I was born and raised in Hawaii, a state that's synonymous with surf culture, as well as the "live and let live" ideology (for the most part). I suppose I never thought about the possibility of "gay surfers" out there; however, it's certainly not surprising, given that stats say 1 in 10 fellow human beings are homosexual. As the taboo topic of homosexuality becomes more and more prevalent in professional sports these days, "OUT In The Line-Up" catches the wave of "coming outs," and takes a foot-hold in a sport that waxes an overtly misogynistic veneer of macho dudes and bikini-clad T&A babes. Ian Thomson gets writing and directing credit on this highly enjoyable, thought provoking, and ultimately empathic documentary about being gay or lesbian in a male-dominated sport. Producer, founder of www.gaysurfers.net, and gay surfer himself, Thomas Castets posed an Internet enquiry to find out if there were fellow gay surfers out there in the world. That enquiry made headway in opening up a (no doubt, surprising!) worldwide dialog, giving isolated souls a spirit of camaraderie: a familiarity and trust existing between friends.
The film is a framework of interviews of professionals and non-professionals in the surfing community. Through happenstance, (former state champion) David Wakefield found Mr. Castets' Web site; thus, the catalyst for a friendship and "coming out" for Mr. Wakefield. Both gents then joined forces in their pursuit of meeting fellow like-minded/like-lifestyled surfers. What Mr. Thomson has come up with, through these interviews, is a great deal of insight into what had probably been quite a lonely world for many of these folks. Although this film is obviously specific to this sport, these characters' feelings of isolation and (in many cases) the guilt and/or shame of leading double-lives are universal to any form of discriminatory oppression.
Through well-shot interviews, we break the surface of secrecy and subjugation that, unfortunately, must be endured in not only this sport, but the entire sporting industry. To be a sports' professional, who so happens to be homosexual, and forced to live a life that is directed by advertising sponsors and magazines, as well as living with the intolerance from your peers, is, without doubt, a heavy burden that has, sadly, taken its toll. The interlineation of a sub-storyline of "Bra Boy" surfer, Benjamin Roper, along with the inclusion of a benefit for Surfers Against Suicide, drives home the ramifications of this oppression. Interviewee Robbins Thompson also speaks candidly of his brush with suicidal thoughts as a young surfer. Interviews with surfing elites Cori Schumacher and Keala Kennelly also expound upon the struggles of trying to lead double-lives.
Ultimately, though, "OUT In The Line-Up" is not a dour and somber film. It's an uplifting film! The fact that these people are all the better for being out in the open is good enough to push for more gay films that depict the LGBT village in a more positive and "normal" light. This film shows people who are simply people: not flamboyant stereotypes that are fed to the masses via sitcoms and motion pictures. "OUT" is a film of people who have become stronger and happier being themselves: open, confident and self-assured in who they are.
At a succinct 69 minutes, "OUT In The Line-Up" puts good use into those minutes. There are some beautifully composed opening shots. And what's a surf film (gay or straight) without surfing?! "OUT" has a good number of those, too; as well as a smattering of vivid underwater photography. And, too, there's a good ear for popular musical tracks. Editing is fluid, for the most part. A particularly fine piece of creative editing comes with a fade-out at the start of the interview with Dave Prodan of the Association of Surfing Professionals – an interview that was initially given the go, but, ultimately, was rescinded. (Mr. Castets gave me an amusing anecdote on that scene.) Production values are top-notched, esp. for being a micro-budget docu. A particular sequence has some loud background noise that makes the interviews a little hard to decipher – Mr. Castets told me that, unfortunately, it was inherent in the taping of that scene and couldn't be removed – but, overall, the audio is terrific.
My favorite character, without question, is young, lanky, deep-voiced, Riley Herman (who eschews the gay stereotype), stating that "
(b)eing out has made surfing a lot more enjoyable
. I'm not hiding anything
. When I go out there, it's like – I can look at the people next to me, and just be, like, 'Whaddup?' You know, I'm surfing, too
. (And) I like dudes." His whole laidback, matter-of-fact persona and laissez-faire attitude is winning, and it brought a big smile to my face
!
In sum, Ms. Kennelly states that "
(t)he way I express myself best in this life is through surfing, not through who I'm sleeping with
." That, too, pretty much sums up the whole point of "OUT In The Line-Up," both in surfing and in everyday life
.
