This hard-hitting documentary explores the issue of hate through the eyes of American teenagers as they come face-to-face with the people they hate and with their own racism and ethnic, religious and sexual-orientation bigotry. In each of its four segments, teenagers are forthright and even proud, of their prejudices — racist, anti-gay, religious, ethnic bigotry.

The idea of the film was to see if the youth could understand the consequences of such hatred – and if they could be transformed by getting to know “the other” – the people they hate.

Hosted by Leeza Gibbons, with appearances by Kobe Bryant, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Eriq La Salle, the Teen Files series was produced by Arnold Shapiro Productions and originally aired on the UPN Network in 1999.

Following the film there will be comments by a panel, and an opportunity to ask questions and make comments.

On the panel:

​Gabi Clayton

Gabi Clayton is an activist and community leader who has had a lifelong involvement in working for peace and social justice. In addition to working part-time as the hearthkeeper at Olympia Friends Meeting, Gabi is co-owner with her husband, Alec, of Mud Flat Press. She is an artist and a licensed mental health counselor.

Gabi and Alec’s younger son, Bill, came out as bisexual when he was 14 and he found that he was completely supported by his family. When he was 17 years old, Bill was assaulted in a gay bashing on the grounds of Olympia High School, and despite loving support from his family, friends and community, Bill committed suicide on May 8, 1995.

Gabi learned web design in 1996 as a way of telling Bill’s story, in the hope of contributing to changing the world so that other mothers’ children would not choose death to escape a harsh and dangerous world where they are so hated. In 1998 the Arnold Shapiro Productions found “Bill’s Story” online and asked Gabi if she would be in the film, Teen Files: The Truth About Hate. She said yes.

Mustafa Mohamedali

Mustafa is a licensed professional engineer and certified project manager professional working for the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) as a Technology Transfer Manager in the Research Office.

He is a native of Kenya in East Africa with Indian ancestry and speaks four languages from East Africa, Middle East, South Asia, besides of course English. He has been a resident of Washington State since 2000 and lives in the Olympia area with his wife, three daughters and four incredibly diverse grandchildren.

He is actively involved in many interfaith outreach and dialog efforts including Interfaith Works and the Jewish Muslim listening group.

He is a board member of the Islamic Center of Olympia where he has been involved in the development of the new mosque and community center project and is actively involved in community outreach and is also responsible for running the mosque’s incredibly successful 1^st Friday Open House – a monthly program providing the wider community with an opportunity to “Get to Know a Muslim”.

Two students from Olympia High School’s STAND group (Students Together Advocating Non-violence and Diversity)

STAND aims to help students gain an understanding of social justice and diversity issues. Students participate in areas such as the MLK Assembly, classroom presentations, the creation of social justice videos, and cultural and service trips. It was also a central group in organizing the Oly Love rally when the Westboro Baptist Church came to town to protest our school. They have produced videos related to social justice in our community and school. For the past two years, the group traveled to New Orleans to serve and to learn about the post Katrina situation and to serve the people in that area. This year STAND co-sponsored a community-wide discussion about race issues. The group is committed to creating a more equitable and harmonious community by promoting understanding of all identity groups.