Diane Gramley to Make Personal Appearance at Coudersport Public Library
Diane Gramley, who was one of the subjects of ‘Out In The Silence’ to tell her side of the story
COUDERSPORT – Last week, Joe Wilson and Dean Hamer screened their documentary ‘Out In The Silence’ at the Coudersport Public Library. The announcement of the screening of the film brought about a large controversy that made headlines across the country, mostly due to the fact that Joe Wilson published false reports of ‘threats’ and ‘large protests’. He also contacted local law enforcement and made false reports that he and others were subject to such threats and insinuated that a large and possibly violent protest in opposition to the film would take place at the library.
Wilson even released news releases containing misinformation during the course of events that transpired, bolstering his claims of being ‘threatened’. The news release even contained what appears to be a blatantly made up quote, by an unnamed local librarian that stated, “We’ve received phone calls all morning from clergy ‘screaming at us’, reported a library staff member. ‘They’re threatening large protests and we don’t know what to do.'”
When I asked Keturah Cappadonia, a local librarian, before the screening of the film about the threats and calls, she said that everyone was ‘courteous’, and that there were no threats that she was aware of. We also found out later that there were only ten phone calls placed to the library, and of those, five were in support of showing the film.
Since then other news agencies picked up on the story and added their own spin. The Harrisburg-Patriot for example published an article in complete support of Wilson and his agenda, going so far as to sensationalize the movie, by declaring that at the end of the screening, “there was a flash of lightning outside, a sharp clap of thunder, and a double rainbow filled the sky.”
Many have asked why would the Harrisburg-Patriot care about a gay documentary being shown hundreds of miles away in Coudersport? The answer may be quite simple. The author of the article from the Harrisburg-Patriot is a former editor of the Potter Leader Enterprise, and is reportedly gay.
Now, Diane Gramley, President of the Pennsylvania AFA (American Family Association), who is vilified in the film, has decided to make a personal appearance here in Coudersport at an upcoming presentation to tell her side of the tale.
I spoke to Diane today on the phone and she says that footage Wilson took of her was edited and misconstrued to portray her in a negative light. She specifically referred to a portion of the movie where Wilson states that Diane would never give a gay man the time of day, and then shows her walking away from Wilson. Diane said she spent half an hour talking to Wilson on film prior to that, and the portion he edited was after her conversaton with him. She also said that Wilson called her on the phone several times, and that she spent at least a few hours talking to Wilson, although neither of them could see eye-to-eye.
Gramley also said this is not the first time that Wilson has used misinformation and manipulation to garner support to his cause and publicize his movie, referring to instances of Wilson calling authorities and claiming threats being made against him in the past.
Diane Gramley also says that Wilson and crew confronted her with cameras in hand while she was attending a parade in Oil City for Governor Rendell, and that during the course of shooting the movie Wilson and crew confronted other citizens, in the street, by phone, and by showing up at their doorsteps with cameras rolling.
Doctor Robert Wagner, a former local physician, has requested that the Coudersport Public Library give him and Gramley the opportunity to use the library space for a Christian response to ‘Out In The Silence’.
I last talked to Doctor Wagner yesterday, who said he still was not sure if the library would grant his request, as they had not responded yet.
Doctor Wagner stated that with the recent statements made by the Coudersport Public Library regarding freedom of speech and the need for an array of varying material, that his request should not be denied.
He also said that he will be printing flyers and distributing them for a presentation at the library, conditionally scheduled for Wednesday, August 25th.
Doctor Wagner also said that he intends on attending a library board meeting if his request is unanswered or rejected in the meantime.
The following letter was submitted to the library staff in handwritten form, by Doctor Wagner, after the screening of ‘Out In The Silence’ last Wednesday. A copy of the original handwritten note is available.
Keturah Cappadonia
Library Director
Coudersport Public LibraryRe: Rental of Public Library
Dear Keturah:
Please accept this note as a request to rent the Coudersport Public Library on a Wednesday evening between the dates of August 10 to the 1st of September.
I plan to discuss a Bible believing Christian response to ‘Out In The Silence’ and related topics.
Sincerely,
Robert Wagner M.D.
