Gay actor stars in End of the Spear

Sure, gay actors can play straight, but can they play Christian?

A new movie that came out last weekend, End of the Spear, co-stars Chad Allen who used to be a cute kid on the TV show Our House with Wilford Brimley and Diedre Hall in the 1980s. Now he's all grown up and openly gay. And that has some Christians withholding their support of the film, which chronicles the true story of Mincayani, a Waorani tribesman from Ecuador and what happens after five Christian missionaries are speared to death.

From the San Francisco Chronicle:

The Rev. Jason Janz, an assistant pastor with Red Rocks Baptist Church in Colorado, is circulating an online petition expressing "deep disappointment" in Allen's casting and saying, "We have been asked over the last several months to aggressively promote this film to our congregations; however, we cannot do so because of this issue."

[Producer Mart] Green said he hadn't known Allen was gay before casting him but doesn't think any backlash "is affecting the box office in any significant way. I'm sure some people are staying home, but I don't think it's that many."

Really? Green didn't know Allen was gay? Is he serious? He didn't think to Google "Chad Allen" before casting him? He didn't catch the October 2001 cover story in the Advocate? He missed Allen in the VH-1 special "Totally Gay!"? Someone needs to recalibrate his gaydar.

But the Reverand Janz documented that the filmmakers and the real-life family portrayed in the film were well aware of Allen's sexual orientation and advocacy for gay equality. Janz is simply outraged that they didn't choose to discriminate against him. I imagine Janz professes to believe in the Bible, so it would seem he would be aware of the whole "let he who is without sin cast the first stone" lesson. But clearly, these folks believe it is their role to judge and that all sins are not created equal.

I hear that one of the key grips smokes weed, the second assistant director uses the "F" word, and Chad wasn't the only homo on the set--that wardrobe guy has a very limp handshake. All the more reason to stay away.

One thing is certain. This little controversy is only having the effect of drawing more attention to this little indie movie. I certainly never would have heard of it otherwise. In fact, it looks like an interesting story, and I may even go see it. Nah, I think I'll go see Brokeback Mountain for a third time instead.