Gay thoughts and opinions - please correct me if I'm wrong
Posted: June 5th, 2007, 10:24 am
Due to the John Wayne tribute last week, I failed to see TCM (the channel) for quite a while, happily watching and re-watching some of the best and worst westerns ever made for 5 days straight on the Western Channel.
So when I checked in at the TCM site, I couldn't understand all the brou-ha-ha that was going on in thread after thread about gays. I don't pay much attention to promos anymore, because I swear, literally EVERY time I go to TCM in between movies, I see another promo for TCM Underground! Morning, afternoon, and night, and all night long, a TCMU promo is played (but that's beside the point).
As to gay PEOPLE, like black people, Italian people, and mentally challenged people - they are PEOPLE. Who cares what they do at home? and why is it anyone elses' business? A male friend in Vegas, who at one time worked behind the scenes in H'wood, told me that about 70% of the males there were gay. He contended that being forced into their secret, and dual lifestyles was the main contributor to the emotional nuances they were able to call upon in the acting world, because they HAD to ACT all the time in private life, e.g. it was a way of life for them. When I became acquainted with, then friendly with (there is a difference), several gay men and women, I told them his estimation, and they all heartily agreed.
I've looked over the list of movies being shown, and some of them are really stretching the point. Often a gay character is used for comic relief, often as the butt of jokes or violence, and almost always a discardable person. I remember how angry I was at the ending of the Madonna movie The Next Best Thing. What a stinking deal Rupert got in that one! After 5 years of being a great husband and dad, he gets screwed royally, and the audience accepts it! That's what I mean by discardable.
TCM may be bringing some fine actors to light, but I don't like their method in doing so. I think it was BRAVO that ran a series of a straight guy living with and associating with gay guys for a two week span, and although he couldn't accept some of the actions and attitudes, he did realize they are nice people who only want to live their lives. Therefore, I don't think TCMs' exploitation is the way to go.
I don't mean to get 'fixed' on this subject, but I feel the same about the blaxploitation. Different factions are finally making their way, and making strides in acceptance, and I'm curious about how others feel about this. My entire family, both older and younger have all lived their entire lives in this little protected area of Chicago and suburbs, so I have nobody to ask about this. My one son and I are the only two who have ventured out to the West, and South to experience first hand how the 'other guy' lives, and he's still in California, so there isn't a whole lot of area for discussion.
Comments?
Anne
So when I checked in at the TCM site, I couldn't understand all the brou-ha-ha that was going on in thread after thread about gays. I don't pay much attention to promos anymore, because I swear, literally EVERY time I go to TCM in between movies, I see another promo for TCM Underground! Morning, afternoon, and night, and all night long, a TCMU promo is played (but that's beside the point).
As to gay PEOPLE, like black people, Italian people, and mentally challenged people - they are PEOPLE. Who cares what they do at home? and why is it anyone elses' business? A male friend in Vegas, who at one time worked behind the scenes in H'wood, told me that about 70% of the males there were gay. He contended that being forced into their secret, and dual lifestyles was the main contributor to the emotional nuances they were able to call upon in the acting world, because they HAD to ACT all the time in private life, e.g. it was a way of life for them. When I became acquainted with, then friendly with (there is a difference), several gay men and women, I told them his estimation, and they all heartily agreed.
I've looked over the list of movies being shown, and some of them are really stretching the point. Often a gay character is used for comic relief, often as the butt of jokes or violence, and almost always a discardable person. I remember how angry I was at the ending of the Madonna movie The Next Best Thing. What a stinking deal Rupert got in that one! After 5 years of being a great husband and dad, he gets screwed royally, and the audience accepts it! That's what I mean by discardable.
TCM may be bringing some fine actors to light, but I don't like their method in doing so. I think it was BRAVO that ran a series of a straight guy living with and associating with gay guys for a two week span, and although he couldn't accept some of the actions and attitudes, he did realize they are nice people who only want to live their lives. Therefore, I don't think TCMs' exploitation is the way to go.
I don't mean to get 'fixed' on this subject, but I feel the same about the blaxploitation. Different factions are finally making their way, and making strides in acceptance, and I'm curious about how others feel about this. My entire family, both older and younger have all lived their entire lives in this little protected area of Chicago and suburbs, so I have nobody to ask about this. My one son and I are the only two who have ventured out to the West, and South to experience first hand how the 'other guy' lives, and he's still in California, so there isn't a whole lot of area for discussion.
Comments?
Anne