A civil rights drama starring Julianne Moore and Ellen Page as a lesbian couple has lost permission to film at a Catholic boys' school in New York.
Salesian High School in New Rochelle was to be used as a shooting location for 'Freeheld', a film in which Moore and Page apply for a domestic partnership.
School officials initially agreed to the shoot, but later withdrew their permission.
"They turned us down because of the subject matter," producer Michael Shamberg told the Hollywood Reporter. He said that previous requests for the campus to be used for a music video and TV commercial have been granted.
Shamberg wrote to the school's principal, John Flaherty, insisting that the film is "not about gay marriage, nor are the women attempting to get married. It is about recognizing the dignity of a woman who was a brave civil servant."
"I believe the theme of the movie is what Pope Francis recognized just yesterday when he called for the Church to welcome and accept gay people," he added. "I respect their right to say no, but it's sad."
Page came out as gay in a speech at a Human Rights Campaign conference in February 2014. She tweeted yesterday:
Using religion to justify bigotry makes me sad. Sending my support 2 the LGBT students at the school who I hope r able 2 find acceptance.
— Ellen Page (@EllenPage) October 21, 2014 " data-caption="null" data-credit="null">"Freeheld captures the inequality and bigotry that one couple faced while coping with cancer and the end of life," Kelly Bush, another producer for the movie, has said of the controversy.
"That our film was denied access to a location because of the subject matter — a same-sex couple fighting for their legal rights — illustrates just how important it is that this story be told."
In an emailed statement to Buzzfeed, however, Flaherty said: "All are welcomed at Salesian High School. Our school chooses to embrace the social issues such as hunger, homelessness, poverty, and helping the less fortunate."
