Stranger than fiction

Director discusses film that profiles an LGBT activist who becomes an anti-gay preacher

By Ken Williams | Editor

In a true story that seems more like fiction, “I Am Michael” — FilmOut San Diego’s Closing Night showcase — delves into an LGBT-rights activist’s shocking religious transformation into an outspoken anti-gay Christian preacher.

Michael Glatze, a charismatic Dartmouth graduate with a degree in English literature and creative writing, eagerly advocates for gay rights as co-founder of Young Gay America and YGA magazine. Michael and his longtime partner, Bennett, live the typical gay life in San Francisco, partying with the boys until dawn. But when Bennett, an architect, takes a job in New England, Michael reluctantly comes along, setting the stage for a remarkable and almost unbelievable change after a health scare forces Michael to confront his mortality. After withdrawing from his partner and friends and agonizing within, Michael suddenly renounces his homosexuality and embraces evangelical Christianity and its anti-gay bigotry.

(l-r) Zachary Quinto and James Franco share a somber moment in the movie, “I Am Michael,” which will close FilmOut this year. (Courtesy of “I Am Michael”)

The controversial film premiered with considerable buzz earlier this year at Sundance. It stars James Franco as Michael and Zachary Quinto as Bennett. The cast includes Charlie Carver as the young Tyler, who would become part of a “thruple,” or a three-way relationship, and Emma Roberts as the young woman Michael would eventually marry. Look for memorable supporting roles performed by Daryl Hannah, Leslie Ann Warren and others.

“I Am Michael” is inspired by a 2011 New York Times Magazine article titled “My Ex-Gay Friend,” written by Benoit Denizet-Lewis. The article generated a national dialogue, catching the attention of James Franco and his production company, and they optioned the material for a possible movie.

Justin Kelly then came aboard as co-writer with Stacy Miller, and he would go on to direct the movie under the mentorship of the legendary director Gus Van Sant.

Kelly told Gay San Diego that the creative team took great pains to be as fair as possible in telling Michael’s complicated story. Both Kelly and Van Sant are openly gay, so they wanted to keep their personal feelings in the background.

“The goal from day one — me, Gus, James — was to take a neutral, non-judgmental approach to telling the story,” Kelly said.

At a time when LGBT issues are moving forward at a staggering speed — from gay marriage argued this spring at the U.S. Supreme Court, Olympic hero Bruce Jenner coming out as transgender, and U.S. states beginning to ban “ex-gay” therapy as junk science — a film like “I Am Michael” appears timely and relevant.

Kelly said the filmmakers’ goal was less about sending a message and more about starting a conversation between people who support the LGBT community and those who don’t really understand the issues.

(l-r) Charlie Carver and Zachary Quinto become romantically linked in “I Am Michael.” (Courtesy of “I Am Michael.”)

“The film is really about the power of religion and belief,” Kelly said.

In Michael’s case, the fear of dying triggered a search for the meaning of life and an unquenchable thirst for faith. Just as Michael had poured his heart and soul into fighting for gay rights, he suddenly switched gears and devoted all his energy into his newfound fundamentalist religion.

In doing research to write the script, Kelly went to Wyoming to meet Michael, who at the time was still studying at a seminary. Michael showed up at the meeting, holding a Bible, spouting anti-gay rhetoric.

“It was very bizarre to me, very intense,” Kelly said. “I’m gay. I didn’t grow up with a religious background. I grew up with John Waters as an idol.”

After meeting Michael and interviewing his ex-partners and friends, Kelly came away with a series of clues about why he believes the religious transformation occurred. This is the heart of the movie. The one thing that struck him was that Michael did not change his sexual orientation because of “ex-gay” therapy.

“He didn’t go through conversion therapy,” Kelly said.

Franco seemed the perfect choice to play the role of Michael; Kelly said they share the same charisma and a common smile.

“With James onboard, I thought Zach was a great fit,” he said. “Being a gay actor was a bonus. I love having an out gay actor play the part of Bennett.”

James Franco plays Michael Glatze, an LGBT activist who becomes an antigay preacher. (Courtesy of “I Am Michael”)

Quinto, who has perfected the art of playing the villain in movies and on television, is cast against type and playing a softer character in “I Am Michael.” Kelly marveled at how Quinto grasped the character of Bennett and “made him a real guy.”

In the movie, Michael cannot terminate his emotional connection to Bennett even after he declares he is a heterosexual and marries a woman he meets at the seminary. Many viewers will wonder if Michael truly is the man he claims to be, as it raises the tantalizing issue about the fluidity of human sexuality where not everyone is 100 percent straight or 100 percent gay.

Kelly notes the hot-topic debate of “choice” vs. “born that way” when it comes to sexuality. He thinks it is a superficial argument when there are still places worldwide where people can be stoned to death simply for being gay or accused of being gay.

The film’s story ends in 2013, when Michael was still proselytizing against homosexuality. Two years later, Michael has apparently toned down his rhetoric.