World
Antigay Activist Prompts Dutch Politician To Pull Out of LA Film Premiere

By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.
Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician best known for his harsh criticism of
Islam, has pulled out of the Los Angeles premiere of a documentary
based on his life because he opposes antigay statements made by the
chairman of the Christian Action Network, a conservative group that
coproduced the film.
The premiere of Islam Rising: Geert Wilders' Warning to the West, set for May 1, was canceled as a result.
Christian Action Network president Martin Mawyer has a history of making antigay statements, dating back to Ellen DeGeneres's coming-out episode on her sitcom. Mawyer sent an e-mail to network members saying DeGeneres "dumped her filthy lesbian lifestyle in the middle of your living room."
A spokesperson for Wilders said he and event organizer Freedom Defense Initiative pulled out of the premiere because he didn't want people to think he condoned the antigay statements.
A controversial figure in the Netherlands, Wilders has been an outspoken critic of what he calls the "Islamization of the Netherlands" and has prompted several complaints. A Dutch court recently ordered the country's public prosecutor to try Wilders for hate speech.
Islam Rising: Geert Wilders' Warning to the West is a coproduction of PRB Films and the Christian Action Network.