Tag Archives: GLBT history

Why I’m Glad to Be in California, Reasons #639 and #640

photo: xarling

GLBT Contributions to be included in Textbooks

Two reasons that I am thrilled to be a resident (and native!) of California.

Recently I saw a cnn.com story about how the Golden State Dream was not so golden anymore. Poppycock!

Case in point, two great things have just happened, both of them evidence that California is progressive, is looking toward a future that is not all about enriching the rich at the expense of everybody else, etc. So I found this heartening.

Story #1: L.A. will increase construction of bike paths and lanes. A great way to add to the existing transport options mix. Sorry, those of you who can only see cars. You will be forced to share the road, to the benefit of all, believe me. You WILL get used to it, too!

Story #2: Notable GLBT figures will have their accomplishments covered in California history books. There really is nothing remarkable about this, as it should be just a no-brainer, but, oddly in 2011, it requires legislation in our culture. I congratulate the California assembly and look forward to Governor Brown’s signature on the law.

And for the asshat legislator from San Bernardino (Tim Donnelly) who was “deeply offended by this because he is a Christian,” I’ll just say as a Californian, I’m deeply offended because of your ignorance and narrow-mindedness. Hopefully, in the next election, your constituents will see you for the pathetic knuckle-dragger that you are and send you home. Where maybe you can read something.

And about that “homosexual agenda” thing. I want to know why, if there is indeed a homosexual agenda, why I have not been invited to any (not one!) agenda-setting meetings in my 50-plus years as a homosexual? (Is it a deodorant issue?)

I’m feeling left out.

Thoughts on "A Single Man"

OK, it’s been a week since I saw A Single Man (with Wayne Hoffman when I was in New York, at the Angelika in SoHo) and despite all its design gloriousness, I haven’t been able to like it more in the ensuing days. For me, I think the problem is character identification, or more precisely, the lack of it – SPOILER ALERT STOP READING NOW IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW STUFF – it’s just damn hard to feel sorry for a guy who seems to have everything, yet is for some reason going to chuck it all in a suicide. I mean, successful handsome professor pretty much has all the beautiful boys and girls lusting after him, he’s got this amazing mid-century glass house near the beach, wonderful friends, what I would call a pretty enviable life. His problem seems to be that he misses his boyfriend way too much (handsome younger BF died in a car accident several months prior to the action in the movie) so he’s going to punish himself by taking his own life. MMM K. ?

Even though during this time period the closet was a prerequisite pretty much for everyone, that is not even much of an issue here as the main character (Colin Firth) seems to be surrounded by mostly very supportive individuals. He’s not even persecuted, for heaven’s sake. Which makes the motivation even than much harder to fathom. So instead of being worried, anxious that our hero is going to die I was thinking, “well, I’m really kind of sick of this self-pitying wimpy character, the sooner he croaks the sooner this movie will be over and we can go get some lunch.”

Sorry about that. Bitchy, I know. Other than that, the movie looked great, every man in 1962 LA was apparently lean and hairless, and fetishized smoking. Something about an open mouth with curled smoke in it that does it for us. Also, I did enjoy scenes at a beach bar that must have been inspired by The Friendship in Santa Monica Canyon, where of course Christopher Isherwood (who wrote the novel the movie is based on) and Don Bachardy lived – and probably hung out. I certainly did after many epic beach debaucheries in the 80s (but that’s another post, something about beer and navels).

And let’s not forget the wonderful mohair sweater the young man (Nicholas Hoult) who’s pursuing his professor gets to wear in several scenes. Kind of miss those and I certainly am old enough to remember when they were all the shit. A Single Man hugely benefits from Julianne Moore’s scenes, as she lights up the brooding screen whenever she’s on it.

Not to discourage you from going, by all means do so and support independent film. From what I understand Tom Ford used his own coin to make this film, and that is a huge accomplishment in itself. I just want to see Colin Firth smile.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eafJ4jvf-sY]

Back from Travels, but didn't want to forget

World AIDS Day on December 1, when I was driving through the plains of Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle on my way back to LA from Wisconsin. It was cold everywhere! I guess it’s December, so that is appropriate, but …. Anyway, I don’t ever want to forget these people who brightened up my life so much and the truth is I still miss them all terribly. You all have your own lists, and this is part of mine: I remember Masa, Wayne, Alex, Axel, Jerry, Leland, Scott, David, Marc, Bill, Merc, Angel and so many more, including my special pals Tad and Richard. I am so grateful for each day we spent together, and grateful for each day I’m privileged to remember you.

On These Shoulders We Stand

OK, I’m late with this but I loved this documentary at Outfest. A great look at the generation of activists who came before us, those pioneers of the gay rights movement on the west coast. Nice to see the interviews with Dale Reynolds and Don Norman, both of whom I’ve been privileged to meet. Ivy Bottini was at the screening I attended, as well as the ex-owner of the old Long Beach bar Patch, which is a segment in the history. Highly recommended for those interested in LA’s LGBT history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-vAE2ETi_A