Del Shores: The 'Wedding' Belle

In some circles, Del Shores is worshipped as the patron saint of gay comedy, thanks to his many outrageous yet relatable plays and movies. Most notable among them is his 1996 smash hit "Sordid Lives" (later turned into a film in 1999 and then used as basis for Logo's "Sordid Lives: The Series," a 12-episode prequel to the film, which aired on the gay cable network in 2008).

His finely drawn characters - from the confused Sissy Hickey, to the fiery Latrelle Williamson, to the outrageous Brother Boy - have not just delighted gay men and women (and some straight folks), but obsessed many of them as well. "Not a day goes by where someone doesn't write me asking me for more 'Sordid Lives,' " says Shores.

Well, as the clich� goes, the wait is finally over. On March 10, Shores' newest film, "A Very Sordid Wedding," began an exclusive two-week theatrical release at Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs, followed by a months-long rollout across the country.

Set in Winters, Texas, in the weeks following the U.S. Supreme Court's same-sex marriage equality ruling in 2015, the film revolves in part around the relationship between gay couple Ty (Kirk Geiger) and Kyle (T. Ashanti Mozelle), whose decision to marry shakes up the small, religious town. But it also follows another 30 or so characters, each with his or her own personal struggles and peccadilloes. (They are played by, among others, Bonnie Bedelia, Dale Dickey, Caroline Rhea, Leslie Jordan, Levi Kreis and Alec Mapa, along with a cameo by Whoopi Goldberg).

"This film is so timely now, especially with this election," says Shores. "It's been devastating. I literally had to take to my bed for a couple of days after Donald Trump won. Then I just pulled myself up and vowed to fight even harder. Of course, it's crazy that we are still dealing with some of these issues. This person named Trump comes along and becomes a hero to all the bigots, xenophobes, misogynists out there! Yes, I said it.

"Look, I am big loudmouth, especially on social media, and I will say anything anywhere I have to get things done. I just feel that through our art, our hearts and our intelligence, we must fight, because we get nowhere by being quiet. Sometimes I am told I am an embarrassment for kicking and screaming so loudly, but I disagree. I think of people like Harvey Milk or Martin Luther King - they were true activists. To me, a lot of people's activism is telling people what's wrong with their activism. And, to me, that's just being an asshole."

Intriguingly, Shores conceived the movie long before the DOMA decision was handed down. "The fact is, in 2015 we didn't have all our money raised, and the reversal of DOMA really helped us get a lot of additional financing. But literally hundreds of people and companies contributed to this movie. I always say this is a film made by a large, assorted village," says Shores. "I do believe the universe conspired to get us the right people."

Of course, once the money was raised it wasn't easy coordinating the schedule of such a large cast. "The movie was filmed in two different locations. The first 14 days we shot in Selkirk, Canada, near Winnipeg, because it looks like all the Texas towns where I grew up. And 65 percent of everything you spend there goes back into the budget of the movie," says Shores. "Then, after a few months, we shot in Dallas for a couple of weeks. I really did want that true Texas flavor. Plus, I got to use all these iconic drag queens from that area. It wouldn't be the same movie without them!"

What drove Shores to persevere in making the film, he admits, are both the devotion of his fans and the importance of the movie's message. "The great thing about the 'Sordid Lives' franchise is that it's Southern, and it has opened the hearts and minds of so many people down there because gays share with it their families. I can't tell you how many people tell me they got the strength to come out to their families from watching this movie - sometimes with their parents," he says.

"I think it's a little fucked up, actually, but I love the fact that people have been able to do it. The series also gives laughter to people who need it. And who knows, maybe it will even get some people to put away their Trump signs for good or show people how the church negatively affect gays. Either way, I do believe the movie, and our ability to get it made proves how much love is going on in the world, despite what's going on in the world."

And if, in the end, "A Very Sordid Wedding" ends up doing little more than preaching to the proverbial choir, that's also fine with Shores. "Sometimes the choir needs a good sermon," he notes. "And I think this one is so poignant and funny, and then it smacks you hard!"

The "Sordid Loves" Cast Speaks Out

Bonnie Bedelia (Latrelle): "I don't know anyone else like Del. He is a 100 percent positive person. He sees every possible setback as an opportunity. He seems to have zero negative energy, which is a feat in itself. He takes the negative stuff and turns it into funny, which is why there is a deep vein of pain and disappointment underneath all of his characters. They are all struggling in one way or another, and it is clear he feels compassion for them. And he has a heart as big as a house - a heart that is all-inclusive. Plus he is a dream director to work for: Respectful, sensitive and encouraging. His expression of confidence in his actors is truly liberating."

Leslie Jordan (Brother Boy): "To revisit an iconic character such as Brother Boy was indeed exciting for me. I have been shoehorning my fat ass into that orange jumpsuit since I was a young girl - I mean, for over 20 years now! This all started with me suggesting to Del that he write short stories. I gave him a book of short stories called 'Shiloh and Other Stories' by Bobbie Ann Mason. He wrote a short story called 'The Dehomosexualization of Brother Boy.' And now the rest is history."

Dale Dickey (Sissy): "I have worked with Del on over 14 projects. I would do just about anything for this artist-in-crime friend. For example, wearing daisy dukes and tank tops at my age for 'The Trials and Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife' or dying my hair black to play Sissy! Or even eating pimento cheese onstage every night for six months in Southern Baptist Sissies. And like every other project with Del, this film was simply a blast and joyous to work on."

Kirk Geiger (Ty): "It's been incredibly refreshing to be able to play Ty Williamson. Ty has found his strength after years of struggle and insecurity and is ready to take on the bigots. I hope that this new chapter helps to heal anyone out there that is feeling marginalized in any way. As usual, Del uses humor and intellect to drive home the message of love and acceptance. I am so proud to be a part of this groundbreaking production."

Emerson Collins (Billy Joe): "First, to be a producer of this film has been a thrilling experience! It is a gift to have an historic franchise, genius acting talent and Del's brilliant script that uses comedy to confront the hypocrisy of hiding bigotry and discrimination under the guise of 'religious freedom.' In the wake of the Supreme Court marriage equality decision, conservative lawmakers from the local level to the federal government continue to target the rights and equality of LGBTQ people for discrimination.

There are also still many places in our country where social acceptance lags behind the legal victory. And churches, families, communities and LGBTQ people are still caught up in confronting and working through that conflict. Telling the story of a family and community dealing with these ramifications is our way of contributing to the conversation and pushing the dial toward affirmation and understanding. And let me add that as an actor, the opportunity to dive into the role of a necrophiliac serial killer opposite the comedic genius of Leslie Jordan was exciting and terrifying - in the best possible way."