Author Orson Scott Card is finally speaking out after calls to boycott the film "Ender's Game," based on his award-winning novel of the same title, because of his anti-gay marriage views.
In a statement he shared with Entertainment Weekly, he called the issue of gay marriage "moot" and said his novel has nothing to do with the politics of the 1980s, when the best-selling book was written.
"Ender's Game" is set more than a century in the future and has nothing to do with political issues that did not exist when the book was written in 1984.With the recent Supreme Court ruling, the gay marriage issue becomes moot. The Full Faith and Credit clause of the Constitution will, sooner or later, give legal force in every state to any marriage contract recognized by any other state.Now it will be interesting to see whether the victorious proponents of gay marriage will show tolerance toward those who disagreed with them when the issue was still in dispute.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film cost $110 million to make. The highly anticipated movie -- which stars Harrison Ford and Ben Kingsley -- was originally slated for a March release, but was pushed to November to take advantage of holiday season ticket sales.
Because of Card's stance on gay marriage, "This will be tricky for Summit," a rival studio marketing chief told THR in February.
In 2008, Card -- a board member of the National Organization of Marriage, which supported Proposition 8 in California -- wrote that "marriage has only one definition, and any government that attempts to change it is my mortal enemy. I will act to destroy that government and bring it down."
The organization Geeks OUT started the "Skip 'Ender's Game' " campaign and urges fans of the popular book to "keep your money away from Orson Scott Card and anti-gay activists" by not seeing the movie, or buying the DVD and other related merchandise. "Keep your money out of Orson Scott Card's pockets," the group said on the campaign's website.
According to the Geeks OUT website, the group "celebrates (gays') contribution to the larger pop culture conversation by promoting queer and queer-positive artists, creators and works; by calling out and combating homophobia and lack of diversity in geek culture."
The call to boycott "Ender's Game" -- out Nov. 1 and starring Harrison Ford -- isn't the first time there has been backlash against Card because of his beliefs. In February, thousands signed a petition to protest the author's participation in a digital anthology comic that stars Superman. DC Comics issued a statement distancing itself from Card's views, saying, "The personal views of individuals associated with DC comics are just that -- personal views -- and not those of the company itself."