LOVE FREE OR DIE

Discussion with director Macky Alston following the film. Co-presented with the Open and Affirming Committee of the First Congregational Church of  West Tisbury

THIS IS A FREE COMMUNITY EVENT

Love Free or Die is the true story about gay Bishop Gene Robinson whose two defining passions the world cannot reconcile: his love for God and for his partner Mark. It is about church and state, love and marriage, faith and identity-and one man’s struggle to dispel the notion that God’s love has limits. In the film, Gene Robinson becomes the first openly gay person to be elected bishop in the high church traditions of Christendom. Bishop Robinson confronts those who use religion as an instrument of oppression, and claims a place in the church and society, not just for LGBT people, but for all. By changing the church, he can change the world.

The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and won the Special Jury Prize for an Agent of Change. It aired nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens series.

Alston’s first film, Family Name premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997 where it won the Freedom of Expression Award and later aired on PBS’ POV. Since then he has directed Questioning Faith (premiered Full Frame & Hot Docs International Film Festivals, aired HBO/Cinemax 2002), The Killer Within (premiered Toronto International Film Festival 2006, aired Discovery Times 2007), and Hard Road Home (premiered South by Southwest 2007, aired PBS’ Independent Lens 2008).

Alston’s awards include the Gotham Open Palm Award and Emmy nominations for three of his films. He has appeared in press around the world, including The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Today Show, and The New York Times.

Alston also serves as Vice President for Strategy, Engagement and Media at Auburn Theological Seminary, where he directs a program that equips leaders of faith and moral courage to speak out for justice through the media.

“A thoughtful reflection on the divisiveness of homosexuality in organized religion, focusing on the quiet crusade of openly gay bishop Gene Robinson.”

–David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

“Equally inspiring and infuriating.”

–Fr. Chris Carpenter