Jim in Bold

Three openly gay teens, former contributors to YX magazine, now living in Halifax Nova Scotia fly to Vancouver, pick up a van and travel across the USA interviewing gay teens.

The three are involved in a web site that gay teens can log into and exchange information. In response to teens across America volunteering to be interviewed for this film, the three rent a van and go.

I had the feeling throughout that the REAL value of this film's being made was NOT that we saw it, but that the kids involved had a chance to connect and to speak their minds while being reassured that they were not alone. Since it was partly sponsored by one of the big cable networks there is a good chance that it will also help some kids in small rural locales if they can see it when and if it airs on cable.

The documentary itself seemed a bit heavy on the travelogue aspects and a bit light on the interview aspects but overall was well made and worthwhile, even for a big city audience that is exposed to much more of this kind of programming.

America is a big country and there are a LOT of small towns where there are gay kids that will really benefit from seeing this. There are plenty of kids that are even more isolated than the "Jim" in the title and its an important message that needs to get out.

I'd like to see another pass made of this same topic. Perhaps this time even smaller towns could be included and more time provided for more in-depth interviews.

JIM IN BOLD examines the many complicated issues facing gay and lesbian teens. Titled after a poem of the same name by Jim Wheeler, the young man in whose memory Equality Forum's National Youth Panel is dedicated, JIM IN BOLD explores the profound impact of nationally tolerated homophobia in our culture and public schools on GLBT youth.

"JIM IN BOLD tells the stories of gay youth in this country, from the tragic impact of hatred to the triumphant resilience of youth," said Equality Forum's Executive Director Malcolm Lazin. "This is the second documentary production by Equality Forum, the first being Gay Pioneers which premiered last year. We are proud to be adding to the canon of work which records the history of the GLBT civil rights movement."

JIM IN BOLD draws on Jim Wheeler's story as a framework to fuse two very different experiences of youths in America. By reconstructing the emotional journey which led to his unfortunate death, the film reveals the many warning signs that pointed to his suicide, including his writings, paintings, pleas with friends to assist him and threats to his family. In addition, the film explores how a high school system tolerated the kind of bigotry and harassment Jimmy endured daily as student at Cedar Crest High School in Lebanon, PA.

JIM IN BOLD simultaneously reveals a hopeful aspect of being young and gay in America, by documenting the activities of Young Gay America founders Benjie Nycum and Mike Glatze as they traveled around the United States and interviewed gay youths. Their tour took them from Utah to Jim Wheeler's hometown of Lebanon, PA where Benjie and Mike met and interviewed gay teens in Lebanon to include in their Young Gay America website project where, information via the Internet -- highly accessible but also anonymous -- allows teens to come out of the closet, via a virtual community of support. The film features many resilient gay teens who are creating and promoting a positive self-image of what it is like to by young and gay in America.

Having been gay for as long as I can remember, it was such an honor to have been chosen to be a part of this documentary. I am Emily Johnson-Williams, though these days, I only go by Emily Johnson. I see that no one else from the movie has commented on it, so I figured I would. Being a part of something that was so tremendous, yet so small, was something that changed my life. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Austin to the AGLIFF premiere of Jim In Bold, and I was invited to speak about my experience in helping to make it. When I got there, I talked to Malcolm Lazin, and he told me that there are people all over the world who wanted him to tell me that I was an inspiration to them, being from such a small, homophobic town - in rural Texas, no less! LOL! But that really opened my eyes and made me see that I wasn't alone, no matter how many times I felt alone. I'm thankful to Jimmy Wheeler, for the fact that it was because of him that I got to know that I wasn't alone. It was really nice. I wish his family all the best in life, and may Jimmy rest in peace.

Saw this movie at the Atlantic Film Festival here in Halifax, NS. Very touching and very funny. People should see it. A great line from one of the kids goes along the lines: "Homosexuality's not contagious, but homophobia is." Hopefully with movies like that, we'll be able to conquer homophobia.