October 27, 2011 - 10:08am
The Complete Spectrum: Anti-gay marriage leader has misgivings about group’s ads
BY CHRIS DYER
As many gay rights proponents would like to malign the politics and decry the “true intentions” of their anti-gay counterparts, sometimes to the point of becoming as hatemongering as their targets, it is always important to note that both sides have very intelligent and well-intentioned people. A case-in-point is the leader of the gay marriage repeal effort in Maine, Marc Mutty. As reported in the Bangor Daily News in Maine on Monday, a new documentary depicts Mutty as being “conflicted over ads” that some of his supporters made.
The documentary, “Question One,” is about the eponymous Proposition in Maine to repeal a recently passed gay marriage law. Mutty, as well as several other leaders on the “Yes” and “No” sides, was closely followed by directors Joe Fox and James Nubile, as he commented on the methods that he and his group used. Mutty confirms that he is “certainly proud to work in defense of marriage, but [he’s] not particularly fond of being remembered as the star bigot in Maine — the one who led the charge to deny gays and lesbians their fundamental rights — which is how it’ll be painted, [he fears].”
Mutty points to one of the main points of the advertisements of the “Yes On One” campaign as a possible reason that he will be remembered this way: “the ‘hyperbole’ in…suggesting allowance of gay marriage will force the topic of homosexuality into public classrooms full of young children.” He goes on to mention his doubt and dismay that “ally” Frank Schubert, former leader of anti-gay marriage causes in California, has contributed factual arguments.
In this respect, I am glad to see that there are still arguers with high standards of discourse on both sides, and that directors like Fox and Nubile are willing to record this manner of discourse and show it to those who may think less of the arguers otherwise. I believe the directors’ purpose, to illustrate “the humanity and soul and essence of both sides,” has been well served.
