The Monroe Doctrine

Queerty turns in a fascinating and lengthy interview with gay TV pioneer Jim J. Bullock, most famous as Too Close for Comfort's sexually ambiguous Monroe.

"I didn't perceive myself as gay," he says. "I just thought of myself as funny."

Bullock officially came out of the closet on The Joan Rivers Show in 1990, and came out as HIV-positive in 1997.

"People were thinking you might not get hired because you might touch a bagel or whatever."

The piece is filled with Bullock's reminiscences about his eager beards, his time on The Jim J. & Tammy Faye Show with the late Tammy Faye Messner and what it was like having fans of Too Close for Comfort writing in asking if Monroe was gay...and hoping he wasn't.

Movies (and TV): Sam Worthington, Make Me a Supermodel, Glee

NATHANIEL ROGERS

Nathaniel Rogers would live inside a movie theater but for the poor internet reception. He blogs daily at the Film Experience.

Take One: Screen Test

If you're planning to see TERMINATOR SALVATION this weekend, I feel it my gay obligation to inform you that the movie takes place entirely in the future so there's no naked, crouching time traveling men. When the mysterious Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington) makes his vaguely naked night time entrance into the franchise narrative, he's covered with mud AND some sort of jock strap. Weird. Apparently Skynet, that famously evil robotic corporation, has learned the value of human modesty since the glory days of the movie franchise.

As a Terminator nut, I can't say that the film holds up to the high standards set by parts one and two but as a stand alone actioner, it definitely has popcorn-munching moments. Whether or not the movie kills at the box office, the only way is up for Sam Worthington. If you're the only thing the audience can look at while Christian Bale is sharing the frame, you're on your way to super stardom. Later this year he'll romance Keira Knightley in Last Night and headline James Cameron's 3D sci-fi epic Avatar, the director's first big movie since Titanic twelve long years ago. By the end of the year Worthington will be a household name. And then he'll squeeze into a skirt for Clash of the Titans in 2010.

The 32 year old actor hails from Australia, a country which should probably just rename itself "Movie-Star Factory" at this point. Consider: Crowe, Jackman, Blanchett, Gibson, Ledger, Kidman, Bana,  etc....

Take Two: Deleted Scenes

Make Me A Supermodel. Gayer than ever. Even without any actual gays.

More, AFTER THE JUMP...

Todd Haynes: Still a Feminino; Dispatches from LA & Brazil.

  Still playing with dolls, superstar filmmaker Todd Haynes just won't play it safe. His self-spoof is not far from heaven. (Dan, thx for tip to Film Experience)

  Brazilian Senator Magno Malta makes a televised speech against the proposed hate crimes legislation says, "allowing gays to manifest affection in public would be the equivalent of giving pedophiles (or even necrophiles) a seal of approval." Made in Brazil has video and translates a few excerpts.

  Sadly, AIDS walks have provided essential funding for so long that they have lost much of their energy and are part of the annual change in seasons. This Sunday's for AIDS Project Los Angeles has some renewed energy from a group started after last years walk by local nightlife producer Tom Whitman. The Gang of 100 is invite-only with the stated aim of trying to "engage an entire group of 25-45 year old guys and girls who aren't necessarily used to getting involved." Members each agree to raise $2000 for different charities and 100% of the proceeds from every even go to charity. I'm not sure about the the site's promise that if you see the Gang of 100 name on an invite "you will know that the event will be filled with fun, sexy, gregarious people that you will want to hang out with." but i am impressed that they're close to hitting their $100,000 goal for Sunday's walk. It could be the promised "half-time cocktail hour" (Disclosure: i just  donated.)

On the Shortbus: Gay Filmmakers at Cannes

John Cameron Mitchell's steamy exploration of character through sexual behavior, Shortbus, is long on buzz. Mitchell: "I actually like pornography, but I don't consider this film pornographic. I define — and most people do — pornography as devoid of artistic intent. The purpose of pornography is to arouse. I don't think anyone got [sexually aroused] watching this film. There is a certain provocation we had in mind with this film, but more important than that, we wanted to use sex as a metaphor for things that were, perhaps, universal, themes like connection and love and fear. We just thought the language of sex could be used the way the language of music could be used in a musical."

Dreamgirls cast glams it up on the terrace of the Martinez hotel...

As Elton John was presenting the Chopard Trophy to Transamerica's Kevin Zegers, a photographer interrupted and touched off Elton's short fuse: "If you saw 'Transamerica' ... I'm talking ... you fuckwit, fucking photographers you should be shot, you should be all shot. Thank you."

Ian McKellen says the Catholic church should welcome The Da Vinci Code: "I am only too happy to believe that Jesus was married. I know that the Catholic Church has problems with gay people and I thought this would be absolute proof that Jesus was not gay."

Pedro Almodóvar's Volver "has captured the hearts of everyone at Cannes": "I went into a light and very agreeable trance watching this movie, which Almodóvar unfolds with a master's confidence: its ingenuities and contrivances float out of the screen. The cinematography and art direction by José Luis Alcaine and Salvador Parra give everything a gorgeous intensity that has the look of a Douglas Sirk film - and Almodóvar has something of Sirk's passionate empathy with women, mixed with a playful, gay sensibility."

Superman Returns Trailer

Superman may be heterosexual, but his issues are as gay as can be...

Lex: "Tell me everything."

Clark: "It's not easy for me to live my life being who I am, keeping secrets."

Superman Returns [trailer]

Previously
Superman: Just One Elbow Flex from Jazz Hands [tr]
Superman Returns and Brandon Routh Flies [tr]
The Man of Steel Returns [tr]

The state of Georgia will appeal a judge's ruling earlier this week that struck down that state's amendment banning gay marriage, which was approved in November 2004 by 76% of voters. Said Governor Sonny Perdue: "I think the people spoke overwhelmingly. I think the people of Georgia knew exactly what they were voting for."

More than 8,100 same-sex couples have married in Massachusetts since it was legalized.

Boy George will work in an HIV hospice as his community service ordered by the court following his arrest on cocaine charges. He recently spoke to MTV, and commented on both the community service sentence ("They’re not gonna make me pick up litter. They’re gonna make me teach baseball in Harlem. That’s a joke by the way! No, I’m gonna work in a hospice.") and ne'er do well Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty, who recently angered MTV cameramen by spraying them with a syringe full of blood: "What’d be interesting would be if he was like Mick Jagger or someone that has a history, but he’s made one record. It says something about the state of our industry that we’re so desperate for a rock and roll star… and we slag off Kate Moss for being a coke head and slag off Boy George for taking drugs but with Pete Doherty it’s like ‘Oh please be a rock and roll star!’ But what has he done? The Pete Doherty thing, I just don’t get it."

Ryan Smith talks to Queerty about the gay bashing incident on St. Maarten from which he is still recovering.

Transamerica's a bit late getting on the Brokeback homage bandwagon. (click for larger)

A sneak preview of rehearsals for Madonna's Confessions Tour...

DC's Mayor Anthony Williams threatened to remove Bishop Alfred A. Owens Jr. from his interfaith council if the minister did not retract statements he made on April 9th about gays. According to a recording obtained by Williams, Owens told churchgoers, "It takes a real man to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. I'm not talking about no faggot or no sissy." Said Williams: "If you can be shocked, saddened and disappointed all at once, I really am, because I really have to condemn remarks made like that whenever they're made against any group on the basis of sexual orientation, race, class, ethnicity or anything else."