Gay in Middle America: One Town’s Struggle with Religion and Bigotry
Gay in Middle America: One Town’s Struggle with Religion and Bigotry is one of the most talked-about Documentary movies released in 2005, attracting audiences with its cinematic storytelling and memorable performances.
An excellent sociological case study, this ABC News program examines the plight of Michael Shackelford, a 17-year-old homosexual struggling for acceptance in small-town Oklahoma. The video outlines the development of Shackelford’s situation: his early awareness of his sexual orientation, his inability to conform and placate his mother, the attention he receives in a Washington Post article, and the subsequent media abuse he and his church endure as a result. Complex and surprising in its observations—especially those concerning Shackelford’s Bible Belt community—the program sheds light on America’s increasingly troublesome cultural divisions.
