Out In The Lineup
“It started with a Google search. I typed in the words 'gay' and 'surfer'”
They're not the first words spoken in Out In The Lineup but they make a fitting starting point for a review. Because although Out In The Lineup is a documentary it's also a journey and those words are the embarkation point.
They're spoken by David Wakefield, one-time state champion (beat Richard Cram!) and the main protagonist in the film. Out In The Lineup is a documentary made by Thomas Castets and Ian Thompson. Thomas is the founder of gaysurfers.net, Ian is a filmmaker, they're both surfers.
Thomas and Ian ask many questions in Out In The Lineup, yet their central mission was simply to find other gay surfers and have them tell their stories. They do this by loosely tacking the film's narrative journey to David's own journey, the one that began when he typed those two words into Google.
A straight-up surf bloke from Byron - he wears a flanno and boardshorts in interviews - David is the antithesis of the Oxford Street flamboyance that marks the gay stereotype. He speaks straight to camera and recounts the ways he hid his identity in the past, often by denying it expression and devoting himself to surfing.
In that regard his story is similar to many who are interviewed in the film. There was simply no room in the surfing culture for them to be the person they are. I speak in past tense though little has changed in the present. As David sets off on his journey to connect with others around the world, Thomas seeks to find out why the current surfing culture won't accept gay surfers.
Right about now many straight surfers will be saying that they do accept gay surfers. And individually that may be true, yet Thomas interviews surfers who show by way of media representation, sponsorship restrictions, and peer rejection that homophobia, however passive it may be packaged, is still present. The argument mounts.
Rebuffed by Surfing Australia, Thomas arranges an interview with the ASP. His goal? To ask if surfing's peak body accepts homosexuals. Dave Prodan, head of ASP media, fronts the camera and the interview begins...and then the image on screen goes blurry and the sound drops out. Viewers are informed that the ASP withdrew permission to run the interview at late notice. The refusal is more telling than anything that may have been said.
Thomas gathers stories from others - Keala Kennelly, Cori Schumacher, Matt Branson's tale – while David goes public with his sexuality. His 'outing' at the Sydney Mardi Gras is one of the highlights, a genuine laugh, and a very special moment caught on film. In surfing the word freedom is often bandied about, but here, right before the viewers, is a person experiencing a transformative response to real freedom – finally able to express the real person inside.
If anyone questions why this film should be made then I'll point them to that moment.
And if that ain't enough then maybe I'll point out the surfing footage. Fortunately for the filmmakers David fair rips, as do many of the other interviewees: Keala Kennelly of course, Franco Vergara from Ecuador, and a couple of others. But I feel kinda churlish speaking about the surfing; the stories told are more powerful than requisite athletic talent, and the people who tell them braver than the boldest big wave rider.
Out In The Lineup will be following the movie festival circuit and I'd advise every surfer to go along and watch it.
Comments
A powerful movie that really sticks with you for the hours following the film. Even as a huge follower of the surfing industry I couldn't think of or name any "out" surfers. It's interesting how we sort of just assume they don't exist.
I hope people try and catch it as it tours to Byron on the 7th March, Melbourne on the 16th March and Brissy on the 28th.
Cracker of a film.. get out and see it.
Look forward to seeing this. I have to admit, it's not a topic I've given a lot of thought to - but find it bizarre that the ASP would cancel the interview. Strange that despite there being so many people surfing competitively on the ASP, not a single gay surfer comes to my mind. Have we got a bigger image problem, a bigger pre-occupation with the macho man stereotype than say, the NFL, basketball...? Scary thought. Imagine if KS had been gay - would surfing be the same enormous industry that it is today?
From my experiences, being a gay surfer is a non-issue. If the ASP or whoever has been in charge of the various aspects of competition has issues, I don't believe that is reflective of the views of your average (free) surfer.
The anecdotes in the trailer seem to talk of long ago, when being gay was sadly more taboo- but not just in surfing, in general life.
Good on the fellas if they have managed to travel the world surfing and making a movie off the back of it ;-)
I tend to think the same Gazza. You know, what's the issue? I'm accepting, my friends are too.
...and then I do something like, say, link this story to Facebook and my rosy worldview gets punctured. People posting under their real names, typing messages that can only be described as hatespeak (the worst have been hidden or deleted).
Things may be better but it'd be wrong to think it doesn't exist any more.
Sad.
But is it a surfer thing or a fuckwit thing?
Oh it's a fuckwit thing, but there's plenty of fuckwits that surf.
That said, a degree of institutionalised homophobia still exists. Examples are given in the movie of surfers who couldn't come out for fear of losing their sponsors. And why would the ASP pull an interview..?
Fuckwits everywhere (which is my point).
Institutionalised homophobia certainly still exists. But not exclusive to surfing. I guess those sponsored surfers (feel like they) have a lot to lose, therefore scared/erring on the side of safety?
Still don't see there is particularly a SURFING/homophobia issue.
...anyway, I am just repeating myself. Others turn :-)
In your opinion, does it have to be exclusive to surfing to justify the making of this documentary?
I watch documentaries because I like hearing people tell their stories. The stories don't always have to be revolutionary or humongous tragedies, etc. But still they always expand your perspective, and give you something to think about.
Of course not, but I think it is tenuous.
Obviously not the first time a movie has been made with tenuous linking of ideas.
Like I originally said the guys who made it have travelled the world surfing off the back of it and seem passionate, so good on' em.
Call me crazy, but when I go surfing, or watch pro surfing, you know I'm really not thinking about the sexual preferences of the surfers, or even myself.
I suspect, or at least hope, that most people actually don't give a shit about that stuff any more. That's as it should be.
Frankly, I think anyone who walks around with their identity stuffed into their sexuality has a problem, and it isn't whether they are gay or hetero, it's about proportion, you are so much more than your sexual preferences.
Good luck to the film makers, but I hope that people see it and say 'Yeah, interesting historical documentary"
So who did the soundtrack to the movie ? Buthole surfers ?
I didn't even have to wait for my comment to appear before it was proved true......what are you afraid of inzider? Your own inadequacy?
Homophobia is like racism. It's always there waiting to come out when the coast is clear, which is why it is important to talk about it, it disempowers the fuckwits and forces them to keep their prejudices to themselves. When I look back the best I can do is to damn surfers with the feint praise that we were probably more tolerant than many other sections of society. I have known quite a few surfers to be gay over the years without it ever being spoken. In most of those cases I would say that everyone in that circle knew. At the time it seemed enough that we were accepting to that degree but now it seems what we offered was below the level of mateship. If you can't talk to those around you about who you really are then they are not really your friends. So like just about every other section of society we let down some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.
Oh no cant have a sense of humor, this is serious stuff, oh dear blindboy lighten up ya up tight git, for fucks sake .
If that's your sense of humour inzider, I will give you some advice, keep it to yourself so you don't reveal your latent homophobia which will lose you the friends you want and condemn you to the company of idiots.
Yawn
Deconstruct? Not really necessary is it?
How?
'And why would the ASP pull an interview..?'
Maybe all this stuff has something to do with it.
http://www.corischumacher.com/2012/08/10/surfing-culture-of-silence/
Not sure who 'how' is directed at blindboy, as the order of posts is all over the shop. If its me, then my point and answer to the question asked, is that maybe the ASP are just continuing in the same vein discussed in the link. One of being silent about anything that they perceive as not aligning with, or threatening the image that they want to convey.
Refreshing to see a whole different level of commentaries at swellnet as compared to surfing magazine and Stab. Even Inzider was kind of funny. Real prejudice would surely come up in later comments.
I never bought the whole - Surfers are a open-minded group of people - history as told us otherwise, and the governing bodies are a sorry testament to that (Dave Prodan & Co. shame on your sorry asses!)
Yet all over some social media outlets I can see there's some hope...
inzider is funny. so is Norm MacDonald.
and then, there's Jim Goad.
http://takimag.com/article/homosexuality_whats_choice_got_to_do_with_it/...
{q}A straight-up surf bloke from Byron - he wears a flanno and boardshorts in interviews -{q}
That's just the kind of guy I don't like, straight-up blokes wearing flannos, and blokes wearing boardshorts during interviews - they piss me off. Round the fuckers up and spray them with de-weed or something. A bloke has to be like them to interview them as well, which means that this place has gone to the dogs.
I would never know who was gay in the surf, although come to think of it most surfers are....?
But who cares, who gives a right arm, really. I feel if you have that tendacy, so be it, don't publicise it in a place where it is not the norm. Common sense really.
IMO this film has no back bone at all and seeks attention about some thing so petty, which is typical with the gay males.
I'm not homophobic at all, my wife has many gay couple partners who we know and to say the least they throw a good party for sure.
They are bitches tho, especially the one who is supposed to be the woman in the relationship !
Good luck with the film ratings with "David and Margaret"
Not interested in watching the movie so can't comment on it, not interested in peoples sexuality, just take them as they are. I mean how do you tell the difference between a metrosexual and a homosexual, you can't and who cares.
I find it funny that most of these posts refer to gay males, funny how the openly gay pro womens surfers are accepted.
Spoke to a girl on the asp tour about what it was like and how she got along with the others, said they were cool as soon as they realized she wasn't going to steal there girlfriends.
I agree with batfink and welly ,i don't know any openly gay people so some of you will probably label me homophobic , but I just have no contact with any, (never been to Sydney)
Weely can you ask your gay friends this for me as it's the only question I have about male gayness . If a bloke is attracted to other blokes how come you have the feminine partner , I mean is there a line they would cross where they would be attracted to a butch female, if they are attracted to blokes, why would they be attracted to a bloke pretending to be a girl?
And no, I can't ask Shaun, he goes very quiet and wont make eye contact on such subjects.
The above two comments totally reinforce why films like this need to be made.
'not the norm' 'never been to Sydney' FFS
You live in a country of what 25 million, on a continent that can feed what, 35 million? While to your north, 5 billion folks with a totally different viewpoint than leftists Australians, dwell in a political hell. And half want to move into your country?....
"It’s obvious that the only reason gay people want to get married is because they’ve never been married before".
"Well, there’s that and the tax/health-insurance benefits, but they tend to downplay that part. They’d prefer to act as if it’s about dubious intangibles such as “love” and “rights.” To demonstrate this point, they’ll hate you and stomp on your rights if you don’t march in lockstep with them.
What percentage of the population is gay? Five percent? OK, maybe after Glee started airing, it jumped to ten percent. And let’s severely overestimate and say that half of them want to get married. So at best—and it’s a lavish overstatement—we’re talking about an issue that affects only one in twenty Americans. Realistically, it probably affects only one in a hundred.
So how the fuck did this become the most pressing issue of our times? If one’s head was teeming with seethingly irrational hateworms, one might even be tempted to think the Homo Lobby represents an elite special-interest group that wields absurdly disproportionate power rather than an oppressed minority.
What’s next—are we going to allow Jews to get married, too?
Why is this a much bigger issue than the recently passed Monsanto thingamajig? At least food affects everyone, right? What about NDAA? Domestic drone strikes? The ever-swelling surveillance state? Falling test scores? The economy’s nearing an apocalypse, the culture is Balkanizing, and you’re obsessed with GAY MARRIAGE?
Does anyone—even ONE of you—who’s using one of those pink equal-sign avatars on Twitter and Facebook realize what a brainwashed lemming it makes you look like?
When it comes to witch hunts, I tend to take the side of the hunted rather than the hunters, and the homos have switched sides over the past decade or so. Gays were much more admirable when they were outsiders. Now that they’re pushing as hard as a dick up an ass for mainstream acceptance, they’re as boring and dictatorial as any other mainstream entity. I thought I’d never see the day when turd-burglars make me yawn.
Oh—it’s “equality” you want? OK, then, the two of you should make a baby. If you can’t, we’re dealing with a false equivalency.
If Martians were to suddenly land in America, they’d look around, shrug, and say, “Whatta bunch of fags” before quickly returning to Mars. And who could blame them?
http://streetcarnage.com/blog/gay-marriage-the-least-of-our-problems/
I live in far eastern vicco, at the moment I know of no gay people living in my area, so mugofsunshine the only way I would have of connecting with obviously gay people would be at the mardi gra, maybe I am just blissfully ignorant , whats wrong with that.
If we were talking about why hipsters dress like duufeses or why some blokes love rooting fat bush pig chicks it would be no holds barred innuendo and banter questions could be asked, shit could be hurled and questions could be answered in humorous terms. But the subject is Homosexuality, so be mindful of what you say as we don't want to upset any one. Mugofshit, not the norm is most probably referring to gay people being a minority of the population, what's wrong with that? Your a bit overly i think,
What mugofsunshine said.
These films need to be made and gay men and women need to be vocal and tell people until society truly does say that it doesn't matter. Right now, society says it matters because of the grief they cop for coming out.
Welly, statements like, " don't publicise it in a place where it is not the norm" shows that you (or if not you then people generally) do care. Whether it's the norm or not shouldn't matter. So long as someone gets given grief for admitting they're gay because it's "not the norm", or so long as they're told they just shouldn't admit it openly cos it's not the norm, then that's a homophobic society. It's the definition of one. Damn right a person's sexuality shouldn't matter, but in that world you describe, it actually does.
This American sportscaster made a great 2 minute comment when the best defensive player in college football just came out and a bunch of NFL officials said he wouldn't be welcome on their team:
Benski yeah the caring factor of not the norm in the surf is, If two blokes starting kissing each other in front of me. I would tell them both to "fuck off out of the surf and go home and do that shit, have some respect." The norm IMO is walking down Oxford Street or in a gay nightclub, thats excepted and is the norm.
welly, if a bloke paddled up to his girlfriend and gave her a kiss (like Rebecca described below) and you'd tell them to go home to do that shit and have some respect, then you're taking issue with people having a snog in public. Fair enough. But if you'd ignore that and not worry about it, just cos it's hetero, then that is the problem.
The whole reason this is relevant is because it shouldn't be considered disrespectful for two blokes to kiss each other in public, unless of course it's somewhere considered disrespectful for a bloke and a chick to do the same.
I nearly wrote a hypothetical earlier too...
A bloke is about to go for a surf and he gives his boyfriend/husband a kiss on the beach before paddling out. How's he treated in the surf by those who saw it? And how's his boyfriend on the beach treated by the passers-by who saw it? And what if they do it every time they go for a surf? If sexuality doesn't matter, no one bats an eyelid. After all, no one looks twice when a bloke gives his girlfriend a kiss on the beach before paddling out. I saw that happen this morning actually.
I don't think the reaction would be quite the same for the two fellas.
Benski fair enough comment, I respect what your saying, I'm different and probably just set in my ways.
Like I said before my wife and I know a few gay male couples and we sometimes socialise with them, which is an absolute crack up. They love me, don't get me wrong here, they like my scallywagness, sense of humour and fun times especially in party mode. I'm not at all bothered by them and usually play the game better than themselves in a humorous way. The difference is, these couples are older, professionals and when in public they don't go around promoting themselves as gay, ie kissing, holding hands etc.
That is why I mentioned above "don't publicise it in a place where it is not the norm."
About "A bloke is about to go for a surf and he gives his boyfriend/husband a kiss on the beach before paddling out. How's he treated in the surf by those who saw it?"
I have witnessed this my self getting changed in the carpark awhile back. Hey I just cracked up and went surfing, never bat an eye lid, never treated the bloke different. He actually dropped in on me and later apologised, which I responded to him with ", not a problem champ, plenty of waves to be had."
About Rebecca's story kissing her lover in the line up, well IMO that just being insecure in a way, its like letting every other bloke in the line up that has been perving at her, to make them realise that this is my boyfriend. Then again it might of been from her boy friend, which is similar.
Saying that I surf with my wife and we both don't go kissing each other out there, time for that stuff later,
surfing catching waves is more appropiate at the time.
Fair enough mate. But you should give her a snog, out in the lineup, from time to time. :)
Morris you can totally make jokes about it mate. The kind of jokes matter that's all.
The show Louie opened one episode with this very thing...it's a 7 minute clip that's pretty funny.
Basically explaining where the word faggot comes from and having a laugh. Probably would offend some gay folk but not others. Like anything.
Constantly surprised that gay folks harp on white folks who don't give a fuk where you put your junk, afraid to take on the true gay haters.
what are 'ya, a bunch of pussies?
http://freedomoutpost.com/2013/10/muslim-countries-ban-entry-of-homosexu...
http://rt.com/news/saudi-arabia-gays-ban-213/
why not take on the real haters?.... President Goodluck Johnson, and the rest of the folks of Nigeria...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Nigeria
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2560061/Mob-attacks-alleged-gays...
and Uganda.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2559701/Officials-Ugandas-leader...
Thanks for this review, Stu. I'm going to see this film next week and I'm really looking forward to it.
There are a couple of comments on here that suggest that there is no homophobia in surfing and that they personally aren't homophobic. And that's really great that those people get to feel that way - I do too. However, that many people who are gay or lesbian or bi or whatever continue to feel as though they can't be open about their sexuality is evidence enough that this film should be made - that it needed to be made. It's easy for me - as a straight woman - to say that homophobia isn't an issue when I've never yet had to feel it's weight or effects on the ways I'm treated. It's easy to ignore the implicit ways that surfing culture assumes heterosexuality when I don't have to feel excluded by that. It's easy for me to see through the way that surf history ignores violence and abuse levelled at people identified as gay when I never had to identify that way. I never had to go through a process of coming out and publicly proclaiming my sexuality, because I've always fit the heterosexual assumptions. The unfairness of these things really pisses me off, but I don't have to feel their effects. I got to sit in the surf and make eyes at the guy I was seeing without being treated like shit. We could hold hands, kiss and carry on, and while I'm sure it was irritating to watch, we never had to think twice about whether we would be treated as though we were doing something inherently wrong.
It's not up to people who are straight to say when and how homophobia exists or doesn't exist. How could straight crew possibly know that? The only way we can find out how to change anything is to learn about the issues from the people who feel the weight of them. From those whose sexuality means they have lost sponsorship, been beaten up, been verbally abused, been offended by the thoughtless use of words like gay, homo, fag and dyke as insults, been made to feel as though who they have a romantic or intimate relationship with has any bearing on how they are able to participate in surfing.
If you ride magic rainbow surfboards, is it compulsory to be gay ?
My son is 16 - he came out a year ago. He will be stoked to see this film. And I will be proud to see it with him and his boyfriend - they make the cutest couple.
And if anyone thinks that gay folk pushing for same sex marriage are carrying on about something trivial - maybe you could let me know what I should tell my boy when he asks me "Dad - why the !@#$ can't I get married if I find someone I want to spend the rest of my life with in a committed relationship....?"
Sorry mate - not wanting to pick a fight - but by that logic any married (hetero) couple who either choose to or are unable to have children - or are only able to conceive through IVF should be forced to divorce? Or not be able to marry in the first place?
As an aside - I had to laugh when he came home from a surf the other day and commented on how all the 'straight' guys changed when a couple of hot young female surfers paddled out and he "...scored the wave of the day coz everyone was so distracted..." - clearly, he wasn't distracted by any of the guys in the lineup....
This is a really complicated subject that usually gets reduced to, you either support gays or are you a homophobe. Unfortunately it is usually reduced to this level by the politically correct self righteous ones who tell us not categorise and stereotype etc.
Welly and Morris show the pretty typical Aussie bloke’s attitude to this and generally his acceptance of gays, acceptance is an important word, as it is a much more significant victory than tolerance.
Yet they are criticised as having some sort of subconscious or latent homophobia, and by literal definition I can see the point. But they are not scared of gays, they have accepted them. They just don’t want the whole in your face gay mardis gras to be the norm. Gay is not the norm, that is why we are talking about it. But the advocates will not be happy until it is normal for two guys to show affection in public. Call me a homophobe but I don’t want to see that shit either, it repulses me, as does watching the SBS show Queer as fuck (or is it folk? Cant remember). But I watch it, and enjoy it, because it is interesting for me, having gay friends and having occasionally partied on the gay party scene, (Welly is right they do have the best parties (and all things associated with partying!)).
Now I know the whole gay scene is not like that, and there are nice committed relationships like nose drip‘s son has found. Nose drip’s story gave me a warm fuzzy feeling, which makes me not a homophobe, but the thought of seeing this “cute” couple kiss repulses me, so I am a homophobe? you decide.
We are all pretty much talking about men because most people have accepted the girl/girl thing because even bogans love watching lesbians, and women’s magazines have made it fashionable, which I believe is a problem in itself. The fact women can be influenced by media so much shows a big difference between how men and women think, and a big difference in what they intend to do in the bedroom, Women’s sexuality is much more “fluid” apparently, and therefore can be more influenced. Most gay men appear to be much more “:born this way”. This is where it is a very complex issue yet we group it all together to make an argument.
I don’t agree with all Roller says, but as someone who also is inherently drawn to the underdog, for me the acceptance has been largely achieved, and I feel exactly the same as his statement’” I never thought I would see the day when turd burglars would make me yawn”. They make us yawn because we are tired of hearing about it, equality almost there, gay marriage not necessary, it all seems financial to me too. If I really love someone the last thing I would need is approval from the government.
I will support gay marriage when they stop finding another stereotypical gay guy to do the gossip segment on each TV channel.
All very interesting stuff, cot so much to say and somany questions to assk. Butt I'll leave till the mornin as ihavve had to much to drinf and we don't want any of you takink advantage of it.
Shauns go ne all shy hey. ;-) ;-)
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2013/s3951444.htm
"In the world of surfing, the name Peter Drouyn is right up there in its roll call of stars. He was the Australian champion in 1970, and in the same year ranked number one in the world. Much more recently, he shocked his peers by undergoing a sex change and changing his name to Westerly. Now, a documentary team is hoping the story will change altitudes in this male-dominated sport and inspire others who are struggling with their identity. David Lewis reports."
I've sobered up now and I must say I am a bit disappointed that not one of you would answer my question as it is something I have been curious about, Benski it was your cue to out yourself on the forum, be the first others might follow. S'pose I'll just stay ignorant and the gays can keep making documentaries for gay people to watch, cause only gay people and close friend are going to go along to see it. Preaching to the converted.
Uncle leroy if you asked westerly I am pretty sure she/he/it would tell you she is not a homosexual and is a woman attracted to hetro sexual men.
haha! Morris, if I was going to out myself I'd probably chat to my wife first cos she might have something to say about it.
No worries Benny, just keep in mind when the time is right and you have plucked up enough courage to tell the missus the swellnet community will be there to support you.
Thanks Weeely, it's just one of those things I find mildly amusing and just ask why?
haha, thanks mate! Appreciate the support!
I didn't think you were serious about your question. So "If a bloke is attracted to other blokes how come you have the feminine partner...?" Speaking from what I can gather, you don't always. Like anything, it takes all types not just the stereotype you're thinking of. Think about it. Some blokes like blondes, others like brunettes, some like bigger women, others like skinny rakes. Same thing.
From what I can see with my gay mates, some like the gay stereotype, others don't. My gay mates are normal fellas who you wouldn't pick as "gay". And none of them is a "feminine" one or whatever.
Morris quotes
"Weely can you ask your gay friends this for me as it's the only question I have about male gayness . If a bloke is attracted to other blokes how come you have the feminine partner , I mean is there a line they would cross where they would be attracted to a butch female, if they are attracted to blokes, why would they be attracted to a bloke pretending to be a girl?"
Morriso, Haven't bumped into our friends since you asked the question.
A pretty complex question for myself to answer.
Opposites Attract....!
Can someone answer Morriso's question who is on that side of the fence, please !
Maybe there's another way for Morris to think about it that it a bit more self-reflective. I mean, if you're attracted to feminine women are you then ever attracted to feminine men?
I mean, how can I be sexually attracted to a masculine man, but have not yet to a masculine woman? I don't know - that's just how I feel.
It's kind of a pointless, unanswerable question beyond, "Just because".
Sport are gay.
Because everyone can agree that the most important thing about sports is whether or not homosexuals play them.
http://streetcarnage.com/blog/ugandas-top-200-homosexuals-where-are-the-...
I think this movie / article is a bit like everything on "the Project" on Ch10.
That being generally not really relevant to the bulk of our lives, but tried to be made otherwise and onmipresent.
These days I'm not concerned if folke are straight, gay, bi, A-sexual or otherwise, anymore than I am if they are Catholic, Muslim or Hindu.
good luck to them, go see it and enjoy it if you wish.
(We do have some pretty butch dykes around this neck of the woods, and I don't like them, not because they are lesbians, but because they are horrible people, trying to out-macho / out-attitude the macho-est of blokes. I'm allergic to horrible people.)
go easy on those horrible lesbians sid, a lot of them are the result of horrible men
something else that is left out of this debate