Homophobia in pious Utah
8 January 2006 by Sean
A movie theater owned by Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller abruptly changed its screening plans and decided not to show the film “Brokeback Mountain.” [some of my gay friends have already dubbed it "Bareback Mountain" -- look for the guaranteed porn version at an adult store near you] The film, an R-rated Western gay romance story, was supposed to open Friday at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Instead it was pulled from the schedule…
… Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah. “I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show,” she said.
Meanwhile, here are the awards and nominations the film has already racked up. Gee, I wonder what’s “wrong” with this movie? Do I have to be a victim of some sort of indoctrination before I can see it clearly?
I think so.
So I guess Larry Miller thinks it’s okay for men to get sweaty together on a basketball court and pat each other on the ass — but getting sweaty together and falling in love is totally out of the question.galleries 89hairstyles teenanal penetrationschoolgirl sexsex extrememom nudesex arabnaked boys Map
9 January 2006, on 12:01 am
So . . . he decided not to play a movie at his theater. You say homophobia, but the article doesn’t say why the movie was pulled.
Still though, it’s his theater. Does it matter why he doesn’t want to play it? Why does pulling the movie equal homophobia?
9 January 2006, on 12:13 am
I’m just going to let my fingers do the talking here. I’m not trying to make a point.
I haven’t had a chance to go and see this movie yet. I’m not one to go to a movie, unless it’s something I really want to see–and with that being said, it is rare that I am ever that intrigued to see a movie before it comes out on DVD.
Anyhow, just a brief comment on this Larry Miller guy. Screw him. Open your mind Larry. ::End Larry Miller guy rant::
One thing that I don’t understand about religious or non-religious types that have such a problem with homo-sexuality is that if God is love, then why are we condemning? What’s the problem?
Love is love. What more needs to be said? Whether it be platonic love, friendship love, romantic love, what the Eff ever love, the bottom-line is: Love is Love. So when people start quoting me Scripture about how God says that homo-sexuality is an abomonation, I just roll my eyes.
When I was in Antigua, Guatemala visiting some relatives several months ago, I remember having a conversation with a cousin of mine who has lived there for over ten-years as a Missionary. When I told her that I have been living with a gay man for over six-years I saw in her eyes complete terror–yet she did her best to contain herself and be the “accepting” Christian she claims herself to be. A few days later I remember her opening her Bible up to Leviticus and quoting Scripture to me about how not only was my friend who is gay doing something wrong, but so was I–by living with him.
When is human-kind going to open themselves up to all the possibilities that lie before us? When will we stop shutting ourselves off from areas that which we do not understand and instead make an attempt to meet people half-way?
For the record–In My Opinion: God does not hate fags. Oh, AND quit taking the Bible so damn literally.
9 January 2006, on 2:43 am
Dena said: “For the record–In My Opinion: God does not hate fags. Oh, AND quit taking the Bible so damn literally.”
I agree Dena, but I’d take it one step further. Quit paying attention to the bibble… completely.
9 January 2006, on 9:08 am
Hal, uh, it might not state outright but the article makes it pretty damn clear. What? The guy just one day said “Hmmm, I think I’ll renege on my licensed agreement and not show this film that just happens to be controversially focused on homosexuality just because”?
9 January 2006, on 9:27 am
Come on, Hal. How full of shit can you be? Why do you think he pulled the movie? I know making an assumption makes an ass of you and “Umption”, but why the fuck would he do this last-minute and refuse to even comment on why he did it — and the movie happens to be on such a controversial subject… and it happens to be in goddamn Utah? Could there have been pressure on him from the community to pull the “homo flick”? In Utah?? Say it ain’t so!
Gimme a fucking break.
9 January 2006, on 9:37 am
1. Of course gawd don’t hate fags …I heard his son jeebus was a homosexual axe murderer.
2. After they catch the homosexual axe murderers, the neighbors always say the he was very active in the church.
3. The motherfucker never gets off his big heavenly throne to do a goddam thing so who gives a fuck what he thinks!
Three good reasons to be gay, straight, crooked, looped or any way you want as long as you don’t directly negatively impact anyone else!
9 January 2006, on 9:39 am
Well said, Dena. Love is love. Period. Anybody who has ever had a beloved friend who just happened to be gay, and knew this friend’s heart, and saw how they love and feel just the way “straight” people do, would have compassion and dismiss this hate and phobic behavior outright. We are all humans. We are all the same, whether we like it or not. Grow up, folks. Get a clue. Get some compassion. Get a heart.
9 January 2006, on 11:03 pm
Hey Sean. This is my first time posting here, so thanks for the polite welcome.
Maybe, after looking at his demographics, he decided he didn’t have enough of an audience for a movie with a gay sex scene. Who knows? The point is, we don’t know. Does it bother you that your automatic assumption is ill-spirited motivations?
And nobody ever answered just how refusing to show the movie is equivalent to homophobia.
10 January 2006, on 4:10 am
Hi, Hal. Thanks for your attempts at sarcasm.
You know why we sometimes go off on people like you? Because what you are talking about is nothing short of hate speech.
I am actually quite well known on this forum for being polite and respectful, but I ask you again: what the fuck are you talking about?
Apply Occam’s Razor. Why else would he have cancelled the movie? Come on. Really. Are you trying to use our own skepticism against us? If so, it isn’t working. Skepticism is one thing… blindness is another. Some things are just friggin’ obvious.
You said:
After looking at his demographics, he decided he didn’t have enough of an audience for a movie with a gay sex scene
Yup. That’s how society advances. By caving in to xenophobia, mob rule, the hatred and fear of the minority. That is exactly what purveyors of art should be catering to.
Bravo.
10 January 2006, on 6:45 pm
Oh, I see how it is in here. You only want comments you agree with, right Sean?
Pretty weak.
P.S. You know you only heard about Occam’s Razor in “Contact”, punk.
10 January 2006, on 7:18 pm
No, we welcome raving fools like you. This blog wouldn’t be any fun without it. I learned about Occam’s Razor from one of Mr. Sagan’s non-fiction books when I was in my teens (oh, I see, you were trying to be funny and suggest I learned it from a movie, and not the novel “Contact”, which I also read long before the film was made).
Here you go, geniuses:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4595322.stm
The Jordan Commons Megaplex in Salt Lake City is owned by Larry Miller, a prominent member of the Mormon church, which is against homosexuality.
Hal: if a movie about black people was pulled unexpectedly and without comment at the last minute and the owner of the theater was white and belonged to a church which reviled black people, would it be safe to say racism may have been involved?
Now tell me, Hal and Nasvillain, have you sought therapy for your own deep-seated homophobia?
And Nashvillain: fuck you, punk.
10 January 2006, on 10:54 pm
What homophobia? I think you and I are getting rather close.
10 January 2006, on 11:49 pm
Later, baiter.
11 January 2006, on 2:33 am
Hal said:
Maybe, after looking at his demographics, he decided he didn’t have enough of an audience for a movie with a gay sex scene.
Yup. Because theater owners are known for having sophisticated demographic data readily at their fingertips. Apparently, it always arrives just before opening night.
11 January 2006, on 3:06 am
“Maybe, after looking at his demographics, he decided he didn’t have enough of an audience for a movie with a gay sex scene.”
If there’s one thing homophobic religiosos can’t stand, it’s something that challenges their narrow worldview.
11 January 2006, on 3:30 am
By the way, don’t think that the distributors have no idea what they are doing with this film. They knew they would find a large audience (See “Will and Grace”, “The L Word”, “Queer as Folk”, etc., to find out what is happening in the 21st Century), banked on it and succeeded.
They know a fuck of a lot more about movie fan demographics than Larry Miller.
http://www.chieftain.com/life/1136602584/6
‘‘This is a film that we’ve now seen has resonance for people from every persuasion, walk of life and background,’’ says James Schamus, the producer of ‘‘Brokeback’’ and co-president of Focus Features. ‘‘I think the audience is straight, gay, male, female.’’
But where it comes to marketing, Schamus has one group in mind.
‘‘Our marketing is paying a lot of attention to women,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s a movie that reaches out and taps your empathy, so we want empathetic people to see the movie - e.g., women. It’s also a great romance. The female audience has responded immediately and passionately to the romance of it, regardless of the gender of the protagonists.’’
11 January 2006, on 4:58 am
‘‘Our marketing is paying a lot of attention to women,’’ he says. ‘‘It’s a movie that reaches out and taps your empathy, so we want empathetic people to see the movie - e.g., women. It’s also a great romance. The female audience has responded immediately and passionately to the romance of it, regardless of the gender of the protagonists.’’
Funny thing is, I’m more interested in seeing it than my wife is.
11 January 2006, on 8:58 am
I (a straight male) am dying to see it, along with two lesbian friends of mine. We’ll probably go in the next week.
Lots of demos out there who just care about seeing a highly praised Ang Lee film.
Go figger. It’s almost like — holy shit — white people enjoying a Kurosawa movie. What’s the world coming to??