Clarence Thomas film production disrupts rainbow lighting at Atlanta City Hall

This is not an article from The Onion, we promise.

Mayor Kasim Reed’s office is making accommodations after a production crew filming at Atlanta City Hall this week ordered onlookers of a rainbow lighting display celebrating marriage equality to leave the premises. The movie being filmed? “Confirmation,” an HBO production about the…well, confirmation of Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Yes, that Clarence Thomas. The notoriously conservative judge who wrote in dissent to the court’s 5-4 decision to strike down same-sex marriage bans nationwide. Again, not The Onion here folks.

The incident occurred Tuesday night as Georgia Voice went to see the display for ourselves. The sidewalks on all four sides of Atlanta City Hall were closed off for filming so we went across the street to take pictures, joined by several other onlookers.

A security guard said he was being told that the pictures were disrupting the film production and ordered everyone off the premises. When told that the lighting display was to celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision on marriage equality, the gentleman disputed that and told onlookers that it was for the film production. The Clarence Thomas film production. Again, that Clarence Thomas.

He also said filming would go on every night that week, which would hamper any other visitors who wanted to see the lighting display, which was scheduled to end Thursday evening.

When notified of the incident, the mayor’s office reconfirmed the intent of the lighting display and says they will extend it due to the filming.

“The Administration maintains that the rainbow lighting outside city hall is a gesture to honor and recognize the Supreme Court’s ruling on marriage equality,” the mayor’s office said in a statement to Georgia Voice. “Because of filming currently taking place around city hall, the Administration will extend the rainbow lighting until the end of next week so that residents can view without disruption.”

The Mayor’s Office of Film and Entertainment says that “Confirmation” wrapped shooting at City Hall Thursday afternoon. The HBO movie stars Wendell Pierce (“The Wire”) as Thomas and Kerry Washington (“Scandal”) as Anita Hill with Greg Kinnear, Jennifer Hudson and Eric Stonestreet playing supporting roles.

psaunders@thegavoice.com | @patricksaunders