Driving Equality

On this day in 1978, San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated. Below is a clip from my film, Driving Equality Across America, in whichDan Nicoletta, a friend of Harvey Milk, remembers how he heard the news that Harvey had been assassinated.

The Driving Equality book is now available on Amazon. You can purchase it here.

Or you can purchase a signed copy of the book directly from me. Follow this link to purchase a signed copy using your PayPal account or credit card.

Below is the book description:

The Driving Equality project started off as just another big idea. A 107-day, 22,000-mile trek through most of the lower 48 states to meet, interview, and share the stories of LGBT Americans and their allies. It was a daunting plan, but Chris Mason was determined to make it happen.

This book follows his journey across the country as he meets LGBT Americans where they live, in small towns and big cities. With little more than a camera, a computer, a sleeping bag, and a sense of adventure, all packed into one van, Chris and his friend Potter hit the road for nearly four months. Chris chronicled the trip with daily posts and photos from the road. Follow along as Chris travels into the heart of LGBT America.

Check out this video clip of the moment it is announced that marriage equality will win in Maine. On Election Day, I was in Portland filming for the documentary and captured this moment on tape. It will be used in the film.

The Driving Equality film is nearing completion. Here is where we are at:

• The soundtrack is complete!
• The graphics are done!
• The majority of editing is finished!

This is what we still have to do:

• Tweak the film with lots of little edits
• Screen the film for test audiences
• Make any necessary changes
• Sound correction/equalization
• World Premier!

We have a one hour long rough cut of the film, but there are still many little edits to work on to make the film ready for viewing. Once these edits are complete we will screen the film for test audiences. Then we will reevaluate the film and make any necessary changes. Next the film will go through a sound mastering process. Then we will be ready to premier a final product. Throughout the making of this film I have been optimistic about how long the process will take and have had to rethink our timeline a few times. This project has been four years in the making and it almost complete! We can’t wait to share it with you.

As 2011 comes to an end we like to remember the year’s successes and look back at past achievements. This was a big year for the Driving Equality project. We hired an incredible editor, worked with an amazing musician to compose an original soundtrack for the film, and collaborated with a very talented graphic designer to create popping titles. Because of all their hard work, and support from people like you, the Driving Equality film is close to being finished!

As we look back at this past year’s accomplishments, we also think about the past achievements of the Driving Equality project.

Remember when we confronted the man in the parking lot who was gathering signatures for the anti-gay ballot initiative in Washington state? He was lying to voters to get more signatures. That video was reviewed by Washington legislators! (VIDEO)

Remember when we sat down with Shirley Phelps of the “God Hates Fags” Westboro Baptist Church. We spent four hours in her home while she told us that God hated us and wanted us to die. (VIDEO)

Remember when we interviewed Dan Nicoletta, Harvey Milk’s friend and camera shop employee. He told us the story of how he found out about Harvey’s assassination. (VIDEO)

Remember when we sat down for a conversation with Sam Brinton, the young man who was forced through ex-gay aversion therapy. He told us what it was like to be electrocuted for being gay. (VIDEO)

The Driving Equality project collected all of these stories and we will share them with you in the film.

The Official Driving Equality Teaser!

Stand Up for Equality: A comedy night to benefit The Driving Equality Project

Tuesday June 21st
Doors open at 7:30pm
Show begins at 8:30pm

$15 a ticket

Dick’s Beantown Comedy Vault
124 Boylston St., Boston

Featuring Comedian Jim Lauletta

and many others

There will be a 50/50 raffle!

I am thrilled to announce that we have hired a professional editor to help complete The Driving Equality Project and produce the film you’ve all be waiting for! Please welcome Rachel Wiederhoeft to the Driving Equality team.

Rachel is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in FilmProduction and German Language. Since graduating in 2007, she has worked on film sets in Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania. Currently, she is the Production Supervisor for the WGBH Forum Network, where she gets her hands dirty video and audio recording, editing and publishing lecture videos online. With her girlfriend, Jessica, she is planning a cross-country bike trip in coming years, the preparations for which they are documenting on their website, Against the Grind.

We need your help to finish the film! The time, talent, and technology needed to complete The Driving Equality Project isn’t free. We are making a push to raise $5000 in one month, by the end of February. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. Become a Sponsor today and have your name or company listed on the website and in the end credits of the film.

We have some incredible stories to share with you and some unique insight into the work that needs to be done to ensure full equality for all. Make a donation today to help share these stories and bring a greater understanding of the daily lives of LGBTQ people in America.

This is a quick overview of the The Driving Equality Project:

Days on the Road: 107 (May 10, 2009 – August 28, 2009)

Miles Driven: 22,342

States Reached: 48 (Will Alaska and Hawaii will be next?!)

Hours of Footage: 102

Interviews Conducted: 84 (Including LGBTQ activists, allies, opponents, politicians, police, and people on the street)

Conversations About Equality: 500+

New Friends Made: Countless!

Part One of The Driving Equality Project was a huge success. We reached, and then surpassed our goals on every account. The conversations we had and interviews we conducted in almost every part of the country have given me a much greater understanding of the daily lives of LGBTQ people in America and the work that needs to be done to ensure full equality for all.

Now on to Part Two: Sharing that information with you.

The footage from The Driving Equality Project is nothing unless it is used to create a picture of LGBTQ America and add to the dialogue about how we win our rights in different parts of the country. That is my goal. To get to that point I’ve been logging the footage and editing a 15 minute clip that can be shown to potential editors. I do not have the time, talent, or technology to complete this film in the way I envision it. That is why I am hiring an editor; someone to work closely with me to help make the final product of The Driving Equality Project a reality.

I will keep you updated on future progress and let you know how you can help. Right now, the best thing you can do is share the Driving Equality website. There are many posts, photos, and interviews on the site. The other thing you can do to help is make a donation. In the next few months we will be making a big fundraising push in order to hire a qualified editor. You can get us started with your contribution today. Thank you.

Day 107

I made it home safe and sound today. It feels good to be back in Cambridge. I am thinking about what my next steps will be. It will take some time to process the trip and adjust to being home.

You can help out the Driving Equality project by donating to the New Computer Fund. I need to raise $1700 more to purchase the computer. This computer will be used to edit the final documentary.

Day 106

I am on the home stretch today, driving from Buffalo, New York to central Massachusetts. I will spend the night at my parent’s house in Lunenburg, Massachusetts, before completing the journey and returning home to Cambridge, the city I started in 106 days ago. It is hard to believe that I’m almost home after over three months on the road.

Day 105

My trip is almost over. I drove to Buffalo, New York last night, and then decided to cross the border in Canada. The Canadian border guard asked me what I was doing with the film equipment. I told him that I was making a documentary about gay rights in the United States. He asked, “for or against?”

I told him, “for.” He smiled approvingly, but sent me to have the van search in “secondary.” Readers of this blog will know that this is the sixth time the van has been searched. I have made it very clear that I strongly oppose illegal searches of my vehicle. I should also note that I am more than happy to comply with legal searches, such as this one at the national border. During the search of the van, I had to go in and speak with a woman from Customs. She asked what I was doing. I told her that I am driving around the US making a documentary about gay rights. She replied, “You know it’s legal here!”

Realizing that she was referring to same-sex marriage, I responded with my typical, “yah! That’s awesome!. She was excited and proud of her country. It was awesome.

I hung out in Niagara Falls today and performed my duties as a tourist to the best of my ability. This place is pretty incredible.

Day 104

I was in Cleveland, Ohio today at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Greater Cleveland. I had the pleasure to meet with Sue Doerfer, the Director of the Center. We talked about what it is like to be LGBT in Ohio, the need for a Center, and the city of Cleveland. Ohio does not have any legal protections for LGBT folks, but the city of Cleveland is trying to make up for that. The city just created a Domestic Partnership registry. Couples can register as partners, making their relationships official in the eyes of the city. However, because the state and federal governments do not recognize the Domestic Partnerships, no legal rights are gained.

I was quite impressed with the work going on at the Center. While I was there, a bunch of young people came in to use computers and relax in the safe environment. I wish every city, large and small, had an LGBT community center.

Day 103

After leaving Indiana, I headed to Kalamazoo, Michigan. This is a great city with a great name. There is much ado in Kalamazoo. The city recently passed a local ordinance outlawing discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The state of Michigan does not protect LGBT folks from workplace or housing discrimination, but a few cities do have local ordinances.

After Kalamazoo passed their ordinance, a group of anti-gay folks created an organization called, Kalamazoo Citizens Voting No to Special Rights Discrimination (yes, that is actually the organization’s official name). This group is working to repeal the new law banning discrimination. They have collected enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot this November.

In response to the anti-gay campaign, a new organization, One Kalamazoo, has stepped up to protect the law. I was able to interview a few of the folks involved in the fight. First up, I met with Thomas Seiler of the Kalamazoo Gay and Lesbian Resource Center. He told me about some of the work the resource center does in the area. Next, I interviewed Terry Kuseske, a longtime gay activist and candidate for Kalamazoo City Commission. We talked about the work that lead up to the passage of the non-discrimination ordinance.

Then I spoke with Jon Hoadley, the Campaign Manager for One Kalamazoo. We went over the ways in which our side will win this war. (I have a thing for alliteration.) Next, I met with Adam Taylor, GLBT activist, campaign manager, media specialist, and Director of Project Light; an organization he founded to help combat the epidemic of queer youth suicide. Adam and I had a great conversation about the way homophobia puts youth at risk.

Then I met with Amy Hunter, Director of Operations for One Kalamazoo. She told me about the protections afforded in the new law and what it is like to be transgender in Michigan. Last, but not least, I spoke with Steve Gerike about gay life in Kalamazoo. Special thanks to Steve for inviting me to the city many months ago when he first learned of Driving Equality.

Kalamazoo is one of the places we need to be turning our energy to this year. Our rights are on the ballot here this November. We aren’t even talking about marriage rights, but very basic civil rights like employment and housing. Let’s try to help out Kalamazoo. Check out OneKalamazoo.com.

Again, I’m trying to post a video clip of the interview, but my computer is not feeling it. You can help out the Driving Equality project by donating to the New Computer Fund. I need to raise $1700 more to purchase the computer. This computer will be used to edit the final documentary.

Day 102

I was in Indiana this morning, interviewing Nancy and Hank of the Michiana Chapter of PFLAG. We met in the new GLBT Center, located in South Bend. They told me about the climate LGBT people face in Northern Indiana. There are no legal protects for LGBT folks in this state.

Nancy and Hank are doing the work that needs to be done. They are both straight allies with gay family members. I was inspired by all the effort they put into supporting the local LGBT community.

I was completely exhausted when I met Nancy and Hank because the Indiana State Police had kept me up until 4:00 AM illegally searching my vehicle. Special thanks to Nancy and Hank for letting me take a nap at their house after the interview.

Again, I’m trying to post a video clip of the interview, but my computer is not feeling it. You can help out the Driving Equality project by donating to the New Computer Fund. I need to raise $1700 more to purchase the computer. This computer will be used to edit the final documentary.