Posted on 12/10/2005 9:28:23 AM PST by digger48
NEW YORK (Reuters) - A gay cowboy movie won rave reviews on Friday as mainstream Hollywood embraced the tale of Marlboro men in love, but for most gay Americans the acceptance symbolized by marriage remains a distant dream.
Based on an Annie Proulx's short story, "Brokeback Mountain" is about two cowboys who meet and fall in love while wrangling sheep in Wyoming in 1963. Their love lasts through two decades as they each get married to women and live "normal" lives.
"Moving and majestic," said The New York Times; "An American masterpiece" said the New York Observer; "Unmissable and unforgettable" said Rolling Stone.
But The Wall Street Journal asked, "Is America ready for Marlboro men who love men?"
One answer delivered by a New York state court this week was "No" -- at least when it comes to marriage.
A lower New York court had ruled in February the rights of five same-sex couples were violated when they were denied marriage licenses.
But in a 4-1 ruling on Thursday, the state appellate court said it was not for judges to redefine the terms "husband" and "wife," which the lower court judge had said should be construed to apply equally between men and women.
Janice Crouse, senior fellow of Concerned Women for America, said the latest court ruling was a victory for common sense despite a powerful and orchestrated campaign to "normalize homosexual behavior," in which entertainment was a powerful weapon.
FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO NEBRASKA
Gay marriage was a big issue in 2004 elections when voters in 11 states overwhelmingly backed state constitutional amendments to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman.
David Buckel, senior counsel for gay rights group Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund that is fighting gay marriage cases in at least six states, describes that campaign as a complicated patchwork from state to state.
Legal status for gay couples varies widely -- Massachusetts is the only state to allow gay marriages, while Nebraska passed a constitutional amendment in 2000 blocking any same-sex civil union, domestic partnership or marriage from being recognized.
"As with all civil rights movements there's an enormous amount of flux. ... It's familiar, it's dispiriting at times, it's very encouraging at times," Buckel said.
The makers of "Brokeback Mountain" will be hoping the political backlash in some states won't scuttle the $12.5 million movie, which is being rolled out gradually, starting in the liberal cities of New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
A recent Pew Research Center poll showed 53 percent of Americans supported gay civil unions, up from 48 percent one year earlier.
But "Brokeback Mountain" still faces a struggle.
Rolling Stone reviewer Peter Travers called it a "a landmark film" but said "with the rise of homophobia as church and state shout down gay marriage, the film is up against it."
Although "Brokeback Mountain" is restricted to audiences 17 or older, Crouse said it was part of a broad campaign to use entertainment to promote a homosexual lifestyle to children.
"Their major agenda is to make this normal," she said. "They know cowboys have this macho image, cowboys are particularly admired by children, cowboys are heroes."
But she said the film would not have broad appeal. "Most parents don't want their children indoctrinated," she said.
Damon Romine, a spokesman for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance against Defamation, compared the film to "Philadelphia," the 1993 film about a gay AIDS sufferer played by Tom Hanks.
"In today's climate, a sweeping romantic epic about two men in love is historic, but when we look back in 20 or 30 years 'Brokeback Mountain' will simply be considered a classic, timeless love story," he said
We've found a new oxymoron!
Rollin, rollin rollin
Get those homos rollin
Spank my a$$ this mo'nin, rawhide!
LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
"Rear Riders"
If true, here is the synopsis of an HRC victory in 2008. It may be inevitable.
"Moving and majestic," said The New York Times; "An American masterpiece" said the New York Observer; "Unmissable and unforgettable" said Rolling Stone."
The usual culprits.....their agenda is so transparent.
LOL!!!
I bet the sheep were thankful. In that light, its calling for a Disney sequel.
Homo, Homo on the range
I love the mentality this article taps into--"Hey, they made a movie about [some bizarre behavior], so that must mean [some bizarre behavior]'s OK!"
"But The Wall Street Journal asked, "Is America ready for Marlboro men who love men?""
I'm tring to care but I can't seem to manage. Since there are gay people in the world and especially in Hollywood it makes sense that there will be gay movies. But as long as i personally don't have to look at nude men I don't really care.
Herding gerbils.
Another movie about gay cowboys eating pudding
but when you factor in gay 'marriage', they lose bigtime
This movie will be big in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Greenwich Village, but it will flop everywhere else.
What I meant was that anyone who favors "civil unions" (if they even understand the concept) could very easily be enticed to support the popular HRC. And this is a clear potential majority for her. Already, Martha Stewart has endorsed HRC!
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