seeing Brokeback Mountain disproves conservative fear of gays

The primary argument conservatives make against gays is that it is a chosen lifestyle will somehow entice heterosexual people who are exposed to it.

Watching Brokeback Mountain the other night had the opposite effect on me.

I'm straight, but people (including family members) have asked me from time to time if I'm gay based on such concrete evidence as I like to read, am bored by spectator sports (though physically active), and I'm past 40 and single. Usually it doesn't get under my skin if I'm seeing someone, but if I'm not I stop and think, "Are they right?"

Seeing Brokeback Mountain settled it though. There are a couple of scenes that show the two guys can't bear to be apart, their pain on parting and joy on reuniting, and seeing that, I realized I have never felt that for another guy or felt the need to. If I haven't seen a friend for a while, it's more like curiousity that can be taken care of with a phone call or email, and even then it's more like the urge to look for my lost keys than the obsession and longing of a romantic relationship.

The same was true with the sex scenes. I could see that those guys liked each other, but it didn't push my buttons.

I lived near West Hollywood, the gayest part of LA, and have known a fair number of gay people and never felt like I wanted to be a part of it.

I think part of the fear conservatives have of gays isn't even that they will be sucked into it, but a variation on their zenophobia and intolerance for anybody who behaves and thinks more than a few degrees differently than them. They like extreme sameness.

Another benefit of seeing Brokeback Mountain is I now know for sure that anyone who wears a cowboy hat while not actually riding a horse is gay.

Just curious. Pics?

:evilgrin:

someone is such a ridiculous nonsense, it wasn't that long ago that there were no depictions of any gay people in any popular culture, yet somehow the Brady Bunch, Little Women and Romeo & Juliet didn't turn all gay people straight.

in my neck of the woods, a NSW MP (and long running joke) Fred Nile is faffing on about Brokeback, saying that it shouldn't be released in mainstream theatres but should only be out (if at all) on video/DVD for the "homosexual community" all you can do is laugh, apart from it NOT being a "gay" story but a love story, I don't think I've ever seen gay people picketing cinemas suggesting that movies that depict hetero relationships be relegated to video/DVD because it's a "niche", or even more relevant in my country, movies with religious themes be relegated to DVD because frankly there are more gay people here than people who attend church.

such a big deal about nothing

since nearly 100% are born into straight families.

Every gay person I have ever known, myself included, was born into a straight family.

When I was working both retail and human services I'd buy it in bulk at the warehouse store. I finally got to a point where if I ate another bite I would puke, and I stopped eating it for at least six months.

died of malnutrition.

That stuff has basically zero nutrients, and tons of fat and sodium. It's not meant to be the sole (or even major) component in one's diet.

engage in is part of proving one's sexuality and orientation. Many of us who have been brave enough to truly investigate ourselves rather than simply slipping into our frightened embarrassed roles and avoiding the issue are granted a far greater freedom. I haven't seen this movie but, no biggie. I don't go to movies, much. It sounds like a beautiful story but, for me, not worth the money to go and see it.

Freepers, and their neocon cousins are, for the most part, scared shitless that they might find out a horrible truth about themselves, upsetting their whole scheme about their own righteousness.

Those gays who are part of the neocon empire are, like their hetero associates, so fiercely competitive, aggressive and sure of their own superiority that their kinship with the criminals and graspers is much closer to them than the understanding and compassion that is the gift that questioning one's sexuality can bring.

The whole gay marriage, privacy issue is not the problem: it's just a useful weapon for beating up and disenfranchising liberals.

I think is the biggest argument of homophobia being grounded in repressed homosexual desires.

Most straight men wouldn't even consider "catching" homosexuality to be an option.

edit: spelling

would he be tempted to marry a gay guy.

He was like "of course not! but someone else...."

He's accused me of being gay both to my face and behind my back (because I am not afraid to defend gay rights to anyone who will listen). Now I know for sure that he is projecting:evilgrin: Wish he'd give it up and come out. He'd probably be a lot less annoying at dinner.

together without women: hunting, fishing, spectator sports, war...

.

I have never seen him on a horse either. Hmmmm.

...can't be one of them.

good point. Hey, even I don't dress that badly to do my farm work!

What they don't know, they make up. And then Believe.