There 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of his novel Ender’s Game is being threatened with a boycott and the studio is trying to distance itself from his outdated point of view.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.”
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
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.
davegun2
Yea. I’m going to skip this one. I’ll instead give the price of admission to AIDS Project LA.
Saralikesyarr
I’m definitely going to see this movie!
…
On my computer…
After downloading it on the Pirate Bay…
lol
2eo
@Saralikesyarr: There are going to be 4k, 1080p and standard definition rips available before launch. It will be easy to obtain a full working fantastic quality straight master rip before it’s general release.
I of course would never obtain these things, because they are illegal.
BJ McFrisky
All I see is someone whose opinions may be outdated, but hardly reach the bar as “homophobic.” If being against gay marriage is homophobic, then our ever-evolving president was a homophobe for a really long time, and was never the target of a boycott.
.
Like all societal changes, marriage equality will take some time for the public at-large to get on board.
.
Baby steps, people. Baby steps.
Niall
Wow, I’m actually really glad to hear a boycott like this gained so much momentum, it actually reached the studios ears.
Palmer Scott
BJ McFrisky,
This isn’t merely a disagreement about marriage equality. Card has called for the reinstatement of sodomy laws to be used to signal the gay community when it’s getting out of line. He’s equated all gay men with pedophiles (Hamlet’s Father). And has called for the violent overthrow of any government that allows gays to marry! He sit of the Board of Directors for NOM.
Does this sound like someone we should be taking “baby steps” with?
1EqualityUSA
BJ McFrisky, Tony Perkins says exactly what you just said. If you don’t believe me, google Barney Frank slays Tony Perkins in marriage debate. Tony lost the debate and ended up looking the fool. You all deserve each other. Baby steps are for cowards. We are right and we fight as though we are right. We will win because we are right. Obama is a shrewd politician who’s all about timing. He risked his incumbency, standing up for what is right and won, just as we will. Orson Scott Card is a bigot and will die knowing that the whole world thought he was a bigot. When he zips off to Kolob, with all of his fellow bigots, I hope this closeted queen is proud of his false self.
Deepdow
Am I the only one that thought the book was mediocre?
fredo777
Am I the only one who assumed the guy pictured was gay? He seriously pings my ‘dar, though I rarely make assumptions by looks.
2eo
@Deepdow: No, it’s by the numbers sci-fi fare, it lacks depth, wit and the themes aren’t that interesting.
I’m working my way through JG Ballard at the minute and it makes Card look like a schoolchild in comparison.
MikeE
@fredo777: A guy who writes books about naked children frolicking, showering, sleeping together… and who rewrites Shakespeare to include loads and loads of man-on-man sex, pings your gaydar? I can’t POSSIBLY imagine why!
Actually, I don’t think he’s gay. I think he’s a closet pedo-bear.
@2eo: ah, there are SO many incredible LGBT-inclusive sci-fi writers out there who write books with depth, and with style.
I’m dismayed that the studio decided to make a film out of THIS particular piece of garbage when there are SO many other far more deserving novels (and franchises) that would make KILLER movies.
Kieru
I understand why people would choose to boycott the movie; I’ll still go see it though. It’s not like Orson Scott Card or NOM are the primary beneficiaries of this movies success or failure. The rights to Ender’s Game as a film franchise was purchased. Yes, Card will see some money if the film does well… but only a fraction.
Plenty of other people involved in the films production and distribution have perfectly sensible views on equal rights. I see no reason to punish them because some bitter old man has bitter old views.
Gigi Gee
Translation: Please don’t boycott us because we want to make lots of money.
[Btw, Card looks totes gay in that pic.]
hephaestion
I love Liomsgate but they made a huge error here. No way am I going to give that horrible Orson Scott Card one penny of my money!
Boycott Ender’s Game! It’s a stupid, stupid, STUPID story anyway.
MikeE
@Kieru: See the movie. It will be a success. If it is a success, Lionsgate will then turn the next book in the series into a movie as well.
OH! look! you just gave MORE money to O.S.C. to spend on anti-gay activism!
Well! they made the 1nd movie, you may as well go see the 3rd movie as well, right?
OH! Look! he upped his price for the rights to the 3rd book, so now he has LOTS of money for his anti-LGBT activism.
Hey, you saw the movie with a bunch of friends, and guess what? They loved it, because, well, let’s admit it, they put a LOT of money into this flick with big name actors and effects…
Well, those friends are going to go out and BUY O.S.C.’s books because, what the hell, why not read the originals.
OH! Look! you just gave yet MORE money to O.S.C. to continue his vile and hateful crusade against LGBT people.
Yeah, go see it. You’re a model citizen.
O.S.C. isn’t just anti-marriage equality.
He is a proponent of anti-gay laws that would criminalize any and all activity by LGBT people. He would have us imprisoned simply for BEING gay. He has advocated for the violent overthrow of the American government if it continues to recognize equality for LGBT people (an act of sedition, by the way, for which I have NO idea why the FBI aren’t investigating him).
O.S.C. is a vile, hateful and evil person.
hephaestion
Geeks OUT won’t get too many petition signers because their web site for this purpose makes it impossible to sign the petition.
Cam
@BJ McFrisky: said…
“All I see is someone whose opinions may be outdated, but hardly reach the bar as “homophobic.””
_______________________-
And once again BJ is on here trying to defend people who hate gays.
Funny BJ, you kind of left out the part where he is a BOARD MEMBER of the organization that has funded the majority of anti-gay bills across the nation, including initiatives stripping gays of rights like employment.
You also left out the part that he advocated an overthrow of the govt. if gay marriage became legal. But again, your view on here is always to offer any excuse for anybody who hates gays.
Cam
As for the studio claiming they are gay friendly, I’m just curious, if a board member of the KKK or an organization fighting to take the right to vote away from women, had written a book…would they have bought and funded a movie by them?
And how about the fact that this same studio could only mention two films they have put out with anything gay in them…Gods and Monsters and “The Perks of being a Wallflower.
There are FOURTEEN YEARS between those two films and “Perks” was a film they simply distributed. Just curious how many films with gay themes they turned down for being “Too Gay”.
Ogre Magi
Card is not that good a writer. The aliens in this series are all ripped off from other works. The Buggers came from Starship Troopers and the Piggies are just a rip off of the Gamorrean Guards from Star Wars
Kieru
@Cam: So they aren’t LGBT friendly enough? Is there a quota they have to meet of gay-centric films to appease you?
andy_d
@BJ McFrisky: It is not JUST his stance regarding marriage. He has issued diatribes that are anti GLBT rights. Period. He has not even gotten to the crawling stage let alone taking “baby steps.”
marc sfe
@BJ McFrisky: You need to seriously do the research on this man. He is hateful! And I quote…. “Regardless of law, marriage has only one definition, and any government that attempts to change it is my mortal enemy. I will act to destroy that government and bring it down, so it can be replaced with a government that will respect and support marriage, and help me raise my children in a society where they will expect to marry in their turn. Only when the marriage of heterosexuals has the support of the whole society can we have our best hope of raising each new generation to aspire to continue our civilization..” And then there’s this one….Card writes: “Homosexual ‘marriage’ won’t accomplish what they hope. They will still be just as far outside the reproductive cycle of life. And they will have inflicted real damage on those of us who are inside it. they will make it harder for us to raise children with any confidence that they, in turn, will take their place in the reproductive cycle.” He also called for glbt to be killed. So, before you say baby steps, take a look at the man and his hate.
Kieran
The gay community definitely needs to start flexing some political and financial muscle. We’ve been quiet and passive for far too long. It’s time we started organizing and going after our enemies the way they’ve come after us. This Orson Scott Card geek needs to understand that bigotry and intolerance have consequences.
hf2hvit
He looks like a QUEER version of Smallface from DICK TRACY
longpastdue
I find it ironic that someone who in his novels almost berates the reader with the idea that truth can be found even in fiction and lies could then ignore the fundamental truths he presents in his own works. Though not as widely proclaimed as ender’s game or speaker for the dead, Xenocide presents an image of culture, tolerance, and society that seems to diametrically oppose the viewpoints that OSC presents in his own life. OSC proclaims the traditional family as the highest form of relationship in his public life and then casts his main protagonist as a font of virtue while living a life that seems to defy all the ideas of a traditional family setting. His books present a plethora of various family, attachement, and reproductive possibilities that make the “traditional family,” look like a one in a thousand option. I can only assume that there are some deep seated issues here because if I didn’t know it to be true I would never believe that someone who has written such amazing high philosophical ideals could participate in this kind of nonsense. Despite his current views I will go see the movie to support the man that wrote those books that taught me so much about life, love and tolerance (the later ones not Ender’s game) and hope that in the future we see a resurgence of those ideals within him.
ismirth
I feel that this entire boycott business is the good people adopting how the bad people do things. “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it!” We want other people to be tolerant of us, and our views, but we won’t be tolerant of them and their views? Seriously? How ridiculous do we think it is when someone says they don’t want to buy something because the guy that runs the company that makes it is GAY. We think it is childish, and that the person is a bigot. Well, when we treat other people this way for having a different opinion from ours, it makes us bigots as well. Haters hating the hater…. still makes them a hater. Bigots who are bigots against other bigots are still bigots. We NEED people to feel empowered to have their own point of view… that is how they work THROUGH their point of view to a new one. No one that was the minority ever decided to give up their cause simply because everyone else TOLD them to… and yes, the anti-gay people are now the minority. So learn to do better as the majority, than THEY did when THEY were the majority. It is time to be MORE responsible, and MORE civilized than them… and NOT just reacting they EXACT say way THEY did when they were ‘in power’. Intolerance breeds intolerance. Teach everyone to be tolerant of other people’s point of view, and accept that we NEED diversity of opinion! I absolutely do NOT agree with OSC’s opinion, but I will fight to the end to protect his right to have and speak it.
Atomicrob
Aren’t we tired of dystopian, apocalyptic visions of the future? The money and energy poured into these movies that embrace violence and death are a bore anyway. All the more reason to reject this author.
FStratford
I will boycott it because I won’t enjoy it. Knowing that the author wants me killed if he gets his way, is kind of a downer in my book.
If this movie becomes a blockbuster success, I’m afraid that people like OSC will continue to profit from our money and use our money to try to kill us if they can. Hell no.
OSC is not a moderate or even religious. He wants us eradicated from the face of the planet, if he can. Think Uganda. Think of how he and the people like him are funding the immediate death of African gay men, for simply being suspected of being gay. Or for straight men for simply defending suspected gays to have the right to live.
If you support that, then I respect you less.
FStratford
@ismirth:
Yeah. Say that to the gays in Africa who are being killed because the same group that OSC gives lends his fame and fortune to have convinced their governments to legislate and execute laws that kill gays like you and me … actually “suspected” gays… because they *might* be gay. That is not supporting diversity, that is supporting murder.
And if you support these murderers, then you are a murderer yourself.
FStratford
@Kieru:
No there is no quota for gay-friendly movies. There is none. But if their argument is that they can side with gay-killers this time because they have produced 2 gay-friendly movies in the past 10 years, then that is not something that I can get behind on. No siree.
ismirth
uh… I do not “support” osc. Your logic and hostility are misdirected.
To sum up: if you do not want to be a bigot then do not act like one.
Regardless of how much money OSC makes he will still be giving money to whomever he is giving money to… and by YOUR logic, then if YOU are not giving money to the opposing factions that would overturn those laws the YOU are a murderer. Also, I haven’t been able to prove your line of thinking that the money he gives is the cause of the laws and therefore he is responsible for murder. I do not see ANY evidece of OSC stating that he belives GAYS SHOULD BE KILLED.
let’s follow this logic in another way… if you are catholic and tithe to your church then you are RESPONSIBLE for the kids that are molested by priests? no. you are not.
so be careful who you are pointing the finger at and calling a murderer. it is not helpful to this conversation and I will not be bullied by your accusations, nor would any intelligent person fall for it.
FStratford
And btw, OSC co-produced the Ender’s Game film. See here. (www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2013/feb/11/dc-comics-homophobic-writer-superman) It implies that he is not being paid a flat fee, he is paid more if the movie is successful than if it is not.
So yes, watching it will definitely enable his hate.
FStratford
@ismirth:
Keep on telling yourself that. If that’s how you can live with yourself.
I have no sympathy for you when you travel to other parts of the world and they get you too.
FStratford
@ismirth:
Intolerance of homophobia, racism and other injustices is never wrong.
You are like a whiner that tells people who are bullied to not fight back a bully because the bully has the absolute right to the people who are bullied’s lunch money.
But whatever makes you sleep at night. You have a right to your opinion and so do I have the right to boycott his film and tell everyone that cares for me to boycott or else they wont be invited to Thanksgiving dinner this year.
FStratford
@ismirth:
Yes, if you are catholic and you do not voice your opinions against the rapist priests, and act like nothing is going on, then you are complicit. Why don’t you think so?
The only time that tyranny wins is when good men do nothing.
FStratford
@ismirth:
Oh yes, regarless how much money he makes he will be giving money to hate groups like NOM. That is true.
What you forget to say is the more money he makes the more he could give to groups that kill gays like us.
The more fame he gets from this movie becoming a block buster, the bigger his bully pulpit is to support hate groups that want us all killed.
You dont get it, do you? (I mean, you are so in denial even defending people who keep silent about the rape of young catholic altar boys.)
ismirth
again, I am NOT an OSC supporter, but I do feel that people need to know the thing they believe they have an opinion on… such as it isn’t helpful when someone says a book should be banned but they HAVENT EVEN READ IT. Likewise, before you post stating the OSC is a murderer, please read what he has written on the topic of homosexuality. these essays show a progression of his growing towards being LESS hateful of gays. I am sure calling him a murderer is not going to help him learn to tolerate gays BETTER. http://www.nauvoo.com/library/card-hypocrites.html
ismirth
I *do* speak out against these atrocities. and so do lots of people in the Catholic situation. and they still are a part of the church, and still tithe. That does not make them rapists. I absolutely never said anything about REMAINING SILENT. You jump to the eronious conclusions. I have been a Planned Parenthood advocate, I have counseled people who have been raped and abused. I was raped and abused myself as a child. You are simply seeking to beat someone up with your rage of injustice against sexual diversity, and you should go aim that fist somewhere where it will make a difference.
I have saved someone from being gaybashed in a fight. I have stood up for sexual and gender diversity. and I stand against HATE. You have let hate fill your heart on this topic, and it poisons you. You want to purposely be mean to try and force someone to see the world the way you do. You would use them to beat up others, that ARE ON YOUR SIDE, because they don’t think the same as you. what does that make you?
I have no desire for your sympathy. I pity you.
FStratford
@ismirth:
Well, you live your life the way you think is best.
I have more respect for OSC, who is upfront about his hate, than so-called friends who defend people who fund and stand for those who want to kill gays like… and then pretend to be good citizens because of it. Nope.
OSC is a better person than you, Uncle Tom.
FStratford
@ismirth:
No one wants to ban the book (where did you make that up? Isn’t lying a sin?)
We want, however, to boycott the movie so that our money wont go to OSC who is a CO-PRODUCER of said movie. We want the freedom to choose the movies we watch without being called a bigot by Uncle Toms like you.
FStratford
@ismirth:
Yup, agreed. You are not complicit if you speak against rapist priests. If you don’t, and still tithe, then you are complicit of the rape of these boys whose only fault is to want to serve the church.
If you speak out and then tithe and your tithe is used to defend a priest or relocate a priest to a state where he can not be prosecuted, then you are an unwitting accomplice. Definitely not an innocent party.
2eo
Every single catholic who 0only pays lip service to justice is complicit to the millions of child r@pes committed in their name every single year.
There is no if, no excuses or buying a free conscience, you are guilty of allowing those children to suffer.
People like ismirth make me sick, he should be ashamed, the only reason people refuse to do anything tangible against these r@pists is usually because they are in on it.
Cam
@ismirth: said…
“I feel that this entire boycott business is the good people adopting how the bad people do things. “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it!” We want other people to be tolerant of us, and our views, but we won’t be tolerant of them and their views?”
_____________________
You anti-gay trolls are really sad.
So lets see, we want them to be tolerant of us, which means stop passing laws that make our lives illegal, and in return we are supposed to be tolerant of them which apparently means tolerating them trying to attack and victimize us.
So in your view, the rape victim is intolerant for disagreeing with the rapists opinion that he should rape her.
Cam
@Kieru: said……
“@Cam: So they aren’t LGBT friendly enough? Is there a quota they have to meet of gay-centric films to appease you?
__________________________________
Gee, Kieru, How about they stop hiring board members of the group responsible for the majority of anti-gay bills and initiatives put forth in the U.S. in the last 10 years.
Cam
Anybody notice all the brand new account that are coming on here to attack any idea of a boycott.
Here is a thought, the studio has spent over 100 million on this movie and are spending at least 40 million to advertise it……….Of course they can have afford a bunch of low paid interns to scour the internet and post on sites like this trying to defend this guy.
Sorry trolls, the Mormons tried to do that on here during Prop 8 and it didn’t work then either. You all are very obvious.
BJ McFrisky
@Cam:
And you’re laughably, predictably naive in your view that all gay men and women must have the same viewpoints on every issue. We’re not clones, Cam, we’re human beings with a minority sexuality, and the fact that some of us are a little less militant than the “Let’s BOYCOTT!!” crowd should be, if anything, refreshing (not that I have any intention whatsoever on seeing a movie with has-been Harrison Ford in it, so in a sense, I guess you could say that I’m boycotting it as well).
2eo
@BJ McFrisky: You haven’t called for the boycott of the work you and your fellow child molesters have been doing in Carolina have you though?
You sick, picture sending fuck.
Deepdow
Haha. Well the book is shitty guys, despite the awards and reviews.
And this bloke makes a good point : @Cam
Cam
@BJ McFrisky:
Actually BJ, I never said gays should have the same opinion on everything. What I pointed out is that once again you are on here, DEFENDING a person who has helped fund the majority of anti-gay bills in the entire nation.
The fact that you would say that somebody wanting to make being gay basically illegal is a simple difference of opinion shows the extreme self hatred you must harbor. The fact that the fact that this movie directly benefits somebody who called for violent revolution if gay marriage was legalized, and who has funded and put into place anti-gay initiatives all over the country doesn’t seem to phase you would indicate that you support those views.
EverybodySayLove
When, oh when, will this queen EVER come out of the closet?
1EqualityUSA
Just as Paula Deen is discovering how bigotry affects her finances, this bigot needs to learn that his “opinions” may have consequences in an enlightened society.
2eo
@1EqualityUSA: He’s like all ardent conservatives, free speech only applies to him and his ilk. Literally nobody else.
To disagree with him means you’re left wing stasi hate police.
Palmer Scott
@Ogre Magi,
The original short story was written in 1977, long before either Return of the Jedi or Starship Troopers came out. Card expanded it into a full book in 1985.
I first learn about Card in the Seventies, I could tell even then he was not the type of person I would ever have any use for, neither him nor his writing.
samwise343
@BJ McFrisky: You’re such an Uncle Tom.
MikeE
@Palmer Scott: Yo, Starship Troopers was published in 1959.
O.S.C is FAAAAR from original.
mykelb
@BJ McFrisky: This man is on the Board of the National Organization for Marriage. They aren’t just about marriage as they have proven time and time again. You need to delve deeper into the subject before making an ignorant comment like that. These people want us decriminalized, our lives shut back into the closet, and our hard earned rights gains dashed on the rocks of America’s shores. If they had their way, they would round us up like the did the Jews in Nazi Germany, line us up at the edge of mass graves and shoot us all dead.
mykelb
Recriminalized.
mykelb
@ismirth: and yet you still support religion because you are an idiot who uses belief instead of fact, science, reason and rational thought to make decisions. Sad.
1EqualityUSA
Can someone get a photo of this closet case eating a corn dog?
Kangol
Hom0phobe Orson Scott Card and his wretched books and movie can go to H E L L!