Ellen Page’s gay drama banned from filming in school
By Sam Rigby
Ellen Page’s lesbian drama Freeheld has been banned from filming in a Catholic school in the US.
The film – which also stars Julianne Moore – follows a lesbian couple who fought for domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples more than a decade ago.
An afternoon of filming had been due to take place at Salesian High School, a private all-boys Catholic school in New York state, but the school’s administrators later withdrew their permission.
The school was meant to double as a city hall in the film, when Moore and Page’s characters apply for a civil union.
Freeheld‘s producer, Michael Shamberg, said that he is “sad” about the school’s decision.
When BuzzFeed contacted the school’s principal, John Flaherty, they received the following reply: “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.”
Page came out as gay earlier this year – watch her discuss her decision with Ellen DeGeneres here.
> Ellen Page on coming out: ‘I felt awkward around gay people’