Questions to ask Jamiel Terry

November 20, 2006 8:34 PM

In a few days, I'll be interviewing Jamiel Terry, son of the outspoken evangelical Randall Terry. I don't want it to be simply a rehash of the other interviews from Beliefnet and Washington Post. Any creative questions you think I should ask? Any questions you feel haven't already been answered? Thanks!
posted by premiumpolar to writing & language (13 comments total)

What is the sexuality of God?
posted by strawberryviagra at 8:39 PM on November 20, 2006

Yeah, I failed to mention that Jamiel was disowned by his father after he came out in Out magazine. I encourage anyone and everyone to read the articles in that link up top.

Thanks, strawberryviagra. Not sure I'll ask that, but thanks ;-)
posted by premiumpolar at 8:41 PM on November 20, 2006

Ask him if what he's getting out of the media exposure he's sought. Does he feel a sense of satisfaction having exposed his (sort of) famous dad's hypocrisy?

Without getting into whether his dad eventually deserved disrespect, did Jamiel ever respect him, even before he found out all the valid reasons not to? If not, why not?

What, if anything, does he think differentiates him from the myriad other children of religious people who rebel and then spend their life publicly renouncing their parents' beliefs?

And does he think that his dad's bad behavior is the result of his religion, or would his dad have been that way even if he were an atheist?
posted by JekPorkins at 9:07 PM on November 20, 2006

How can people with viewpoints as different as Jamiel and his father reach a truce and get along without compromising themselves?
posted by namespan at 10:21 PM on November 20, 2006

Does he think that his father's view of him represents a common, if unspoken paternal attitude towards gay children in the United States?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:31 PM on November 20, 2006

You don't mention the purpose of your interview — whether it's intended for a specific publication, and whether that publication is expecting a particular angle. If not, I'd probably try to steer the conversation away from the usual subjects.

I sympathize with the fact that you don't want to retread ground; I've felt the same inclination when I've interviewed musicians whose backstory has already been published a dozen times. I just don't ask about those subjects. I figure that if people want to know where John Doe comes from, they can read last year's interview; if I have a chance to ask new questions, then that's what I do.

If I had the chance to interview a polarizing figure, someone who had become a one-note samba across various media appearances, I think I'd avoid that subject altogether. If he's intent on talking about it — or, as above, if you're already locked into an angle — then there's not much you can do, but given the choice I'd suggest trying something unique. Somebody posted a link on MetaFilter to an interview where Ann Coulter talked about nothing except the Grateful Dead — and people loved reading it, because it brought something new to the table. That's what I'd do. Forget about trying to second-guess the Washington Post, and play a different sport.
posted by cribcage at 11:02 PM on November 20, 2006

I'm conducting the interview for Department of Conversation (of which I'm a founding editor), which really has no focus other than that of 'well–written articles'.
posted by premiumpolar at 11:12 PM on November 20, 2006

In that case, I agree with cribcage -- don't talk about his dad, teh gay, or anything related. Maybe talk about food, or wine. Maybe ask him questions about his favorite city that he's ever been to.
posted by JekPorkins at 11:17 PM on November 20, 2006

I'd have a ton of questions for this guy, but I don't know if they're actually appropriate for a journalist. Just stuff I was wondering while I was reading the mefi post. For instance:

What do you remember of your mother, and the years that your mother had a relationship with your father's family? Have you ever talked to your older sisters about what it was like for them to to make the transition from living with their mother to becoming part of a family that was in the public eye? Did they (or you) feel pressured, subtley or not, to 'perform' publically for Terry's cause?

Did your adoptive parents talk to you about race when you were growing up? What sort of responses did you get when you defended your father against charges of racism? Do you feel you did the right thing?

What led you toward Catholicism? Was it doctrinal or social? Did you 'come out' as a Catholic before or after you came out as gay, and what were the differences/similarities in your family's response? What aspects of Catholicism do you find appealing that are at odds with the form of Protestantism that you grew up with? Did you ever have a sense that your father's brand of Christianity deviated from the mainstream?

Do you have any contact with your adoptive mother since the divorce? Do you think the Washington Post misrepresented Terry's break-up with her, as he's asserted?
posted by maryh at 1:02 AM on November 21, 2006

Ask him about things that he and his father agree on. We focus too much on the things that divide us, but there are far, far more things that unite us.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 4:26 AM on November 21, 2006

I would suggest questions that would be unexpected by him.

Whenever I intereview someone, usually for a job, one question I smatter in is "What is your favourite canned soup" it takes them off guard and moves the conversation in a less than scheduled direction.
posted by verveonica at 7:38 AM on November 21, 2006

These are some terrific suggestions. Thanks, everyone!
posted by premiumpolar at 2:21 PM on November 21, 2006

"If someone cut YOUR balls off, would you prefer that they ate them, or threw them in the gutter?"

This came up during a bizarre dinner conversation last night with some friends about castrating farm animals and rocky mountain oysters.
posted by Emanuel at 5:33 PM on November 21, 2006