Three things to do instead of watch/promote Hollywood's BBM

[Brian_Expat]

1) Maryland's court has just ruled that gay marriage cannot be legally banned and the state is gearing up for a punishing fight over a gay marriage amendment which could determine the future of gay equality in southern states. Instead of wasting $10 to $20 on Hollywood's latest dreck, send a check to provide Equality Maryland with much-needed funds to fight this important battle. (http://equalitymaryland.org/) Instead of wasting time talking about Jake and Heath's soft-core action, talk with friends, gay and straight, about the importance of this victory and encourage them to do the same.

2) Laurel Hester, a lesbian cop in New Jersey, has recently won a major fight to get her partner survivor benefits. However, millions of gays and lesbians across the country find themselves in similar battles without the same sort of support nor guaranteed outcome. Rather than waste $10 to $20 on a movie which portrays gays as self-loathing closet cases who get married and hook up on the side, send a check to Love Makes A Family to help gay families across the country win similar battles. (http://www.lovemakesafamily.org/) Instead of wasting time talking about how hot it is that Jake Gyllenhaal thinks that kissing another man is unusual, talk with friends, gay and straight, about the importance of ensuring that gays receive equal treatment for survivor benefits and other family benefits.

3) Mel White's Soulforce is fighting for the right of gay and lesbian families to be treated with dignity in government and to be treated as spiritual equals in religious society -- most recently planning to sponsor a "gay gate crashing" of the White House Easter Egg Hunt. Mel and his team have risked arrest for their non-violent protests, and represent a far more powerful and potent force than Hollywood's efforts to cash in on gay titillation. Instead of wasting $10 to $20 on Brokeback Mountain, send a check to Mel White's Soulforce (http://www.soulforce.org) and rather than talk with friends about how hot Heath Ledger's nude scene was, tell them how important you think fighting spiritual violence is.

If you choose any of these options, gay rights will advance far more than if you send money to some straight-owned, straight-operated Hollywood movie mill which claims to be "advancing your rights" by pitching "historical soft porn" as a gay rights revolution. The multi-billion-dollar studios and their wealthy owners don't need more cash -- the three causes listed above all desperately need cash, exposure, and public support which is otherwise being wasted on the latest Hollywood marketing campaign.

I challenge each of us to do our part.

[Liberal Veteran]

1. 4) Obsess over other's entertainment choices

Just because.

[xchrom]

2. lol -- oh oops

:yoiks:

ya know i manage to shit in that list all the time -- and still managed to see the movie.

and ya know what -- i'll do more -- and see a different movie -- funny how that works.

[Brian_Expat]

3. Entertainment choices aren't political

BBM is, and there are more important political issues afoot at the moment.

[mitchtv]

4. Political ? let's all see

Good Night and Good Luck . Unfortunately, I keep missing it. Not Gay but who cares?

[TechBear_Seattle]

5. Everything I say and do MUST be political?

Your vision of the "proper gay person" sounds just as fascist as Bush's vision of the "proper American."

I am working on a "street theater initiative" should the Washington State Supreme Court rule against us with regards to marriage. I am organizing to force the governor to reconvene the Legislature if the Court punts the marriage question to them after they go in to recess until after the November elections. I am lobbying friends and family around the state to put pressure on their legislators to vote in favor of civil protections for gay people. I am working to support several progressive candidates for local and state office, and might end up running myself.

And you know what? I still have the time to do stuff other than politics, like discuss "Brokeback Mountain." Deal with with.

[Liberal Veteran]

6. Is it okay if I still have sex with my husband of 15 years?

Or should we be handing out fliers instead? I mean, we wouldn't want to waste any time that could be used for political purposes on anything as trivial as living our lives.

:sarcasm:

[swimmernsecretsea]

7. I say YES!

Hell, that's an act of individuality and personal expression in itself!

PS: I'm not kidding or being sarcastic. Doing something good for yourself and your partner is a wonderful thing, and is a right we all have that we should enjoy as well as protect.

[Brian_Expat]

9. Not until you post reviews and talk about how it transformed America. nt

[closeupready]

8. Don't take this the wrong way, but

I really wish you'd stop bashing Brokeback Mountain. Everyone who comes to GLBT knows your thoughts about BBM, and starting dozens of new threads about it draws attention not to GLBT issues, but your continued thoughts about BBM.

Peace. :hi: