I attended the Museum of History screening. I love the Crossroads Charlotte concept. I hadn't heard of the organization until I received a press release regarding the film last week. After the film, I was encouraged to share my thoughts. I then posted them at the Crossroads Charlotte website:

"I really identified with the character Sam. In the last vignette, Sam's story is fully told: "My mom doesn't know I'm gay." The new friend I met, Glenda, urged me to speak about our conversation after the film. I sometimes feel as though Charlotte's civic/government, social and religious leaders and institutions are kind of like Sam's mom; they don't know Charlotte has a gay community. As big a city as Charlotte is, one would think we'd have at least one openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) elected official. We don't. The City doesn't include sexual orientation or gender-identity in its non-discrimination policy; the County doesn't include gender-identity. Neither the County nor the City currently offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex partners of LGBT employees (although the County has finally begun to officially discuss it). The region is still very conservative on religious issues. The only institutions who recognize LGBT citizens is the business community. Our city won't grow unless LGBT citizens are fully accepted and given their full dignity and worth as valued people and community members."

I applaud Crossroads Charlotte for including an (almost full-fledged) gay story line. What surprised me was the inclusion of a transgender character. That was amazing.

But I think the film and the vignettes could have explored their characters a bit more. Without seeming critical, because I loved the film, I do think several storylines, including the story of the gay teen character Sam, deserved more attention. The symbolism I found in Sam's story and similar symbolism found by others, will, I fear, only be seen by people who already have an understanding of LGBT issues and of the LGBT community. It'll completely fly over the heads of other folks not as exposed to LGBT people.