The G-Spot

[Raimondin]

In this case, G as in Gay. I'd like to start this thread for any GLBT news, events, commentary, or whatever relevant going on around our world.

How Did Brokeback Lose? Theories Abound
by Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press March 6, 2006

(New York City) It was chatted about, joked about, argued about, spoofed. Brokeback Mountain was everywhere in our popular culture - yet it lost the big Oscar it was supposed to win.

Was there a Brokeback backlash? Or was Crash, directed and co-written by Canadian Paul Haggis, just the worthy contender that came on strong in the final best-picture stretch? There were as many theories being offered up Monday as there are Brokeback parodies on the Internet.

One theory was that, despite the hoopla, the endless late-night monologues and the clever imitations, people (Academy voters, that is) didn't really love the soulful saga of two gay cowboys - and perhaps even felt uncomfortable with its themes.

``Sometimes people pretend to like movies more than they actually do,'' said Richard Walter, who heads the screenwriting program at UCLA's film school. ``But this film wasn't really THAT good. What it tried to do was great, sensational. But what it actually accomplished wasn't so great. You can't really buy the love story.''

Film critic Kenneth Turan, writing in the Los Angeles Times, said the problem wasn't with the film's quality. Rather, he said, ``you could not take the pulse of the industry without realizing that this film made people distinctly uncomfortable.''

``In the privacy of the voting booth ... people are free to act out the unspoken fears and unconscious prejudices that they would never breathe to another soul, or likely, acknowledge to themselves. And at least this year, that acting out doomed Brokeback Mountain.''

Gay activists did not necessarily agree.

``I don't think it has anything to do with the subject matter,'' said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest American gay rights group. He noted that Brokeback and Crash both dealt with ``tough issues like indifference and intolerance.''

``I was certainly disappointed,'' Solmonese said. ``But I would trade that Oscar for all the positive conversations that this movie spurred between parents and their gay children, or between employees and their gay co-workers. That impact transcends any accolades...''

(The rest of the article is at 365gay.com.)

But it did win three Oscars, including the highly coveted Best Director.

 

[playwithlezli]

In this case, G as in Gay. I'd like to start this thread for any GLBT news, events, commentary, or whatever relevant going on around our world.

How Did Brokeback Lose? Theories Abound
by Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press March 6, 2006

(New York City) It was chatted about, joked about, argued about, spoofed. Brokeback Mountain was everywhere in our popular culture - yet it lost the big Oscar it was supposed to win.

Was there a Brokeback backlash? Or was Crash, directed and co-written by Canadian Paul Haggis, just the worthy contender that came on strong in the final best-picture stretch? There were as many theories being offered up Monday as there are Brokeback parodies on the Internet.

One theory was that, despite the hoopla, the endless late-night monologues and the clever imitations, people (Academy voters, that is) didn't really love the soulful saga of two gay cowboys - and perhaps even felt uncomfortable with its themes.

``Sometimes people pretend to like movies more than they actually do,'' said Richard Walter, who heads the screenwriting program at UCLA's film school. ``But this film wasn't really THAT good. What it tried to do was great, sensational. But what it actually accomplished wasn't so great. You can't really buy the love story.''

Film critic Kenneth Turan, writing in the Los Angeles Times, said the problem wasn't with the film's quality. Rather, he said, ``you could not take the pulse of the industry without realizing that this film made people distinctly uncomfortable.''

``In the privacy of the voting booth ... people are free to act out the unspoken fears and unconscious prejudices that they would never breathe to another soul, or likely, acknowledge to themselves. And at least this year, that acting out doomed Brokeback Mountain.''

Gay activists did not necessarily agree.

``I don't think it has anything to do with the subject matter,'' said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest American gay rights group. He noted that Brokeback and Crash both dealt with ``tough issues like indifference and intolerance.''

``I was certainly disappointed,'' Solmonese said. ``But I would trade that Oscar for all the positive conversations that this movie spurred between parents and their gay children, or between employees and their gay co-workers. That impact transcends any accolades...''

(The rest of the article is at 365gay.com.)

But it did win three Oscars, including the highly coveted Best Director.

And oddly enough was filmed in Alberta, the Canadian province most vocally opposed to gay marriage. The Alberta provincial government was threatening to legally challenge the federal government on its newly installed legislation allowing homosexuals to marry.

Already the Alberta film industry has received more filming inquiries than it has ever before, all because of this "gay" film.

 

[Raimondin]

And oddly enough was filmed in Alberta, the Canadian province most vocally opposed to gay marriage. The Alberta provincial government was threatening to legally challenge the federal government on its newly installed legislation allowing homosexuals to marry.

Already the Alberta film industry has received more filming inquiries than it has ever before, all because of this "gay" film.

Well, there's a positive side to everything.

 

[Raimondin]

Sometimes called the second most successful band of all time after The Beatles, ABBA has decided to regroup for a very noble cause.

ABBA reform for gay rights

http://www.newyorkcityboys.com/photos/uncategorized/abba.jpg

The band’s demise has been the obsession of pop fans across the globe, along with rumours of self-enforced seclusion and breakdowns, but they had vowed not to work together again.

However, the plight of lesbian and gay people in Poland has motivated Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad to work together for the first time in more than a decade.

The members of Sweden’s biggest pop group ABBA have jointly signed memorabilia from their heyday that they will be auctioning to raise money for Warsaw Pride.

In conjunction with the organisers of Stockholm Pride, the goods will be available on auction site eBay, and profits will be given to Polish gay rights groups, press reports suggest.

Warsaw Pride was banned last year by the then Mayor, Lech Kaczynski, who said lesbian and gay people were suffering from perversions. In a direct attack on the planned march through the city, he allowed a Normality Parade to take place the following week.

Now elected as Poland’s President Kaczynski’s public statements against gay rights have angered campaigners and politicians across Europe, who are calling on Poland to be stripped of its EU voting rights unless it adheres to pro-gay initiatives.

Stockholm Pride’s organisers said they felt compelled to help their neighbours on the issue and approached leading Swedish celebrities to support the cause.

ABBA are the largest to do so.

"As arranger of a Pride festival in a neighbouring country that is so privileged by comparison it is impossible to be aware of what is happening in Poland without doing something," Stockholm Pride chairwoman Ulrika Westerlund told reporters.

The memorabilia includes posters, albums and photos.

(Source:Wikipedia Encyl.)

 

[gypsywitch]

http://www.scottcapurro.com/

Scott Capurro has just left for England again where his career seems to be doing better than it does here. We listen to him as a guest host on radioalice.com where is is very funny and totally Gay. Gay people call in and enjoy talking with him while all the straights have to listen. Some people call in and say that they hate him and won't listen if he's on. He's been off and on with them for about five years now and its been a process to hear this local comedian come out a little more and a little more on the air. There is no other station in our area that I know of that has an openly Gay announcer talking about Gay stuff. I've met him and his parents at his live shows and they are very nice people. His dad is a car salesman here at a near-by dealership and he's helping me get a new truck.

 

[Raimondin]

http://www.scottcapurro.com/

Scott Capurro has just left for England again where his career seems to be doing better than it does here. We listen to him as a guest host on radioalice.com where is is very funny and totally Gay. Gay people call in and enjoy talking with him while all the straights have to listen. Some people call in and say that they hate him and won't listen if he's on. He's been off and on with them for about five years now and its been a process to hear this local comedian come out a little more and a little more on the air. There is no other station in our area that I know of that has an openly Gay announcer talking about Gay stuff. I've met him and his parents at his live shows and they are very nice people. His dad is a car salesman here at a near-by dealership and he's helping me get a new truck.

Funny, in fact I was going to ask you about him and any news. True. For some reason careers (especially showbiz ones) seem to take off better overseas or abroad as the Brits would say.
Well, very cool radio station to have him on all these years. That's rare these days on radio as formatted as they are and on their knees to corporate sponsorship.
His parents must be very proud of him and fantastic to support his career. I know you know the difficulty in breaking in showbiz and actually making it. He needs to get on one those gay comedy tours that HBO sometimes airs. Or SHOWTIME.
Well, then hey, you should get a great deal on that new truck!

Thanks for reminding and the link.

 

[Raimondin]

The ever ubiquitous Rev. Falwell (Foulwell) waving his Right hand again.

Falwell says gay rights group unwelcome at Liberty
March 8, 2006 LYNCHBURG, Va. -- (AP)

Falwell to gay activists: You're not welcome here.

That's the Rev. Jerry Falwell's message for 35 gay activists who planned to stop Friday at his fundamentalist Baptist university as part of a nationwide bus tour to promote gay rights.

Falwell, 72, is the chancellor of Liberty University.

"Liberty has an obligation to these parents not to expose their children to a 'media circus' that might present immorality in a positive light," he said in a statement.

The co-director of Soulforce Equality Ride says the group plans to go to Liberty's campus anyway.

ABOUT THE RIDE:

Inspired by the Freedom Rides of the 1950s and 60s, the Soulforce Equality Ride, is a 51-day national bus tour to confront schools that ban the enrollment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students. The ride starts Thursday. _________________________________________________________

Boy George picks rehab in plea bargain
Thursday, March 9, 2006 Gay.com

His drug woes reportedly led to the collapse of the Culture Club, which scored the hit singles "Karma Chameleon" and "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?"

O'Dowd will leave New York to head back to England and the Clouds House rehabilitation facility, said his manager, Jeremy Pearce. If convicted at trial on the drug possession charge, O'Dowd faced a possible sentence of one to 5 1/2 years, said Barbara Thompson, spokeswoman for the Manhattan district attorney.

He was arrested Oct. 7, 2005, after he called 911 to report an alleged burglary in his Manhattan apartment. Officers found a small pile of cocaine next to a computer. A charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance was dropped as part of the plea bargain.

If O'Dowd had gone to trial on the false reporting charge and had been convicted, he could have spent up to a year in prison.

Pearce said O'Dowd hopes to fulfill his community service obligation by putting on a concert to benefit AIDS research.

 

[gypsywitch]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfODSPIYwpQ

Brokeback to the Future



The Empire Brokeback

edit ~ Empire Brokeback failed

 

[Raimondin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfODSPIYwpQ

Brokeback to the Future



The Empire Brokeback

edit ~ Empire Brokeback failed

LOL. Does MJFox know about this?

 

[Raimondin]

Delta & Brad


Delta Burke will make her Los Angeles stage debut next month in the critically acclaimed play "Southern Baptist Sissies".

Delta became a gay icon in "Designing Women. She made her Broadway debut starring in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" as Mrs. Meers and went on to star in "Steel Magnolias" as beauty salon owner Truvy.

In "Southern Baptist Sissies" she'll have three roles in the production, playing the mothers of sons who each are coming to terms with their faith and sexuality.

The Del Shores play has won more than 20 Los Angeles Theatre Awards, including the prestigious GLAAD Award for Outstanding Production of the Year in 2001.

The limited four week engagement will begin March 29, 2006.
_________________________________________________________

There's a lot of buzz in Tinseltown that Brad Pitt is lobbying to make a film version of Patricia Nell Warren's novel "The Front Runner".

Pitts people aren't talking officially yet, but the reports are coming from so many directions there could be something to it.

"The Front Runner" is the love story between an athlete preparing for the Olympics and his coach. Pitt reportedly owns the movie rights to the book.

 

[Raimondin]

Yea for the Gay UK.

UK To Enact LGBT Civil Rights Law

(London) The British government on Monday announced plans to enact a civil rights law banning discrimination against gays, lesbians, and transsexuals in bars, hotels and restaurants.

It is already illegal in the UK to discriminated against members of the LGBT community in jobs and services.

The expansion of the Equality Act was announced Monday by Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Johnson.

"It's easy to forget how far we have come in the past eight years. We have repealed clause 28, equalized the age of consent for gay men and introduced civil partnerships. Now we are going even further," Johnson told reporters in London.

"Too often, gay and lesbian people can face discrimination in their everyday lives. I want to make sure that no one gets refused a room at a hotel or a table in a restaurant because of their sexuality.

Johnson said the legislation would be introduced in the House of Commons in October following public hearings.

He said that the government wants to hear from faith-based organizations which may seek exemptions and from the medical establishment on whether clinics for gays and lesbians should be allowed to continue to target their services.

But, Johnson also had a warning for owners of gay clubs and bars.

Under the new law it will be illegal to discriminate against straights. Currently many gay clubs have stated policies, usually enforced by doormen, excluding non gays. Clubs catering exclusively to gay men would have to allow in lesbians and straights of both sexes he said.

That has raised concerns by some in the gay community who say it could be used by gay bashers to target customers.

©365Gay.com 2006

 

[Raimondin]

Yet...

Gay Man Beaten Unconscious By London Gang

(London) London's Metropolitan Police are investigating two separate violent attacks on gay men - one involving a street gang, the other a gay rapist.

In the first incident, a man was set upon by a street gang as he left a gay bar with his partner. The gang members hurled homophobic epithets as they beat the 27 year old victim.

The man, whose name is being withheld for his own protection, was left unconscious. His partner was able to escape relatively unharmed.

Up to six men are being sought in the attack which occurred only a short distance from where another gay man, Jody Dobrowski, was fatally attacked last year.

Dobrowski was found unconscious on October 14, 2005 and died in hospital later from head, neck and facial injuries.

Two men were arrested and charged with Dobrowski 's slaying.

Meanwhile, the MET also is investigating claims by a gay man that he was raped in a popular London sauna.

An 18-year-old told police he was attacked by an older man inside the bathhouse.

Police seized tapes from CCTV cameras in the club and a short while later arrested a 24 year old man. Investigators praised the cooperation of staff and patrons at the club.
365Gay.com

 

[Raimondin]

Gay Irish New Yorkers Denounce KKK Comparison

(New York City) Members of an Irish LGBT group stood on the sidelines of today's St. Patrick's Day Parade denouncing the chair of the parade committee for comparing gays to the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and prostitutes.

The Lesbian and Gay Organization was kept behind police barricades as the parade marched down Fifth Avenue this morning.

More than a decade ago a federal judge ruled that the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which organizes the parade, could bar the gay group on the grounds of religious freedom.

In an interview with the Irish Times published on Friday Hibernian chair John Dunleavy said, "If an Israeli group wants to march in New York, do you allow Neo-Nazis into their parade? If African Americans are marching in Harlem, do they have to let the Ku Klux Klan into their parade?"

Dunleavy went on to tell the paper that "People have rights. If we let the ILGO in, is it the Irish Prostitute Association next?"

In a statement the Lesbian and Gay Organization denounced Dunleavy's remarks and politicians who took part in today's parade, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"Like queers in other NYC immigrant populations – Indian, Pakistani, Polish, Puerto Rican and others – Irish Queers have been forced to struggle for respect not only with our own community, but with the NYPD, courts and city officials who shore up the forces of anti-gay discrimination," the statement said.

"Many others have stood with us for justice, boycotted the parade or simply stayed away. But although active support from politicians, non-Irish LGBT folk and Irish American groups may rise and subside, Irish Queers – who live each day with the specter of religious-inspired bigotry in our home spaces – continue to demand a respectful place in the important, symbolic St. Patrick’s Day parade."

Among those who refused to march today was City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a lesbian and the second highest ranking city official next to Bloomberg.

Asked about Dunleavy's comments to The Irish Times Quinn said ""I don't even think they dignify a response."

"I can't deny who I am on any given day," Quinn, who was arrested in 1999 for protesting at an exclusionary parade in the Bronx told the Associated Press.

 

[gypsywitch]

All this serious stuff and I'm still laughing over my troupe director's parrot saying "WAY GAY" "WAY GAY" !

 

[Raimondin]

All this serious stuff and I'm still laughing over my troupe director's parrot saying "WAY GAY" "WAY GAY" !

Now that's a green parrot of a different color!

In the spanish language there's a word "guey" pronounced the same as "way" which means idiot!

"Idiot Gay! Idiot Gay!

 

[glamorilla]

i'm not sure where you're going with this thread.

i think it's amazing we live in a period where movies like brokeback mountain and crash can be produced without being dishonest in thier material.

what i think is sad is there are so many people overlooking the ones who did win an award who had the guts to get up on stage and thank thier lovers for thier support.

no kudos for capote?

brokeback mountain was too much of a success. it will spawn imitators and innovators and as time goes on we'll see more and more movies like this.

what i'd really like to see is a remake of "breakfast at tiffany's" the way it was intended to be.

 

[gypsywitch]

He's actually saying 'Reggie' but that's what I thought it said.

The bird was raised by a women who bitched at her husband Reggie quite a bit. So its a hoarse sort of grouchie sound. HA! Poor Reg...
So as the bird wakes up in the morning it coos and makes all these pretty sounds and then starts whippin' out the Reggies when he wakes up. Odd alarm clock of sorts in that house.

 

[Raimondin]

i'm not sure where you're going with this thread.

i think it's amazing we live in a period where movies like brokeback mountain and crash can be produced without being dishonest in thier material.

what i think is sad is there are so many people overlooking the ones who did win an award who had the guts to get up on stage and thank thier lovers for thier support.

no kudos for capote?

brokeback mountain was too much of a success. it will spawn imitators and innovators and as time goes on we'll see more and more movies like this.

what i'd really like to see is a remake of "breakfast at tiffany's" the way it was intended to be.

Well, actually I never really know where I'm going with my threads. *laughing* But I titled this one "The G-Spot" (Obviously a pun, or the Gay-Spot) as a place where we could talk about many interests, subjects and important or related news around our GLBT world. I started off with Brokeback Mountain wondering if there were as many varied opinions on it from our own GLBT world. Obviously, it seems there was a lack of interest in the film, even here. So I moved on to other GLBT news. Still not much interest shown.

Hopefully this will pick up as there are many issues affecting us, good and bad.
Sometimes I think raging hormones is the only thing that runs GLBT rather than intelligence, intellect and insight once in a while. As I could easliy write about what size cocks do you prefer, or are you a top or a bottom, or are you a cumwhore, or that GLBT doesn't just mean BISEXUAL.

In regards to your comments on Brokeback, I agree. I think we take too much for granted the times we're living in and fail or miss to see the impact a film such as Brokeback has made. Yeah, I guess it's a matter of time when we start to see the spinoffs and sad immitations.

It would be very interesting to see a remake of Breakfast at Tiffany's. But, god, how can you replace Audrey Hepburn? But since you mentioned it, I can see Gwenyth Paltrow in the role as Holly GoLightlly. Done up well, I think she could garner yet another Oscar.

Absolutely. Capote is a fantastic film. Easily could have earned the Best Picture. One of my favorite authors. Have you ever seen his "A Christmas Memory?" It was a 1966 ABC-TV special with Geraldine Page as Sook. Capote himself narrated it in parts.
I think it might be already available on DVD, but definitely on VHS. Try Amazon. Highly recommend it. It's my favorite Christmas movie. Yes, even over It's A Wonderful Life and the other two.

 

[glamorilla]

sometimes it looks like we have short term memory when it comes to gays and lesbians depicted in entertainment media.

i dont know where you live...do you get logo?

fabulous channel.

the oscars have thier own logic when choosing winners. the board attempts to establish a balance to it all wether it seems fair or not so they'll give x number of awards to gay men and themes, x number of awards to the young starlets, x number of awards to established stars etc.,etc.,etc...

 

[Raimondin]

sometimes it looks like we have short term memory when it comes to gays and lesbians depicted in entertainment media.

i dont know where you live...do you get logo?

fabulous channel.

the oscars have thier own logic when choosing winners. the board attempts to establish a balance to it all wether it seems fair or not so they'll give x number of awards to gay men and themes, x number of awards to the young starlets, x number of awards to established stars etc.,etc.,etc...

No, unfortunately I don't get Logo here. . I did look at the LogoOnline Home web page. One of my favorite coming of age films will be on tonight, Beautiful Thing. British, great cast and story. Very uplifting gay movie.

Yes, the Oscars have always tried to play diplomat. I was surprised (and happy) when Lord Of The Rings was chosen Best Picture a few years ago. Whether you like that type of genre or subject or not, I thought it was one of the few times the Oscars extended itself. Frodo & Sam was such a love story anyway.

I live in Central Cal.

 

[gypsywitch]

Get back on-line would ya?!!

grr....

 

[gypsywitch]

Did ya get it back up yet ? heh...

A father watched his young daughter playing in the garden. He smiled as he reflected on how sweet and pure his little girl was. Tears formed in his eyes as he thought about her seeing the wonders of nature through such innocent eyes. Suddenly she just stopped and stared at the ground. He went over to her to see what work of God had captured her attention. He noticed she was looking at two spiders mating. "Daddy, what are those two spiders doing?" she asked "They're mating," her father replied "What do you call the spider on top?" she asked. "That's a Daddy Longlegs," her father answered. "So, the other one is a Mommy Longlegs?" the little girl asked. As his heart soared with the joy of such a cute and innocent question he replied "No dear. Both of them are Daddy Longlegs." The little girl, looking a little puzzled, thought for a moment.........then took her foot and stomped them flat and said, "Well, we're not having any of that gay shit in our garden."

 

[glamorilla]

classy.

 

[gypsywitch]

Your sig quote is so sweet.

I'll never forget when I had a thread about 'how soon after being with your lover do you think about someone else' and you said four minutes! ahahha... good times

 

[gypsywitch]

see this link ~~

controversial commercial not accepted by some networks