"They aren't going to like this at all."
When the Supreme Court announced same-sex couples had the constitutional right to marry, I was over the moon. And then I realized something that made me stop in my tracks.

"Evangelicals," I thought to myself. "They aren't going to like this at all."

I knew right then there was a film that needed to be made. The pendulum for LGBT equality was swinging, and not surprisingly, conservative Christians in Tennessee would desperately try to stop it from swinging our way.

The Playbook
This film is definitely timely, but at its center is something that may surprise most people. We've all seen the headlines of big companies and celebrities boycotting North Carolina and other states because of recent grand, sweeping anti-LGBT laws. But you don't hear much about Tennessee, and that's where we really should acknowledge a little strategic genius on the part of church-fueled lobbying groups. Our state has become a testing ground for neoconservatism around the country. When it comes to quietly passing "religious freedom" laws that stick, Tennessee wrote the playbook.

Tennessee has never passed grand, sweeping anti-LGBT laws. Instead, our state slowly, carefully adds restrictions to the lives of gays and trans people, year after year. There would be no way for our Governor to whip out his veto stamp and put an end to it all in one shot. No, each law would have to be overturned, one at a time. It would take years. 

Nashville
Our state's capitol, Nashville, is on everybody's Top Ten List, and is being hailed as one of the coolest cities to visit and live in the US. It's doubtful that people who admire or move here have any idea that LGBT are second-class citizens in our state. In 2016, gay and trans people can be fired, denied a job, denied housing and denied service by any business or organization. You won't find any lawsuits by same-sex couples claiming a bakery refused to bake the couple's wedding cake because in Tennessee it is perfectly legal to refuse service to someone based solely on a customer's sexuality or gender identity. And five years ago, our state government made it illegal for municipalities to offer protections to us, too.

Tennessee has been flying under the radar for a long, long time. A public conversation is absolutely vital to creating change, and our film takes a well-aimed shot at that.

Why, When, How
We got on this right out of the gate. Filming began January 2016; research started months before. We knew LGBT would pay a price in Tennessee for that SCOTUS decision and it turns out the price this year was 13 new pieces of proposed legislation that could further hinder the struggle for  LGBT equality. We're going to present exactly what politicians had in mind for us in an easily accessible and engaging way. No, really.

This is a very personal film. I grew up an "occasional Protestant" in Canada, and church there looked very different than what we see in the South. Even though I've lived here for 20 years, I will always be an outsider to many people in Tennessee; I don't attend church and I'm gay. But as we've started to make our film, people I've met seem to understand that I am truly interested in their views, especially those who have very conservative perspectives, because their life experiences are very different than my own.

We talk to everybody. We'll show there are good people across the state - evangelicals, straight allies, politicians, advocates, preachers, LGBT and their families... and if we make this right every person who sees this film will see someone whose views they identify with. Not everybody is going to be in agreement with everything, but there will be common ground. Some people are definitely harder to identify with than others.

Does separation of church & state exist? Turns out that phrase is interpreted differently by different people; we're asking people what they think it means, and we'll hunt down where it came from. (Hint: it isn't in the constitution.)

Late night comedians have always enjoyed our state. Historically, Tennessee has had some shocking, and even humorous moments (to some) surrounding religious beliefs and even a few funny moments surrounding LGBT-discrimination. We want to include a some of the best.

Religion impacts every aspect of our lives in Tennessee and always has. Our film draws a line directly from what happens in church on Sunday to restrictions and basic rights denied to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Tennessee. Politics are "preached from the pulpit" and that translates to a very politically engaged congregation. We'll show a small cross section of different kinds of churches with different beliefs and how those beliefs are - or are not - changing, and what that might mean for LGBT here in the future.

We'll even have a few laughs in there. Yes, this is a serious subject and basic human rights are at stake, but to paraphrase a famous American documentary filmmaker, there's nothing wrong with entertaining the people. Besides, if you don't laugh you just cry and there's no crying in filmmaking.

And finally....
Love, Hate, Church & State. You have to admit, we've got a kickass title.

Thanks for your support --

Jen Sheridan

Producer/Director