...and Introducing Charlie Crist in His Debut Role as "Closet Case"

Charlie Crist might be one of the most surprising leading men featured during this year's Tribeca Film Festival. No, he didn't find time to star as Brian Roberts in an imaginative remake of Cabaret, though we're sure the idea would be thrilling to him. Instead he's featured prominently in Outrage, a documentary about closeted homosexual politicians. This is certainly not an occasion for jazz hands at the governor's mansion.

Variety reports that the film also targets former New York Mayor Ed Kick, Former Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), Rep. David Dreier (R-Calif.), former Rep. Jim McCreary (R-La.), and former GOP Chair Ken Mehlman, but Crist edged them all out for the starring role.

The film apparently recalls stories from the alternative press. We're gonna take a guess the filmmakers have read "Charlie Crist is NOT Gay," by New Times Broward/Palm Beach's Bob Norman, a story that investigates allegations Crist had a relationship with a male pilot and a few hotel trysts with a teen lad. Norman also recounts allegations in "The Talk of the Green Iguana" and "Crist Denies Trysts."

The filmmakers target Crist because of his support of Amendment 2, although if I remember correctly, his support of the measure was quite low-key. It seemed more like one of his "Yeah, fine, wingnuts, I'll support your little gay marriage fetish if you just let me drive the rest of the party to the center" cop-outs. Not to say that isn't shameful and wrong, but it will be interesting to see if his support is blown out of proportion to fit the theme of the film.

Oh, right, but Charlie Crist can't be gay? He has a real-life lady as a wife. Well, the film uses images from his wedding in the final scene cut in with an out-of-context quote of Crist touting the political benefits of being married and a reminder he might run for president in 2012. Spooky.

[Variety:  "Outrage": The Case for Outing ]