Bigotry & Homophobia, So Happy Together
January 8th, 2006I was surprised that there wasn’t a bigger noise in Utah regarding a popular movie about gay cowboys. Like most fundamentalist churches, the Mormon church doesn’t like the homosexuals. This institutionalized hate and intolerance was one of a list about sixteen miles long of why I’m no longer a Mormon. My more progressive Mormon friends don’t like to talk about this aspect of the church teachings or it’s resultant culture, but it’s right there, under the surface. I expected the movie to be talked about, disdained and not shown except for the arty gay-friendly theater. Which apparently, there are two of in Salt Lake City. So while one could only see the movie in two theaters in the valley, one could still see the movie. This is the heart of Jesusy Good Conservativeland, USA after all.
Heather and I got a babysitter last week and despite me feeling like complete crap, we went and saw Brokeback Mountain. We didn’t see any protesters or signs of angst from the community that this film was playing down to the showhouse. Really fine film. Highly recommend it. It’s very difficult to watch. There is no overt agenda or preachiness. It’s just a story about people falling in love in a culture that doesn’t want to acknowledge that it’s ok to be gay. Kind of like today in most of the U.S. It’s very well told, tragic, and touching. We are an ignorant country, afraid of letting go the deeply genetic Puritan strains from our past. That the lead characters in the story are cowboys makes it more dramatic and compelling. I wasn’t expecting the universality of forbidden love to be so well-played. Heath Ledger is quite convincing, as is Jake Gyllenhaal. Ang Lee definitely atones for Hulk.
Well, my surprise at the lack of reaction was short-lived. It looks like the owner of the Utah Jazz, countless auto dealerships and a few very large megaplex movie theaters is either a homophobe, a bigot or both. I said looks like. Because I don’t know if he is or not. It just looks like it from where I’m sitting.
This morning on a local news show we watched a “debate” about Gay/Straight student alliance clubs in Utah High Schools. Seems the local nutburger Senator who wants his Jesus to run things is sponsoring a bill to outlaw the clubs. On the show, one of the guests was a screechy woman who was trying to say that gay culture was a health hazard and that’s what the issue was about. Countering her was Utah’s out and proud (and awesome) state Senator, Scott McCoy. As with most of these kinds of “discussions”, the right-wing nutjobs always argue that of course they aren’t homophobic. Of course. Mr. McCoy offered one of the best counters in the most relaxed way:
Screechy Nutjob: “Of course I’m not a homophobe. When I worked in New York, half my staff were gay.”
McCoy: “I don’t think you are a homophobe. Homophobes are afraid of gay people. You are a bigot.” o
Question for you, and other readers too. I’ve heard a lot of debate about the whole gay thing surrounding this movie. Is it a good or bad thing this movie has come out with the lead roles being who they are? More specifically, what is your take about straight actors playing gay roles, where as there are plenty of gay actors who could have done this same film. Is it a double standard? Would it have been different if two gay men were the leads? One gay man? Is this preaching acceptance and teaching society something, or is it saying being gay for the sake of acting is okay?
As a gay male, it is nice to see something that doesn’t fit the stereotypical screaming flamer fag type thing. On the other hand, it is insulting to think that now that there are producers and what not who will put these types of films into effect, we have to have straight people do it.
Your thoughts?
Sam,
I am so sorry to hear about your experiences and in no way was I trying to paint a rosy picture. I just want people to understand that there are actively engaged Mormons who are sympathetic to gay issues. I also understand that experiences I have had are rare, but I think that it is important to share something positive.
Oops! Sorry about that Patatomic. Didn’t mean to make you out as the bad guy! A thousand apologies.
As to straight actors playing gay characters? If they audition and get the role then they deserve it. It is acting after all. We’ve seen gay people playing straight characters for a long time. Unfortunately they’ve had to stay in the closet. Rock Hudson ring a bell? Turn about is fair play as far as I’m concerned.
I believe the producers wanted bankable stars. I think Hollywood has a lot to answer for as well, just not with this film. That the stars happen to be straight men playing gay roles? I don’t care as a viewer. The movie was good enough to make me forget I was watching Heath and Jake (and all of their past performances).
I wonder how many famous people still hide the fact they are gay. I believe it still happens and probably more than I am comfortable with.
(Big Gay) Sam, your story hurts. It’s through denial that religions don’t see the violence that comes from their teachings. That is why I referred to it as institutionalized hate.
As a friend of mine 12 years ago in a 7th grade presentation on gay rights (in Texas no less!) said:
Don’t we need more love in the world? What could be wrong about two people loving each other?
Yeah, Larry Miller. What?
Haven’t seen it yet. I was going to just on general principle (my SO has three daddies) and I’m really glad to hear that it’s actually a good film.
Canada isn’t uniformly homo-philic. I live in the province of Alberta which is notable for the right wing intolerance of its government.
A few things-
1. This movie would not have been this movie had Jake and Heath not played the lead characters. They needed bankable stars to get this movie out to the public. If they were unknown actors, no matter how brilliant they might be, this movie would have gone unnoticed. And, speaking as a queer girl myself, I have to say, we already have plenty of gay movies that have gone unnoticed. It’s time to start showing the masses who we really are and what our struggle really is.
2. I grew up in a small town in Ohio, but haven’t lived there for six years. I’ve lived my gay life out in Los Angeles (I came out right before I moved). I stop myself every so often and express gratitude to whoever will listen, gratitude that I’ve moved on, that I live in a place where being gay is as accepted as being straight. Everything’s normal in this town. My heart aches for people in the middle of the country who have to drive an hour to see this film… I was there once. I would have had to drive about 65 miles to Cleveland to see this movie.
3. I still don’t understand why love is bad?! There is so much else to fight about, folks! There is so much injustice, so much hatred… I still don’t get why some people feel like this is a fight? I grew up in the Christian church, I still hold on to a lot of my beliefs from childhood, and the overwhelming lesson I learned from growing up Christian is to love people no matter what.
4. To the person who said, “what’s next, a film about a couple of queer priests,” I want to ask, what does that have to do with anything? Priests inherently are not allowed to engage in any sexual activities. That would be an entirely different film. Hell, you could make a movie about a priest having an affair with a woman and it would still be taboo. However, cowboys… they’re like teachers, mechanics, plumbers, database administrators, investors… it’s a lifestyle, it’s a job… these guys just happen to be gay. But the movie is more like a Romeo and Juliet, a story about a love that can’t exist in the world in which the characters find themselves. It’s heartbreaking. And PS, I’m gay and have no problem watching straight people have sex in movies. Sex is sex, and sex is sexy! It’s passion, it’s love, and it’s beautiful people with not all of their clothes on!
5. That Stephen Colbert/John Stewart thing is GENIUS.
The local gay and lesbian community center called for a boycott this afternoon, while the political action committee did not.
Miller has holdings in several western states that local activists are calling for people to boycott. We have listed them at our site at http://slmetro.com/2006/01/miller.shtml
-Michael Aaron,
Salt Lake Metro
Even more depressing are the local “news” interviews with passersby who wholeheartedly agree with Larry Miller’s censorship. One woman clutched her baby as she spoke about it, like the kid was going to catch a mean case of gay.
Ms Sisyphus: I do see your point entirely. Maybe I wasn’t clear. I do believe there is a place for sexuality education in schools. All I said was that I don’t want them starting it in Kindergarten. What our school board was proposing for SK curriculum was too graphic for the majority of the parents. That’s all.
When I said, “I think we rely on the school system far too much to teach our kids about things that are better taught at home,” the thought behind it was that too many parents are not raising their kids. The school board can’t do it alone. Too many kids don’t get the quality time with parents/guardians that are necessary in fostering young minds, hearts and souls. Some parents are too preoccupied with the almighty dollar, etc, to sit down with their kids, and have a conversation.
So tonight me and the wife are watching TV and the wife is in command of the remote. She’s flipping while I am surfing and then I become conscious that she has found something to watch. I lift up my head to look at the TV and it turns out that it is some show with Heather Graham. Heather’s character is in love with this guy who she thinks is gay. It turns out that he isn’t gay, but rather a virgin Mormon.
Pretty funny and ironic given today’s discussion.
The Edwards theatre in Idaho Falls, Idaho is starting to show it the 13th of this month-before Pocatello (which is apparently the gay and lesbian capital of Idaho and is pretty “blue” politically). Southeastern Idaho is approx. 66% LDS, but Idaho Falls is upwards of 70-80%, I would guess.
Hmmm, me thinks Utah is out to discourage discussion of gay anything… I am getting pretty consistant “Cannot find server” notes from the Scott McCoy link and for the SL Trib … makes me want to move my non-Mormom rump to the west to stir up some trouble… maybe open a megaplex theater that refuses to show anything with religious over/undertones?
BRAVO!!! I’m soooo glad that there are smart people like you and heather living in Salt Lake!!! Thank you thank you thank you for this post!
This made news in Australia too.
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=80694
I see the Jordan Commons Megaplex in Salt Lake City has caved in and decided not to show the movie:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4595322.stm
There was some entertaining discussion about this issue on a fun podcast that I listen to regularly. If you’re interested, you can download it from The Movie Blog at:
http://tinyurl.com/9mk6q
The ad-lib ukelele song heard in the last minute or so is especially funny. Enjoy!
Teeny, that’s the theater owned by Larry H. Miller. One of them, anyway.
I’m sure Miller’s bishop is proud.
Oopsie, that’ll teach me not to click on ALL the links! Sorry bout that. I just don’t see how they can justify not showing this film – do they think one film’s gonna convert people to the dark side or something??! We have screechy nut jobs here in the UK too of course, but this type of censorship here would, rightfully in my view, provoke an outrage!
So do you plan on boycotting the movieplex?
All fine if you don’t want to spend your money on the movie (that’s your opinion), I’m just not a big fan of the whole preventing other people who do want to see it from seeing it.
My hometown theatre isn’t showing it either, which I find bizarre considering the last movie I saw there was Y tu mam· tambiÈn, which is much more graphic sexually than Brokeback Mountain is.
I went to see “Brokeback” the weekend it opened. In the lobby of the arty theater was a gay rodeo promoter. He was talking to some of the patrons, handing out flyers and such. He wasn’t effeminate. He was a man. A group of three twenty-somethings approached the man and began a discussion about the limited number of theaters that were playing “Brokeback.” I overheard the three tell the man that they were from Kansas City, MO. They’d driven 4-5 hours to St. Louis, MO – the closest location playing the film. It took me 10 minutes to drive to the theater.
Having seen the film, I know that those three didn’t regret their trip in the least. To those of you who are questioning driving 40 minutes to see this film, I’d say do it. The more people see it, the more available it will become. Plus, the panoramic mountain scenes could not be nearly as majestic on your TV once the DVD releases.
Also, if you haven’t done so yet, find the short story and read it. It is even more beautiful and heartbreaking.
Hell, we live in a country where an alarming number of states found it necessary to put proposals on the ballot made TO SPECIFICALLY DENY the possibility of equal rights for a significant number of American citizens, if those citizens are gay and happen to want to marry someone with matching genitalia. And an alarming number of states passed these proposals.
The fact that ignorant people with too much money would keep a good film with a gay theme out of theatres doesn’t surprise me too much.
Saddens me, angers me, but doesn’t really shock me.
Bucky…
It’s because those ignorant people view the gay/homosexual/whatever/or issue of the month lifestyle as threatening to American society.
(I’m probably stating the obvious.)
that comeback gave me a smile that’s gonna last for hours. he is one more reason utah rocks!