'Gay and lesbian couples should be able to marry and have access to the same rights, privileges and benefits that straight couples currently enjoy. Denying people this basic American right is the kind of discrimination that has no place in our laws. ... The time has come to end this discrimination and the politics of divisiveness that has become part of this issue.' — U.S. Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., a likely Democratic presidential candidate, in an April 4 statement.
'There are significant differences in public attitudes toward gays and lesbians across subgroups of the population. More likely to describe themselves as having positive feelings toward gays and lesbians include residents who personally know others who are gay or lesbian, liberals, Democrats, those affiliated with non-Christian religions, residents of the San Francisco Bay Area, non-partisans, and people with either a college degree or a post graduate degree. Subgroups in which larger proportions have unfavorable or cool attitudes toward gays and lesbians include conservatives, those with no more than a high school education, born-again Christians and people who do not personally know any gays or lesbians. Republicans, males, blacks and seniors age 65 or older are about evenly divided in their assessments.' — From the summary page of a March 2006 California Field Poll on gay issues.
'In my life, I feel like I'm a representative for gay, lesbians, Blacks and women to step out of the box ... just do what you fucking do.' — Entertainer NeKole Wells, who has role in Menopause the Musical and Judy at Carnegie, as quoted in the April 13-20 issue of Time Out Chicago.
'If you come out to your family and friends, it's important that you understand that you will change. It will be better, but it will also be different. How close can any of these people really be to you if they don't know who you are?' — Part of a response in an April 7 Dear Abby column, in which a man wonders if he should come out to his religious family in Georgia.
'I caught your show when you had a tired mockery of 'Brokeback Mountain,' involving something about a horse done up in what you consider a 'gay' way. Man, that's dated. I turned the television off and felt pretty fucking depressed. ... When I think of gay people, I think of centuries of suffering. I think of really, really good people who've been gravely mistreated for a long time now. You've got to cut it out, Jay.' — Part of a letter dated April 21 from Jeff Whitty, author of Avenue Q ( a musical currently on Broadway ) to late-night talk-show host Jay Leno.
'Oh, you know, a very, an older person, you know, talking about your, you know, your sexual preferences and things like that—it's, it's not, it's very uncomfortable. I realize that, you know, nowadays people do it all the time but, for me, it's, it's, you know, it's not, it's not the biggest thing in my life. My life is filled with wonderful things and I, you know, I think it's, it's kind of, I don't know, kind of icky to be talking about things like that. ... Something like that would have ruined your career, you know, a few years ago. Um, it's, uh, I don't know, it's very, it's very unpleasant to even talk about because it's, it's such a small part of, of your life, you know. I mean, it's a big part, but it's, it isn't everything, it's just, you know, one aspect of your life and, and it's, I don't know; it's very strange for, you know—uh, I don't know.' — Singer Johnny Mathis when asked about his sexual orientation on thestrippodcast.com, April 13. Gay Las Vegas journalists Steve Friess and Miles Smith produce and host the weekly audio show.
'I guess the idea of gay TV doesn't really mean it's your community's network. It's just something that's targeted at you to sell product.' — Ron Buford, coordinator of the United Church of Christ's Stillspeaking Initiative, in an April 7 press release condemning the gay TV network LOGO for rejecting a progay ad from the church. LOGO owner MTV Networks said the ad could be construed as disparaging other religions. The ad was accepted by numerous networks, including A&E, AMC, BET, CNN, CNN en Español, Hallmark, History, TBS, TNT, E!, Lifetime and Azteca America.
'The goal when I stopped [ my TV show ] was to pick my kids up from school every day. I go to the soccer games. I go to Target. We have the biggest swing set in the neighborhood.' — Rosie O'Donnell to The New York Times, April 5.
'I never stop being grateful for them [ gays ] . Truly, I feel they know who's funny and who's not. They're the most wonderful people to play to, because they truly appreciate everything.' — Carol Channing to the Vancouver gay newspaper Xtra! West, March 30.
'I haven't the slightest idea. I never think on that subject. It's not my life; it's their lives. You keep asking gay questions. I am just very grateful that they like me.' — Carol Channing when asked by the Vancouver gay newspaper Xtra! West if celebrities who come out nowadays suffer repercussions, March 30.
Deep Inside Hollywood
by Romeo San Vicente
Sarsgaard Is a Man of Mysteries
Peter Sarsgaard, no stranger to starring in films with queer storylines, is returning to the screen in another gay-inclusive feature, an adaptation of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Chabon's first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. The project's been kicking around for almost as long as the 1988 novel has existed, but now the big-screen treatment is in the casting stage. Sarsgaard, who played queer in Kinsey and The Dying Gaul, has signed on in a co-starring role, as has British up-and-comer Sienna Miller. The lead role of Art, a young man who has relationships with both a man and a woman, has not been cast yet. Also not cast yet is Pittsburgh, where Chabon's Wonder Boys ( 2000 ) was filmed. The city was the fictional setting of Queer as Folk, but for that series Toronto stood in for the former steel town. Production expenses may find The Mysteries of Pittsburgh actually being filmed in Louisiana.
Boy Culture Ready for Its Close-Up
Q. Allan Brocka is picking up speed. The filmmaker who began his career with LEGOs ( Rick & Steve: The Happiest Gay Couple in All the World ) has now finished his second live-action feature, Boy Culture. Starring newcomer Derek Magyar ( UPN's Enterprise ) , the plot revolves around a handsome young escort and the complicated relationships he finds himself in. He has a boyfriend, a second 'sort of' boyfriend, and an older client who may or may not be all he seems—and each of them fall in and out of bed with the hot young sex worker. Co-written by Brocka with Philip Pierce and adapted from the Matthew Rettenmund novel, it premieres at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival with queer film festival notoriety sure to follow.
Queer Indie Film Plays by New Rules
Queer film in theaters and on TV at the same time? That's the upshot of a small revolution that's taking place right under Hollywood's nose. The days of gay film fans having to wait endlessly for queer-themed films to arrive in their mid-size cities or—for those in small towns—at DVD rental outlets near them is all but over. Current gay features playing in big-city art-houses like Guys and Balls, Summer Storm, Freshman Orientation, and Dorian Blues have all been picked up by Here TV for on-demand viewing. Earlier this year Steven Soderbergh experimented with the concept of simultaneous theatrical and DVD release with his film Bubble, to limited success. But the closing of the gap between theatrical and home viewing for queer independent cinema is happening right now, with simultaneous releases and downloads almost certainly right around the corner. Next stop: the queering of your video iPod.
Queer Films Kick Off at Cannes
John Cameron Mitchell's cinematic follow-up to Hedwig and the Angry Inch has finally arrived. The filmmaker's much-discussed, controversial-before-it's-even-seen feature, Shortbus, has its world premiere in the Midnight section of this year's Cannes Film Festival. The film will feature explicit, nonsimulated sex as part of its storyline, something few modern filmmakers have dared. Other new queer features and shorts screening at the 59th annual festival are Francois Ozon's short, Un lever de rideau, and the anthology film Paris, je t'aime, featuring contributions from Gus Van Sant, Alexander Payne, Wes Craven, Gurinder Chadha, Joel and Ethan Coen, and Alfonso Cuaron. Meanwhile Pedro Almodovar's latest, Volver ( Return ) , will screen in competition, and director Paul Greengrass' United 93, a real-time recreation of the September 11, 2001, hijacking that claimed the life of, among others, gay businessman Mark Bingham, will screen out of competition.
DeepInsideHollywood@qsyndicate.com
