03/31/2006
Gay culture blossoming in South Korea. Activist: "We feel that the last 10 years is the equivalent of a hundred years because so many changes occurred in such a short period." Smash hit film The King and the Clown has brought gays out of the closet: "Until a decade ago, when a tiny gay rights movement was started by Korean-Americans on a few college campuses here, most Koreans had been completely unaware even of the existence of gays. Even though Seoul has long had two neighborhoods with small clusters of gay bars, Itaewon and Chongno, they remained hidden, and homosexuality went unmentioned."
Adam Hernandez, killer of gay man in Denver-area park, gets plea deal and reduced sentence. Hernandez and another man, Jason Fiske, reportedly strangled Kevin Hale for "hitting on him." Hernandez was charged with felony first-degree murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. The more serious of those charges were dropped in the plea bargain, which leaves Hernandez facing a sentence of possible probation or up to eight years in prison. The case against his accomplice is delayed.
Matt LeBlanc files for divorce.
GLSEN cancels school appearance in Somers, New York after parents complain that the group, which promotes tolerance and support for gay youth nationwide, that "gay propaganda" could hurt their kids. Parent: "Our issue is whether or not their personal choice of private sexual behavior should be publicly promoted as an equally valid option for our children. We do not believe this should be sanctioned by the school in a daytime school assembly."
Ian McKellen criticized the Brokeback Mountain actors for being apprehensive about kissing another man: "I got very upset when one of the actors said it was the most terrifying job he'd ever had because it involved him kissing another man. Imagine how rude that is. Suppose I'd said the most appalling thing I ever had to do was kiss Helen Mirren!"
Brokeback banned in the Bahamas. Chavasse Turnquest-Liriano, liaison officer for the control board: "The board chose to ban it because it shows extreme homosexuality, nudity and profanity, and we feel that it has no value for the Bahamian public." Theater directors responded: "You have a group of people who are telling grown men and women what they can and cannot watch. I cannot understand denying people the right to make their own choices."
BMW criticized for advertising in gay media but not offering domestic partner benefits to any of its North American employees.
Posted 10:45 AM EST by Andy Towle in Elsewhere | Permalink
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Yet another place I won't be going.
Grand Bahama Island was beautiful, but I'm sure as hell not going to go spend my money in some place that bans movies about my lifestyle. Get bent, Bahamas.
Posted by: Tread | Mar 31, 2006 11:05:14 AM
Ditto for me. Jamaica and the Bahamas can just start marketing to the red state bubbas instead of affluent, progressive Americans.
Of course, we saw in Aruba what happens when white trash goes on a Carribean holiday.
I really do feel for gays and lesbians who have to live in the islands, though. Beautiful places to live, but the ugliness of homophobia makes it miserable.
Posted by: Jonathon | Mar 31, 2006 11:10:45 AM
We're getting news of Matt LeBlanc getting a divorce?
Posted by: Patrick | Mar 31, 2006 11:17:43 AM
Ian McKellen certainly has a way with words. He can be my spokesman any day.
Posted by: MT | Mar 31, 2006 11:22:05 AM
Check out this hilarious clip from So NoTORIous. Either Tori is moonlighting as a dominatrix or making a very convincing video to kidnappers if Mimi La Rue ever went missing-you make the call. So NoTORIous airs on Sunday nights at 10 on Vh1.
mms://streaming.viacom.com/vh1.com/so_notorious_01_416.wmv
Posted by: margaux | Mar 31, 2006 11:35:23 AM
Adam Hernandez should have stood trial for murder. Just because his victim was an epileptic with meth in his blood should not mitigate the fact that he deserves justice. Someday, Gays and Lesbians will receive equal protection under the law. Clearly that day has not come in Colorado.
Posted by: Robert In WeHo | Mar 31, 2006 11:48:55 AM
Sir I an has a point, I think. Gyllenhaal's remarks made me feel uneasy too, sorta along the lines of 'Oh, for fuck's sake - just pucker up and get on with it'
Posted by: Rick | Mar 31, 2006 11:49:18 AM
"..bans movies about my lifestyle."
"Lifestyle"? A lifestyle is something that one chooses, like living in the country and being a gentleman farmer. Being gay is like having brown eyes or being 6-feet-2: it's an inherent characteristic.
Posted by: noah | Mar 31, 2006 12:19:17 PM
I completely agree with Ian McKellen. As much as I love Jake and Heath they weren't very accommodating when they made those silly statements in interviews. The created the impression that it is okay to make a movie about gay love and capitalize on it but it's disgusting to actually be a queer... Am I over-thinking this maybe?
Posted by: Jenz | Mar 31, 2006 1:25:12 PM
That's it. Done with the Bahamas. The people there are rude anyway and the whole place feels dirty and cheap. As for diving (the only reason I have gone), there are so many other places to go. One more FYI... Bermuda is the only place I've ever travelled to where I ran into blatant homophobia and it was from my divemaster whose supposed to be protecting my life. Fuck 'em and you all should too!
Posted by: Todd | Mar 31, 2006 2:28:10 PM
Ease up. You too, Ian. The fact is, it's not easy for a straight guy, actor or not, to kiss a man. Do we now demand our straight men be so, so enlightened that they should segue into an act of gay intimacy - and we all know that kissing is more intimate than fucking - without blinking?
Posted by: Jacko | Mar 31, 2006 2:28:27 PM
Noah, it's easier typing "lifestyle" than "inherent characteristic".
;)
Posted by: Tread | Mar 31, 2006 2:30:53 PM
The comment about kissing a man didn't really bother me. It was the frequent statements made by both actors that they two characters in Brokeback Mountain weren't necessarily gay. I can understand the whole "It's not the gender you fall in love with it's the person", but let's get real here.
Posted by: Patrick | Mar 31, 2006 2:31:46 PM
Those who wish to write the judge and DA in Colorado regarding Mr. Hernandez'a plea-deal:
Mr. Tom Raynes
Gunnison County District Attorney
200 East Virginia Ave
Gunnison, CO 81230
Honorable Dennis Friedrich
Montrose Combined Court
1200 N. Grand Ave
Bin A
Montrose, CO 81401
Posted by: Kevin | Mar 31, 2006 2:48:58 PM
1) McKellen is clearly over-reacting to the boys' comments. I would have a hard time kissing a woman, and I suspect it feels the same for a straight guy kissing another guy. If it's unnatural for you, it feels awkward. McKellen is an experienced actor. He knows that not every role comes easy.
2) Matt LeBlanc .... well, single or not, I probably don't have a chance with him anyway. Marriage is such a waste of time.
3) It's time to Boycott the Bahamas Boys!
The really stupid part was that they could have just given it an adult rating, and the theatres would have refused to show it. They don't usually make a lot of money off adult rated movies. Instead, the government chose to ban the movie, so now it's more in demand than ever.
Stupid bigots!
Posted by: Jay Croce | Mar 31, 2006 3:23:34 PM
Andy, I appreciate that you titled the Sir Ian McKellen article as him criticizing both actors. No where in the actual quote does McKellen specify Jake.
I have a real problem with this quote because it sounds like they took it from other interviews and spun it to make it sound like a personal attack against Jake. Also just because Ian's out and proud now doesn't mean he always was and I think he forgets the fear and stigma involved with it all. Not that he doesn't recognize that it still exists but rather that he doesn't emphasize with it emotionally anymore. Also his comment completely discounts the many other interviews that Jake (and Heath) have done where they express different sides to that. It heavily depends on who was interviewing them. Someone who is straight and more close-minded or conservative is going to get a different answer out of them than say a straight and open-minded interviewer or a gay one.
Posted by: NYCer | Mar 31, 2006 4:51:15 PM
look here, ian nneds to take a laxative and chill out, when he was younger and in the closet, why didnt he come out then, he definately is not speaking for me. overeacting definately,,,of course they felt uncomfortable i would too, and at least they are truth ful about it and guys remember the media kept on asking them the same question, kissing scene so they kept responding to it so blame the media not heath nor jake....also i believe jack twist and ernest were two souls that fell in love , the act was gay butthey might not be gay get it.....lets all stop trying to label people. human beings are very complicated not everyone is bordeline homo or hetero
Posted by: yur nightmare | Mar 31, 2006 5:31:35 PM
look here, ian nneds to take a laxative and chill out, when he was younger and in the closet, why didnt he come out then, he definately is not speaking for me. overeacting definately,,,of course they felt uncomfortable i would too, and at least they are truth ful about it and guys remember the media kept on asking them the same question, kissing scene so they kept responding to it so blame the media not heath nor jake....also i believe jack twist and ernest were two souls that fell in love , the act was gay butthey might not be gay get it.....lets all stop trying to label people. human beings are very complicated not everyone is bordeline homo or hetero
Posted by: yur nightmare | Mar 31, 2006 5:32:51 PM
I agree with the content and premise of Sir Ian's comments. He's as much pointing out the difference between a well seasoned, commited actor and those who are more geared toward stardom as he is disparity between what is socially expected. He's absolutley right in what he said and he did it with humor.
Posted by: Chad Hanging | Mar 31, 2006 7:53:03 PM
The Adam Hernandez crime took place in Montrose, CO, not Denver. Montrose is about 6 hours west and south of Denver, closer to Telluride. Oddly enough I grew up with Adam Hernandez's family in Durango. It's really hurt the community that this happened in their little town. I don't personally believe in "hate crimes" but I do hope Adam gets prosecuted fully for his part in the death.
Posted by: Adam | Mar 31, 2006 8:22:37 PM
Yes, to begin with, kudos to Sir Ian and his commentary upon actors who believe that their craft becomes difficult when homophobia rears its ugly head. It would have been difficult for some actors to have lived when all women parts were played by men in Europe as well as in Asia, where it is still a classic theatrical reality.
Posted by: Raymond | Apr 1, 2006 4:49:58 AM
what's wrong with our views and sights? so it is supposed to be a bad thing? that i admitted that i was afraid of dark though i went on to challenge the fear of it? that i knew i was implanted (by education, society, whatever) with this homophobia yet i am conscious enough to recognize that it IS an ugly thing and want to do everything to overcome it? what is the thing that we are condemning here? the fear or the act? THINK CLEARLY PLEASE!!! we think by criticizing the actors' honest comments we're helping to dismiss the fear, without knowing that by condemning their honesty, we're actually condemning their actions, which is what really counts. do you always have full control over your feelings, or even actions? come'n. NOTE THIS, if we blame the honest fear, we are not encouraging the breakthrough of it, we'll be depressing the fear and thus creating greater homophobia. for one thing, Jack would definitely feel, how could gay people fail to recocgnize my effort? why are we oblivious of what Jake actually chose and did (and said in so many other occassions..) and condemn him for bravely and honestly recognize and admit the collective fear that he inherit from society and was trying to overcome? Jake went for the role, and the scenes, despite his fear and unease for it, and the presentation was moving. EVEN the compliment-frugal Ang said he was very moved by Jack in the tent scenes in BBM, in which he witnesses raw and authentic feelings, and that he thinks Jake is very brave. the way i see it, this kind of critics and ideas only help to create greater homophobia. honestly, gays and guys, unless we're doing it for fun's and thrill's sake, it really IS destructive and hurtful to everyone.
Posted by: raco | Apr 2, 2006 3:43:30 AM
Bill Perdue
Roseville, CA,
Mr. Tom Raynes
Gunnison County District Attorney
200 East Virginia Ave
Gunnison, CO 81230
Honorable Dennis Friedrich
Montrose Combined Court
1200 N. Grand Ave
Bin A
Montrose, CO 81401
Dear Sirs,
The death penalty or life without the possibility of parole are
the only conceivable just sentences for killers like Adam Hernandez and
Todd Fiske.
. Allowing bigoted murderers like them to live, and leave the courthouse
with a smirk and a slap on the wrist, sends a signal to other bigots that
it’s all right to murder gays and lesbians in Colorado. It tarnishes Colorado
as being the same as Texas, Mississippi, Iraq or Guatemala, where people are
routinely murdered because of their race or sexual orientation.
I come from a mining family in Victor, was born in Denver, got a railroad job, and have lived all over the West. Like all my family, I’ve always referred to Colorado as “home”, no matter where I
lived. No more, you make me ashamed to be from Colorado, and certainly fearful to live there.
I’ll miss those mountains, but I’ll never be back. It’s too dangerous.
Bill Perdue
RainbowRED Organization
Posted by: Bill Perdue | Apr 2, 2006 7:33:23 AM
Jenz, it may be too late for you to actually come and see this comment but I don't think that either Jake or Heath have said it's disgusting at all. This is exactly why I disagree with Ian's comparison as well because he refers to one of the actors saying it's terrifying (and I'd have to see their actual quote to believe that anyway) and then Ian equates that with him being appalled by kissing a woman. Being appalled by something is VERY different than being scared about something. I don't think either Jake or Heath thought it was "disgusting" because both have said it was no different than kissing a woman, that they were simply kissing another human being, etc. In fact, Jake has even gone as far as saying he wouldn't be afraid of a relationship with another man if it ever happened. Also Ian should pay attention to context because I think it's important to see that Jake and Heath have both talked about being nervous beforehand but that's not unusual no matter what situation you're going into to be afraid of the unknown. They've both said that once they actually got to doing it, that they realized that it was really no big deal.
Posted by: Brian | Apr 2, 2006 8:44:29 PM
yes yes yes, Brian. and IAN, listen and read and mostly, THINK more carefully before you make any comment that might mislead pepole!
Posted by: raco | Apr 3, 2006 9:34:06 AM