How Far We've Come

I'll say very little about the technical and cinematic qualities of Gus Van Sant's film, Milk.  It is a good movie, probably as good as you expect it to be and maybe a little more.  It represents a return to mainstream cinema for Van Sant, but not a surrender to it.  The indie spirit still occasionally shines through.  It contains very strong work from Sean Penn, James Franco and Josh Brolin, possibly the best work of any of their careers, and they are all very likely Oscar contenders.  As a film, it is very successful.

As a cultural statement it is enraging and a more than a little disappointing.  The major conflict of the film (and of Milk's political career) is a campaign to prevent anti-discrimination laws in California that prevent teachers from being fired based on sexual orientation from being overturned.  The campaign succeeded, and the laws stayed.  However, the film deals with this development in a bit of muted joy, probably for two reasons-- the first is that it has an assassination to hurry on to and the second is that Van Sant realizes what a hollow victory it really was.  

You won't learn this from the film, but today, right now, in 2008 in the United States there are still thirty (30) states where someone can legally lose their job simply for being a homosexual.   

Read that again.  That is more than half of the country. And, of course, that doesn't include the vicious 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' military policies endorsed by the federal government.  And the gay marriage debacle, which came to a head when the citizens of California deemed they could take away constitutionally granted rights from homosexuals by passing Proposition 8.

That is infuriating.  Imagine a child asks for a coat to wear on a snowy day.  You tell it no and send it off to school.  It gets used to the cold.   Now imagine you gave the child a coat, sat it outside in the snow for a moment and then took the coat away.  That child will revolt against you.  If you show someone the light and then close them off from it, their wanting will be your end.

Where was Milk prior to November 4th?  Oliver Stone's ineffectual W. was rushed out prior to the elections in hopes it could make a difference.  But that project was too soon, too current to have an impact.  History will judge Bush in 30 years, once the facts are in, in ways far different than the present may judge him now.  But Milk?  Milk could have had an impact.  Yet... it was delayed, coming out instead in the midst of awards season.  Ironically, it's good enough it would have been remembered had it come out in October.  What a wasted opportunity. 

Proposition 8 is government sanctioned bigotry, propelled by religions that have subjugated and oppressed since their inceptions.  There are thorny political topics out there, where many different views must be considered (immigration, abortion).  Gay marriage is not one of them.  If you oppose gay marriage, you are a bigot.  If you say it 'destroys the American family' you are a bigot and a liar.  If you believe it actually has any affect on the American family at all, I'll join you in a march in favor of criminalizing divorce.  I'll join you on a march forcing heterosexual couples to procreate.  And if you oppose gay marriage on religious grounds, you're a brain-washed bigot with no sense of irony.  

Speaking of a sense of irony, seeing how California has taken away civil rights, I have a new plan to get the country out of recession.  Let's re-enslave African Americans.  Forcing them back into chains will quickly and decisively cut down on the business expenses of banks, auto-makers, and corporations.  Afterwards, a campaign to take the vote away from women.

Wednesday is national 'Day Without A Gay', where homosexuals are encouraged to call in gay from work and instead volunteer for GLBT rights.  They are also encouraged to only support GLBT friendly businesses.  I suppose civil disobedience is a justifiable response-- I'll be participating.  But kindness can only get you so far.  As 70s activists cried, "Civil Liberties or Civil War".  We will not roll over without a fight.

  
And finally, to all you closeted, discreet, 'straight' guys out there who troll Craigslist and gay bars, fuck you.  Fuck you all.  It's your cowardice that has allowed decades of injustice to your own people, whether you accept them as so or not.  You are fearful little children whose timidity and terror have caused the Stonewall riots, the White Night riots, killed Brandon Teena and Matthew Shepard and allowed Proposition Eight to pass.  You should be beaten out of the closet.  Grow some balls and be a man, don't just blow one.