Knowing he was walking the finest of lines, he told only a few close Mormon friends about his opposition to Proposition 8 and about his documentary, even as it debuted last fall at a gay and lesbian film festival in Chicago. The project also will be shown at a film festival in Pomona in April.
"As a Mormon, I have a responsibility and commitment to listen to my church leaders," he said. "At the same time, listening to my church leaders does not absolve me of the ethical responsibility to listen to the voice of the other."
Hunter said he hoped the film would spark a thoughtful conversation about acceptance. "There are some things that Mormons are going to find challenging in the film, such as a lesbian priest saying that God is working through her," he said. "I think that is a good point of discussion."
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And so he stayed his course, but not without turmoil, as tensions grew over Mormon support for the same-sex marriage ban.
Just days before the Nov. 4 election, Hunter joined Russell for an interfaith service in the ornate sanctuary of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral near USC. One by one, speakers took the stage to reflect on the proposed ban.
Finally, Hunter stepped forward. He spoke about compassion and about the universality of love.
"If as a straight man I find the tools for strengthening my marriage in the relationships of same-sex couples and of a dear friend, can I deny them a fundamental right that I benefit from and cherish?" he asked. "The answer is no."
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duke.helfand@latimes.com
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latimes.com/columnone
To see a clip of "The Constant Process" and learn more about the film, go to www.theconstantprocess.com.
