the opportunity for MSU students to see the film on campus.
The Reitan family said they hope for the film to be of interest to people on campus outside of the LGBT community, because homosexuality and religion play a critical role in the lives, families and relationships of people across the world.
The event is sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender Center at MSU, Centenary Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, the Human Rights Campaign, South Central MN Pride, Inc., St. John's Episcopal Church, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and United Church of Christ. A portion of its funding comes from student activity fees.
Nicole Smith is a Reporter staff writer
The 2007 documentary deals with the controversial issue of how families of faith deal with a homosexual child.
The film follows five conservative Christian families - including former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt - as they deal with tenets of their religion in regard to a gay child.
Phil and Randi Reitan and their son Jacob, former MSU student and current attendee at Harvard Divinity School, are among them.
The film discusses the misconceptions regarding the Christian faith and homosexuality, and works to depict the journeys of families of faith with a gay child or family member.
"So often, the only people who claim faith are speaking out on the side against the gay community and the people are rejected by their church and their families. This film really does a lot to counter that," Phil Reitan said.
Although the Reitans live in Minneapolis, Phil commutes to Mankato daily to maintain his local law practice, Reitan Law Office. The Reitan family had the opportunity to travel to the Sundance film festival, along with premieres in Minneapolis, Chicago, Atlanta and Ohio State University on behalf of "For the Bible Tells Me So."
Randi Reitan said the film not only works to depict the families, but also "takes a close look at the Bible passages that are used against the gay community. It was enlightening for me to see them discussed in that way," she said.
Three screenings of the documentary film will be held in Mankato this week: toda y and Thursday in the Maverick 4 Theater in Civic Center Plaza, and Wednesday in Ostrander Auditorium in Centennial Student Union.
All showings begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free to the public. Phil and Randi will hold a panel discussion at the end of each showing.
"We're very happy that it is playing at the college. If there are any closeted students on the campus, they will feel moved by the film and supported by the film, and loved by the film," Randi said. "There are still so many young people who remain closeted and have been raised in homes that are not accepting, so to see five different family journeys is very affirming," Randi Reitan said about the opportunity for MSU students to see the film on campus.
The Reitan family said they hope for the film to be of interest to people on campus outside of the LGBT community, because homosexuality and religion play a critical role in the lives, families and relationships of people across the world.
The event is sponsored by the Lesbian, Gay Bisexual, Transgender Center at MSU, Centenary Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, the Human Rights Campaign, South Central MN Pride, Inc., St. John's Episcopal Church, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and United Church of Christ. A portion of its funding comes from student activity fees.
Nicole Smith is a Reporter staff writer
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