World Premiere
For They Know Not What They Do
Documentary Competition
| USA | 91 MINUTES | EnglishDocumentary, LGBTQIA
When the Supreme Court legalized marriage equality across the nation in 2015, many assumed that the fight for LGBTQ rights was won. But politicians and religious conservatives launched a state-by-state campaign to retract the human rights of America's LGBTQ citizens under the guise of religious freedom. Introducing four American families caught in the crosshairs of scripture, sexuality, and identity, this documentary weaves together clips from the national news and the church pulpit, alongside family photos and intimate testimonies to show the undeniable connection between the personal and the political.
These individual experiences of rejection and validation, tragedy and triumph include Ryan Robertson, who was encouraged by his Christian family to attend conversion therapy; Sarah McBride, the transgender student body president who went on to work at the White House; Vico Báez Febo, whose Catholic grandmother locked him out of the house when a neighbor outed him; and Elliot Porcher, a young trans man who endured self-harm before his parents’ acceptance enabled him to come to terms with his gender. An emotionally impactful follow-up to the award-winning For The Bible Tells Me So, this powerful examination of the intersection of religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity offers much-needed healing, clarity, and understanding.
—Lucy Mukerjee
These individual experiences of rejection and validation, tragedy and triumph include Ryan Robertson, who was encouraged by his Christian family to attend conversion therapy; Sarah McBride, the transgender student body president who went on to work at the White House; Vico Báez Febo, whose Catholic grandmother locked him out of the house when a neighbor outed him; and Elliot Porcher, a young trans man who endured self-harm before his parents’ acceptance enabled him to come to terms with his gender. An emotionally impactful follow-up to the award-winning For The Bible Tells Me So, this powerful examination of the intersection of religion, sexual orientation, and gender identity offers much-needed healing, clarity, and understanding.
—Lucy Mukerjee
Cast & Credits
Directed by
Daniel Karslake
Daniel Karslake is an award-winning American director and producer whose work addresses social justice issues. For They Know Not What They Do is a follow-up to Karslake’s film, For The Bible Tells Me So, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was short-listed for a 2008 Academy Award®.
Director
Daniel Karslake
Producer
Daniel Karslake
Sheri Heitker
Barbara Simon
Screenwriter
Nancy Kennedy
Daniel Karslake
Cinematographer
Amy Bronson
Douglas H. Candler
Editor
Nancy Kennedy
Composer
Chris Maxwell
Phil Hernandez
Executive Producer
Bruce Bastian
Jane & Tami Marquardt Peace & Possibility Project
Teresa & Todd Silver
Richard N. Purington
The Dickinson Family Foundation
Associate Producer
Danielle Chu
Kiera Lewis
Joseph Broom
Cast
Rob Robertson
Linda Robertson
David McBride
Sally McBride
Sarah McBride
Vico Baez Febo
Harold Porcher
Coleen Porcher
Elliot Porcher