Ballot Measure 9

2017 • 71 minutes

About this movie

BALLOT MEASURE 9 offers terrifying inside views of a divisive gay-rights battle and the uncommon violence it provoked across the state of Oregon. A “Yes” vote on referendum “9” would constitutionally mandate teaching that homosexuality is “abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse” and would revoke any civil-rights protections based on sexual identity. The inflammatory rhetoric led to an inevitable surge of anti-gay harassment, physical attacks and even murder. Local activists, fearing for their lives, slept with guns under their beds and had full-time police protection. Families were torn apart, neighbor set against neighbor. Director MacDonald ducks behind the headlines to bare the passions and strategies that drove both sides. Culled from hundreds of hours of material shot over the nine months leading to the election, BALLOT MEASURE 9 tells a story of driving urgency. As the violence escalates, the documentary acquires the tension and suspense of a fiction film. “A far-ranging exposé of hate that crosses lines of race, religion and sexual identity, this might be the next training manual on how to rescue the soul of America” (B. Ruby Rich). Winner of jury and audience awards internationally, including the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award, and frequently named one of the best films of the year. “A picture to make you scream.” (The Nation) “One of the year’s outstanding documentaries.” (Seattle Times) “Emotionally sizzling” (San Francisco Chronicle) “Positively simmers” (Los Angeles Weekly) "Breathlessly paced." (Newsday) "Unnerving." (New Yorker) "Galvanizing." (New York Times) Winner: 1995 Sundance Audience Award, Berlin Film Festival Teddy Bear, Los Angeles OutFest Grand Jury Prize, Edinburgh Film Festival-Best of the Fest, People's Choice Denver International Film Festival, GLAAD Media Award-Best Documentary. 72 min/USA/1995

Ratings and reviews

In looking at the ratings so far I assume the topic of this documentary rather than the film itself is being rated. Because the film is very well done and received quite a bit recognition when it was first out. But the intensity of emotions shown in this film do not go away quickly. This in an unflinching look at role hate can play in our politics. By that very sense it is still relevant today. Watch it see if you agree.

Powerful documentary that gives a 360 of the struggle for equality in the state of Oregon. This is an important film for anyone interested in LGBTQ history and civil rights. Wonderful interviews, thorough research and a great story make this a must-watch!

This is a beautiful and horrifying film, revealing much about our worst tendencies to rush to judgement of the unknown and about our capacity to love. It's important to watch, to learn about one another and to come from a place of understanding and acceptance rather than hatred and fear. I couldn't recommend it more highly.