Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8

By Jackie Joice

    It’s a quarter of the way through 2010, and it seems like Californians are regressing when it comes to marriage equality for same-sex couples. This issue is no longer a battle but a war.
    Many progressive Californians were shocked when Proposition 8 passed. Despite all the grassroots activism and outreach that many nonprofit organizations and activists contributed, we still have a lot of work to do, and documentarian Charlie Gage is taking up his portion of the fight.
    Gage, a Long Beach resident, directed the documentary Inspired: The Voices Against Prop 8. His filmography is extensive, including serving as associate producer on We’re All Angels, which garnered recognition and awards in the festival circuit. He also has produced many award-winning short films, including Drag Queen Heist and the uproarious comedy Masturbation: Putting the Fun Into Self-Loving.
    “It’s a spoof of the classic ‘hygiene’ films we used to have to watch in school,” said Gage, whose ideas stem from a unique perspective on the world around him. Gage also was involved in the publication business, working for two years as editor of JOEY Magazine, where he helped to catapult the gay-youth publication into the national spotlight.
Inspired takes a decidedly serious tone in its demonstration of the passion and anger of the opponents of Proposition 8 (which eliminates the right for same-sex couples to marry in California). The trailer consists of footage from protests in Long Beach and Los Angeles. It also contains interviews with individuals who are involved with politics or activism — for example, Catholic Charities/Homeless Shelters Program Director, Vanessa Romaine, who was also involved with Long Beach’s Gay Pride festival for several years.
“When Prop 8 passed I was as upset as most of us in the gay community,” Gage said. “I was convinced by a friend visiting from Mexico City to attend the large protest rally in West Hollywood the day after the election. This, of course, was the large news-covered event that spontaneously erupted into three various marches that unexpectedly closed down streets all over Hollywood and [culminated] with a police standoff at Hollywood and Highland.
    “After that, I was bit by the protest bug: I began to attend every rally and protest I heard about,” Gage continued. “As a filmmaker, I brought along a camera to record my experience — with no intention at the time to make a documentary film. At one point, I stopped and noticed I had great footage of 14 different ‘No on 8’ rallies and marches. That is when the idea for Inspired hit me. I spoke with my best friend Ian McIntosh about joining as a co-producer, and the film began to take shape.”
    As of press time, Inspired is in post-production and needs monetary support for distribution and marketing. We as a community must support creative individuals like Gage, who is trying to further the cause. Contact Gage at inspiredmovie@gmail.com or visit youtube.com/user/inspireddoc for more information.