Birmingham SHOUT Gay + Lesbian Film Festival 2009

ASK NOT is a rare and compelling documentary film that explores the effects of the US military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gay and lesbian soldiers and service members. The film exposes the tangled political battles that led to the discriminatory law and examines the societal shifts that have occurred since its passage in 1993. Current and veteran gay soldiers reveal how “don’t ask, don’t tell” affects them during their tours of duty, as they struggle to maintain a double life, uncertain of whom they can trust. The film also explores how gay veterans and youth organizers are turning to forms of personal activism to overturn the policy. From a national speaking tour of conservative universities to protests at military recruitment offices, these public events question how the U.S. military can claim to represent democracy and freedom while denying one segment of the population the right to serve.

The Sticks & Stones project brought together isolated lesbian, gay and bi-sexual young men and women in a Rural Media Company film project that actively challenges homophobic prejudice and bullying. An on-line forum captured the experiences and ideas of young LGB people and then film professionals worked with them to create a powerful new drama, Bleeding Poof, and other short film materials. Bleeding Poof is a dark, edgy short drama set in a not-so-idyllic community where filthy looks and cruel jibes have very shocking results.

Love's labor is lost at an auto dealership when misplaced affections lead to tragedy and self-discovery. Starring Ryan Eggold of TV's "90210".

"How could you raise a transsexual child and not know it?" In this honest and compassionate documentary, the father of a transsexual child shares his family's story - what it was like when his child came out, how their relationship has changed, and how their bond continues to get stronger. Made by a father for transsexual and transgender individuals and their parents, this film offers hopeful answers to the hard questions parents face when a child - of any age - comes out.

Corey (James May) enjoys the single gay life, yet is still searching for love in his everyday life, in such places as the gym, beach and a singing chat room! When two love interests pursue Corey at the same time, co-worker, Derek (Brandon Alter) and ex-boyfriend, Nathan (Navaris Darson), Corey must decide between them. In a world of four sexy Dancers (RJ Enriquez, Glen Llanes, Demetrius Thomas & Brett Alan Nelson), along with his roommate Rebecca (Sue Gisser) and her girlfriend, Sam (Amy C. Quick), Corey explores his priorities and celebrates the joys of dating in this delightful musical.

A super-political lesbian collecting signatures for a gay marriage petition encounters a conservative, craft-loving housewife who refuses to sign her name. Determined to obtain her signature, the lesbian follows the housewife on her daily errands, berating her with pro-marriage rhetoric and, ultimately, employing a little craftiness of her own.

Anora Fleece has got it rotten. Her husband’s a bastard. Her kids treat her bad. And she lives in the middle of nowhere feeling like a nobody. That is until a new neighbor, Imogene Cochran, moves in. Imogene sells Kathy K. Kosmetics, make-up for the cocoa skinned woman. Thing is, they don’t like cocoa skinned anything in these parts, but that doesn’t stop Imogene and Anora from becoming friends. It also doesn’t stop them from becoming more than friends. And when Anora’s husband, Cheb, finds them, all hell breaks loose, but the tables are turned when Anora accidentally shoots Cheb dead. Anora and Imogene then pile the kids in the Kathy K. car, throw the corpse in the trunk and ride off on a “family” road trip to go bury daddy.

On the 11th annual National Day of Silence (April 18, 2007), Erin Davies was victim to a hate crime in Albany, NY. Because of sporting a rainbow sticker on her VW Beetle, Erin's car was vandalized, left with the words "fag" and "u r gay" placed on the hood and driver side of her car. Despite initial shock and embarassment, Erin's decided to embrace what happened by leaving the graffiti on her car. Erin took her car, now known worldwide as the "fagbug" on a 58-day trip around the United States and Canada, and filmed a documentary about her experience. Along the way, Erin discovered other, more serious hate crimes, had people attempt to remove the graffiti, and experimented with having a male drive her car. After driving the fagbug for one year, Erin decided to give her car a makeover. The fagbug documentary is scheduled to have its worldwide premiere January 2009 and has been sent to over 100 film festivals around the world. Fagbug will have its theatrical debut in NYC, LA, and Albany in April and will be under consideration for the 2009 Oscars.