Outrage documentary claims to out Crist, Dreier, Shepherd Smith

Yesterday morning, this story was largely confined to both major and fringe gay sites that were claiming Florida Gov. Charlie Crist would finally be outed with the release of a new documentary, Outrage.

Of course, that's what they've been saying since 2008.

It's unsettling, because if Charlie Crist isn't gay, it's a terrible disservice to his new wife to suggest as much.

But now, it's finally hit major outlets, including The Hill as the film will premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival later this week, so it's something that, fairly or unfairly, the Crists will have to continue dealing with.

Variety says there aren't any big surprises, only a few more anecdotes from mostly anonymous sources who hint that Crist is gay.

Of course, the ostensible purpose of the documentary is to highlight gay politicians who do one thing in private that they oppose in public. That's certainly a valid point and reprehensible, if true. But we'll have to see how clear that link is. Otherwise, it's just guessing names, and anyone can do that at any time, all day.

Variety:

None of the names will shock anyone who's a regular reader of the LGBT press, the alternative press, blogs and, in many cases, the mainstream media. Former Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.) and former Rep. Jim McCreary (R-La.) are among the lawmakers, and Ken Mehlman, former chairman of the Republican Party, is among the party officials. Fox anchor Shepard Smith is named, even though he is not a politician. It's not all Republicans --- former New York Mayor Ed Koch is highlighted, along with a charge that he largely turned the other way when the AIDS crisis hit in Manhattan in the 1980s. Of the latter, producer and playwright David Rothenberg comes forward with conversations he had with Richard Nathan, alleged to be Koch's lover, before he was driven out of town when Koch became mayor.

Extra focus is placed on Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who supported a bill banning gay marriage last year, and the doc recounts a string of stories from Florida's alternative press, along with anonymous interviews with people who claim to have had conversations with a man who boasted of having sex with Crist, who when asked about rumors has denied them.

The doc sought out Kelly Crosby Heyniger, one of Crist's girlfriends until the end of 2007, who didn't appear on camera but gave them a statement about what broke them up: "I think I should just keep my mouth shut. Call me in ten years and I will tell you a great story."

[Hat tip: The Buzz]