Because this post is in large part a reaction to this Times article (like the real Times in the UK), read this first:
Golden Globe winners spark righteous anger
So first let's talk irresponsible journalism, shall we?
In the article, Chris Ayres makes a direct link between the "leftist" agenda of the current crop of films and the decline in Hollywood box office. Anybody who has had their flip-flop peel off on a sticky megaplex floor, has discovered Netflix, has figured out that it costs $16 to buy a DVD if you get it the week it's released, or just likes their homestyle $1 bag of popcorn more than the $6 movie theatre heart attack knows that this is just not the case. Take a look at this article from the New York Times (Summer Fading, Hollywood Sees Fizzle) and this one on the ABC News site that originally appeared in the Christian Science Monitor (No Happy Ending in 2005 for Hollywood). Movie ticket sales have been on a three to five year decline (depending who you ask and how they're interpreting the increase in ticket costs) and it has nothing to do with queer content.
Mr. Ayres decision to reductively blame this industry wide phenomenon on Brokeback Mountain, Capote, TransAmerica, and The Hollywood Foreign Press Association belies one of two things: 1) he's a lazy hack or 2) he's a loser homophobe. Do you want to ask him which one it is? If so, send a letter asking the Times: letters@thetimes.co.uk.
Personally, I'm thinking a little of both. Take a look at who he quotes for further evidence: Concerned Women for America and Straight Talk Radio. Hmph. You telling me that no one from GLAAD, the Human Rights Campaign, or hell, even Big Queer would return his calls? Oh - he didn't call them? Lazy hack or loser homophobe? Ask him: letters@thetimes.co.uk.
Next on Big Mouth's big agenda: the Concerned Women for America. And the American Family Association. And Focus on the Family. Not just for the obvious reasons. But because I'm sick of hearing about the gay agenda, how it's a big secret that we have this agenda, how Hollywood is secretly promoting this agenda or what have you. I'm irked, and here's why:
It's no secret.
Clearly, it's no secret here. I mean I write for a website called Big Queer. I like having a "posting personality" but I offer links to my personal blog all the time. And somehow when the movies are called TransAmerica or deal with Truman Capote or are as widely publicized as Brokeback Mountain (Ang and company's Golden Globes silence, notwithstanding), I don't think that's too secret either.
You know what is secretive? Do you know what does veil an insidious agenda? Naming hate groups things like Concerned Women for America, the American Family Association, and Focus on the Family. I pity the poor uninformed lesbian that says, "Hey! I'm a concerned woman!" decides to join up, and is sorely rebuffed.
Don't let these cowards keep using this language like we have something shameful to hide, when clearly they are the ones who do. Haters.
