'Free Speech Apocalypse' draws no protest in Moscow

A documentary claiming Christians are losing their right to free speech and featuring Christ Church Pastor Doug Wilson didn't draw ire or protest from local civil rights groups Thursday night, in spite of content most in the gay community would view as inflammatory.

In fact, most were unaware of the film altogether.

Julia Keleher, director of the University of Idaho's LGBTQA Office and Programs, said she had no knowledge of the showing of "Free Speech Apocalypse" at Nuart Theater in Moscow until Thursday afternoon. After learning of the film, she said she did not plan to give it any of her attention.

"I think I'll just ignore it," Keleher said.

Joann Muneta, chairperson of the Latah County Human Rights Task Force, said the film's very showing in Moscow contradicts its claim that Christians are being denied free speech.

"The fact that's being shown here shows the support and value of free speech," Muneta said.

Wilson, however, maintains free speech is under assault.

Wilson said that is the point he hopes viewers take away from the film, which was a collaboration between him and producer Darren Doane. The film was screened Thursday at five locations across the U.S.

Wilson said the film stems from a 2012 incident that took place at the University of Indiana, where he was to present a two-part lecture, "Sexual by Design."

The lecture explored Wilson's thoughts on heterosexuality being central to bearing God's image and the close connection between sex and marriage and gospel.

"Word got out that I was coming and what I was going to talk on," Wilson said. "Opposition started to build. We wound up taking a camera crew with us because we thought it was going to be a thing. We got a lot of really ripe footage.

"... I went to give a couple of lectures in a classroom at a state-supported university and I needed an escort of about 20 cops," Wilson added. "Why on earth would someone need an escort of about 20 cops to give a lecture in a classroom in a state university?"

It was that footage, including students chanting, "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, Douglas Wilson, go away," that inspired Doane, who had previously produced two documentaries, "Collision" and "Stonewall," to take on the project.

"I saw the footage from Indiana University back in 2012 and I was completely convinced it would be an amazing piece of entertainment and instructional, informational. It just took a little time to see how this was going to play out and I saw the culture kind of develop and it became apparent that it was the right time for this film," Doane said.

Doane, who denies the film - and Wilson himself - is anti-gay, said part of the film is dedicated to answering those charges.

"All those charges were used in Indiana and continue to be used to silence whatever opinions he may have," Doane said. "Our approach is to let Doug speak to what he believes about those things. The film is far from anti-gay but it is very much so pro-free speech. We believe Doug is absolutely, 100 percent entitled to every single one of his opinions whether they're popular or whether people agree with them or not. That's what's so great about America and the First Amendment. We can all hold our own opinions and no one gets censored or silenced or fined because they hold what is becoming quickly a dissenting opinion."

Wilson and Doane said they fear free speech is going by the wayside.

"This isn't ultimately, or even at all, about getting our feelings hurt by someone disagreeing or being mean or shouting at us. That's fine," Doane said. "What is alarming is when the government begins to levy fines and close businesses and ask pastors to submit their sermon notes for review to look for hate speech and this kind of thing."

Doane said the object of the film is to inspire courage and help people be comfortable speaking their minds without fear of retribution.

"We're not interested in silencing what atheists have to say, what pagans have to say, what Wiccans have to say. Everyone is entitled to those opinions and we're not trying to prosecute anybody for thinking differently from us and it seems that we're the ones being prosecuted and we certainly want to make everyone aware of that," Doane said.

The problem is a lack of tolerance, Wilson said.

"I believe there are certain world views that are inherently intolerant and part of it is defensiveness," Wilson said.

Doane said during the past few years it has been Christians who have been under fire.

"Christians and specifically conservative Christians' liberty has been assaulted from the progressive left. It just so happens that's where the battlefield is, that's where the front line is and that's where we want to be fighting," Doane said. "We're not picking fights, we truly believe this documentary is a counter punch."

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@dnews.com.