Ithaca College

The sixth annual "Out of the Closet and Onto the Screen" film series will begin on Thursday, August 28, with a showing of Camp Out. The film chronicles the experiences of ten Midwestern teenagers who attend the first overnight Bible camp for gay Christian youth. Struggling to find a way to be true to both their spirituality and their sexual identity, they come to camp hoping to find a place of acceptance. The screening will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Textor 102.

Sponsored by the Ithaca College Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Education, Outreach, and Services, the film series this year will explore sexual orientation and identity through the lens of faith. The series will present a total of eight films during the fall semester. Additional screenings will take place during the spring. All are free and open to the public.

The additional fall offerings are listed below. [Editor's note: the screenings on September 4 and 22 will now take place in Williams 323.]

For the Bible Tells Me So
Thursday, September 4
Williams 323, 7:00 p.m.
Five Christian families help the audience discover how insightful people of faith handle the realization of having a gay child. The film offers healing, clarity, and understanding to anyone caught in the crosshairs of scripture and sexual identity.

Double Feature: I Exist and Act of Faith
Monday, September 22
Williams 323, 7:00 p.m.
I Exist explores the individual stories of lesbian and gay people of Middle Eastern cultures living in the United States and shows the journey many take in learning how to join both their cultural heritage and sexual identity.
Act of Faith explores the question of whether one can be gay and Muslim at the same time,.and examines the struggle of gay Muslims.

Trembling Before G-d
Thursday, October 23
Textor 102, 7:00 p.m.
Shattering assumptions about sexuality, faith, and religion, this film is built around intimately told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian.

In Good Conscience
Monday, November 3
Textor 102, 7:00 p.m.
An unlikely and very funny rebel, an American nun, finds herself at the center of a human rights storm.

Call Me Malcolm
Screening in observance of the Transgender Day of Remembrance
Thursday, November 20
Textor 102, 7:00 p.m.
A story of the human spirit and God's spirit, and the liberating struggle to realize and express with confidence the gift of one's truest sense of self. This film chronicles the life of a transgender seminary student and his struggle with faith, love, and gender identity.

The Smith Family
Screening in observance of World AIDS Day
Monday, December 1
Textor 102, 7:00 p.m.
A Mormon family's experience with sexual identity and AIDS.

For more information on the series, contact Lis Maurer, LGBT center coordinator (607-274-7394, lmaurer@ithaca.edu) or visit the LGBT Center website:

Center for LGBT Education, Outreach, and Services