The only proper response to the abundant gay-hate speech and anti-gay lawmaking that 50% of our good country has been dishing out and revelling in for the past few years (courtesy of the
American Taliban --um,
Christian Reich er... Christian Right, self-loathing gays, and elected Republicans everywhere) is to fight back and to celebrate the freedoms you have while you still have them. Here in the USA we may be a long way from the
happier live-and-let-live country we use to be... led by a President who would say things like
this. But all things are supposedly cyclical, so keep up the good fight. This is
National Coming Out Day and, as some of you may know that's a very important day for your queer selves and/or queer friends, family, coworkers, bloggers, and neighbors. But enough about you and yours... ;)
Since this is a movie site, first and foremost, I want to say a loud THANK YOU to honor those brave souls in the oft-timid and regressive entertainment industry who are "out." In order to make this post manageable though I've restricted this to movie people... so my apologies to cancer-beating powerhouse rock chicks, folk/rock stars who survived Gay Hell, TV talk show comediennes and their
Arrested Development girlfriends, and graying CNN super-stars, as well as many many theater celebrities ("Don't you just love theatah people?"). After the names of the GLBT talent I've listed a recent movie plus an earlier key work in their career and/or reason for their fame in case you are drawing a blank.
This post is dedicated (with nudge and wink) to Clarice Starling, Ellie Arroway, Iris Steensma and the woman who gave them all life.Anywayyyyyyy. The Film Experience salutes: 
Pedro Almodovar (director of
Talk To Her, All About My Mother)
Jane Anderson (writer/director of
Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio and
Normal)
Alexis Arquette (
The Trip, Wigstock, brother to Rosanna and Patricia)
Jackie Beat (
Adam & Steve, Grief, drag super-stardom)
Sandra Bernhard (
Searching for Bobby D, The King of Comedy and a lot of TV & concert work)
Saffron Burrows (
Troy, Enigma, Miss Julie)
Simon Callow (
Phantom of the Opera, A Room with a View)
Craig Chester (
Adam & Steve, Swoon)
Alan Cumming (
X2, a ton of supporting roles, and
Cabaret on Broadway)
Stephen Daldry (director of
The Hours, Billy Elliott)
Rupert Everett (
Separate Lies, My Best Friends Wedding, Dance With a Stranger))
Harvey Fierstein (
Duplex, Torch Song Trilogy & Broadway superstardom)
Steven Fry (
Hitchhikers Guide, Wilde, novelist, frequent host of the BAFTAs)
Malcolm Gets (
Adam & Steve, TVs
Caroline in the City)
Sara Gilbert (
Riding in Cars with Boys, TVs
Roseanne)
Jason Gould (
Boys Life 3, son of Barbra Streisand)
John Greyson (director of
Proteus, Lilies)
Todd Haynes (writer/director of
Far From Heaven, Safe)
James Ivory (director of
The White Countess, Howards End)
Nathan Lane (
The Producers, The Birdcage & Broadway superstardom)
Jane Lynch (
The 40 Year Old Virgin, Best in Show)
Cherry Jones (
The Village, Cradle Will Rock, & Broadway superstardom)
Miranda July (writer, director, star of
Me You and Everyone We Know)
Sir Ian McKellen (
Asylum, Lord of the Rings, Gods and Monsters)
John Cameron Mitchell (writer, director, star of
Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
Sarah Paulson (
Serenity, Down With Love, plus Broadway and TV work)
Anthony Rapp (
Rent, Adventures in Babysitting, plus Broadway work)
Bryan Singer (director of
X-Men, X2, The Usual Suspects)
Lily Tomlin (
I Heart Huckabees, Nashville, Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe)
Christine Vachon (producer of
Mrs Harris, Far From Heaven, Boys Don't Cry)
John Waters (writer and director of
A Dirty Shame, Hairspray, Pink Flamingos)
Gus Van Sant (director of
Last Days, Good Will Hunting, My Own Private Idaho)
Let me know if I forgot anyone (living and working). And while we're on the freedom and respect for all train, here is yet
another reason to love Julianne Moore (as if another reason were needed). God bless!
If you'd like to read a short non-spoilery review for the new science fiction drama Moon, you can head on over to my weekly column at Towleroad. The film opens tomorrow. I don't advise reading many reviews of this one before seeing it because most critics (unlike myself) have absolutely zero issues with spoilers and there's a lot one can spoil beyond what's already given away in the film's trailer. I'll have more on Moon *with* spoilers in the next vodcast with Katey. We'll give you ample warning before the spoilers.
Posts
