Mark got to know the Amis community as a teenager. Later, he realized that he is not safe in the community by himself. MTV
A resident of the United States Mark Oliver has been a member of the Amissi community for a large part of his life. In a recent documentary Coming Out Amish he reveals to the world his big secret, which would not be heard to be uttered out loud within the community: Mark is homosexual.
Mark belongs to the Old Order amis. The community is extremely old and the use of electricity and cars, for example, is prohibited. Mark has received an exception to use the internet, because his work as a tourist guide required the use of the reservation system. Under the guise of this exemption, Mark has contacted an English journalist with whom he made the documentary.
The two also keep in touch via phone. Mark has hidden his smartphone behind his desk. He also uses Twitter.
– It feels like I’m a KGB agent with secret files, Mark says in the documentary.
Mark has been part of the amis community for over 35 years. He has a wife and children. By filming the documentary, Mark puts them in danger as well. Mark compares the closed lifestyle of the community to North Korea.
– It’s hard to think that I would leave my loved ones and everything behind. But this is no longer a safe place, says Mark.
Mark lived for more than 35 years in an amis community where, for example, the use of electricity is prohibited. MTV
In the past, Mark tried to do everything he could to heal from being gay. Finally, he was able to accept his true self. Still, he couldn’t tell anyone about it. If the church found out about his homosexuality, he would be sent to rehabilitation treatments.
– The Amiss way of thinking is such that homosexuals must be corrupt and evil. It is seen as a crime. It is seen as a moral and spiritual aberration, Mark explains.
– If I was caught being gay, I would lose my job without a doubt. If I bought from a store, they wouldn’t be allowed to take money from me. I would not be allowed to sit at the table and eat with the members of the church.
During the filming of the documentary, Mark fell in love with Steve. At the end, the men’s wedding is celebrated. MTV
In the documentary shot over a period of five years, Mark gathers the courage to leave the community and start living his own life. In the end, the decision is taken away from him. When members of the church discover Mark’s hidden devices and read his text messages, he is expelled from the community.
Coming Out Amish today on Katsomo+. See all TV programs and broadcast times in Telku’s TV guide.
