A New Gay Manifesto

I have to be honest. My thoughts on “Brokeback Mountain” not winning the Oscar for Best Picture are mixed. As a gay man, I am upset. Here was a gay-themed film that was honest, touching and illuminated the psychological workings of a gay relationship. In comparison to “Crash” did it deserve to win the award? I do not honestly know as I have not see “Crash”. Is Hollywood homophobic? Again, I do not know. What it does show is that despite it’s liberal tendencies, Hollywood is just as scared of homosexuality as mainstream America. I think the gay community really needs to take into consideration Ian McKellen’s remarks that were made a few weeks before the Oscars. If gay actors and actresses won’t come out, then can the gay community honestly expect the Academy to award their top prize to a film like “Brokeback”? In a sense, it was the gay community that was it‘s own undoing. But we must also realize that as a piece of art “Brokeback” was a step in the right direction. Unlike “The Birdcage” and other gay films (which use comical and sometimes laughable gay stereotypes to try and gain acceptance), “Brokeback” was a strong film that used the human condition to connect to audiences. However, it was made by straight people. Camille Paglia has said, “Let’s have a movement that brings art back, the cultural respect in America. The art world has been totally blind to its own PC leftism. So even though I’m a liberal Democrat, my primary allegiance is to art and the development of the young artist.” The gay community needs to rekindle it’s artistic spirit and once again create and use substantial art to inform the general audience. Just as my friend Damion writes, we need to use this moment to “awaken the sleeping giants.” His comments are a strong call to action. What I’d like to see is my fellow gay writers, critics, teachers and artists creating art that, like “Brokeback”, really speaks to people (not just themselves) and get them thinking. I think that over the past decade or so the gay and lesbian community has allowed the straight artistic community to speak for them. The gay and lesbians artists who are out there are appealing to the lowest common denominator in order to gain popularity. They are not creating art of sustenance. “Will and Grace”, which was initially considered a breakthrough for US television, relies on one-liners and overused stereotypes to appeal to the masses. Yes, the creators and writers of that show are gay, but they are doing a disservice to the gay and lesbian community. Gays and lesbians no longer take risks. Currently I’m just finishing up a biography of Allen Ginsberg. As a poet and as an activist, he was genuine leader who spoke to the masses. Maybe there needs to be a new gay, artistic manifesto. The gay community needs to take matters in their own hands and stir the pot. Take, for example, the UK version of “Queer As Folk”. Here was an intelligent and creative television show that was (in my mind) an honest portrait of gay life. And it was created by a gay man! Sure, it was controversial, but it was a compelling piece of work that brought gay issues to the British public. It showed both the good and bad of gay life. Let’s use this experience to really motivate ourselves and begin to speak for ourselves. To once again quote Camille Paglia, “Conflict cannot be avoided, but perhaps it can be confined to a mental theater. In the imperial arena, there is no law but imagination.”