SCOTT FREE

Boycott Against “Ender’s Game” Due To Antigay Author Gains Momentum, Studio Responds

orsonscottcardThere was a time when anticipation for a major studio sci-fi movie starring Harrison Ford would make it a major event, but thanks to numerous antigay comments over the years by author Orson Scott Card (pictured) the film adaptation of his novel Ender’s Game is being threatened with a boycott and the studio is trying to distance itself from his outdated point of view.

A group of LGBT sci-fi fans called Geeks OUT has organized an online petition asking equality-friendly moviegoers to not spend money on the film or any merchandise associated with it because a portion of the profits will end up in Card’s “pockets.” The group is even hosting “Skip Ender’s game events” in Chicago, Dallas, New York, Orlando, Seattle and Toronto on November 1, the date the film is set to be released.

“Hopefully, it will send a message that people who are actively vocal against the LGBT community don’t really have a place within the greater geek culture,” the group’s Patrick Yacco said to Entertainment Weekly.

Card has long courted controversy. Besides his best-selling Ender’s Game, he wrote a homophobic version of Hamlet in 2008. Card is also a devout Mormon, who contributed a vile rant against marriage equality for the Mormon Times, and he’s a board member of the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes same-sex unions, made an attempt to distance himself from his stance against marriage equality. On July 8 he released a statement to EW in which he essentially stated that the Supreme Court ruling on Prop. 8 had made his opinion on marriage equality “moot.”

Lionsgate, the studio which will release Ender’s Game, has also issued a statement:

“As proud longtime supporters of the LGBT community, champions of films ranging from Gods and Monsters to The Perks of Being a Wallflower and a company that is proud to have recognized same-sex unions and domestic partnerships within its employee benefits policies for many years, we obviously do not agree with the personal views of Orson Scott Card and those of the National Organization for Marriage.”

According to USA Today, the studio pledged to host a benefit premiere for Ender’s Games that will support LGBT causes.

Perhaps Ford, who recently confirmed his support for marriage equality, will speak up against Card. Let’s fact it, the entire board of NOM is no match for the man who embodied Han Solo and Indiana Jones.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated