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| Milk writer brands Ender's Game boycott 'misguided' | Milk writer brands Ender's Game boycott 'misguided' |
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| Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning writer of gay civil rights biopic Milk, has hit out at a campaign to boycott the upcoming science-fiction film Ender's Game over the "homophobic" views of the author of its source novel. | Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar-winning writer of gay civil rights biopic Milk, has hit out at a campaign to boycott the upcoming science-fiction film Ender's Game over the "homophobic" views of the author of its source novel. |
| US activist group Geeks Out is encouraging filmgoers to avoid spending their money on the movie due to the views of Orson Scott Card, a practising member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who has been vocal in his opposition to gay rights – and same-sex marriage in particular – for a number of years. | US activist group Geeks Out is encouraging filmgoers to avoid spending their money on the movie due to the views of Orson Scott Card, a practising member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who has been vocal in his opposition to gay rights – and same-sex marriage in particular – for a number of years. |
| Black, however, believes energy would better be expended elsewhere in support of LGBT causes. "There's so much good to be done right now," wrote Black, an ardent and active proponent of gay rights, on his Facebook page on Saturday. "Boycotting a movie made by 99% LGBT equality folks in an LGBT equality industry is a waste of our collective energy. Making one phone call to a relative in the south who isn't quite there yet would be 1,000 times more effective." He later posted: "The homophobic novelist who wrote the book hasn't been involved in decades. Misguided boycott." | Black, however, believes energy would better be expended elsewhere in support of LGBT causes. "There's so much good to be done right now," wrote Black, an ardent and active proponent of gay rights, on his Facebook page on Saturday. "Boycotting a movie made by 99% LGBT equality folks in an LGBT equality industry is a waste of our collective energy. Making one phone call to a relative in the south who isn't quite there yet would be 1,000 times more effective." He later posted: "The homophobic novelist who wrote the book hasn't been involved in decades. Misguided boycott." |
| Lionsgate, which financed Ender's Game, has gone to great lengths to flag up its support for gay rights in the wake of the Geeks Out campaign. The studio issued a statement on Friday, reading: "As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community, champions of films ranging from Gods and Monsters to The Perks of Being a Wallflower and a company that is proud to have recognised same-sex unions and domestic partnerships within its employee benefits policies for many years, we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organisation for Marriage. | Lionsgate, which financed Ender's Game, has gone to great lengths to flag up its support for gay rights in the wake of the Geeks Out campaign. The studio issued a statement on Friday, reading: "As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community, champions of films ranging from Gods and Monsters to The Perks of Being a Wallflower and a company that is proud to have recognised same-sex unions and domestic partnerships within its employee benefits policies for many years, we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organisation for Marriage. |
| "However, they are completely irrelevant to a discussion of Ender's Game. The simple fact is that neither the underlying book nor the film itself reflect these views in any way, shape or form. On the contrary, the film not only transports viewers to an entertaining and action-filled world, but it does so with positive and inspiring characters who ultimately deliver an ennobling and life-affirming message. Lionsgate will continue its longstanding commitment to the LGBT community by exploring new ways we can support LGBT causes and, as part of this ongoing process, will host a benefit premiere for Ender's Game." | "However, they are completely irrelevant to a discussion of Ender's Game. The simple fact is that neither the underlying book nor the film itself reflect these views in any way, shape or form. On the contrary, the film not only transports viewers to an entertaining and action-filled world, but it does so with positive and inspiring characters who ultimately deliver an ennobling and life-affirming message. Lionsgate will continue its longstanding commitment to the LGBT community by exploring new ways we can support LGBT causes and, as part of this ongoing process, will host a benefit premiere for Ender's Game." |
| Card has also attempted to dismiss the furore as irrelevant. "Ender's Game is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984," he wrote in a statement last week. "With the recent supreme court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot. The full faith and credit clause of the constitution will, sooner or later, give legal force in every state to any marriage contract recognised by any other state. Now it will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute." | Card has also attempted to dismiss the furore as irrelevant. "Ender's Game is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984," he wrote in a statement last week. "With the recent supreme court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot. The full faith and credit clause of the constitution will, sooner or later, give legal force in every state to any marriage contract recognised by any other state. Now it will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute." |
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