Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters: May 21, 2010

I WAS going to feature an episode of All in the Family but then I got a special request for this afternoon's feature, Tongues Untied (1989).

And as luck would have it, I'm glad I received this request because Tongues Untied will be one of the movies at tomorrow night's lgbt of color film festival which will be held at the University of South Carolina tomorrow night as a part of the SC Black Pride Young, (Gay) Gifted, and Black Mini Film Festival.

Tongues Untied is an excellent film by the late Marlon Riggs, an African-American gay man and filmmaker. From Wikipedia:

. . . Tongues Untied seeks, in its author's words to, "...shatter the nation's brutalising silence on matters of sexual and racial difference." The film blends documentary footage with personal account and fiction in an attempt to depict the specificity of black gay identity. The "silence" referred to throughout the film is that of black gay men, who are unable to express themselves because of the prejudices of white and black heterosexual society.

The narrative structure of Tongues Untied is both interesting and unconventional. Besides including documentary footage detailing North American black gay culture, (Marlon) Riggs also tells of his own experiences as a gay man. These include the realising of his sexual identity and of coping with the deaths of many of his friends to AIDS. Other elements within the film include footage of the civil rights movement and clips of Eddie Murphy performing a homophobic stand-up routine.

At the time of its release, the film was considered controversial because of its frank portrayal of gay sexuality. Presidential candidate Pat Buchanan cited Tongues Untied as an example of how President Bush was using taxpayer's money to fund "pornographic art". In his defense, Riggs stated that, "Implicit in the much overworked rhetoric of community standards is the assumption of only one central community (patriarchal, heterosexual and usually white) and only one overarching cultural standard ditto."

Parents for Democracy in Education group questions queer curriculum in high schools - Want a view of how much damage the Rekers scandal caused the religious right? Check out this article from Canada.

This man is a dean. At a law school. Parents send kids to him to learn. About law. - I am constantly amazed by Jeremy Hooper's ability to stand close to the religious right and dissect their lies.

Franken bill would protect gay students - Way to go, Al Franken!

Cities across the USA to observe Harvey Milk Day - Happy Harvey Milk Day!

Oz ’Family Values’ Office Holder Resigns After Being Filmed Leaving Bath House - Holy @$! Is Australia having it's own George Rekers scandal?

Lesbian who sued over prom date transfers schools - Constance, never forget that you stood up for yourself and those who couldn't stand up. You created steps for those to come after you to climb up on.

Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters

Friday, May 21, 2010

Know Your LGBT History - Tongues Untied

Rekers scandal continues to undermine religious right lies and other Friday midday news briefs

Chely Wright tells the truth- don't be ashamed of your God-given lgbt orientation