Box Turtle Bulletin
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyJuly 13th, 2011
TODAY’S AGENDA:
It’s hump day! Get ready for the weekend.
AIDS Walks This Weekend: San Francisco, CA.
Pride Celebrations This Weekend: Budapest, Hungary; Charlotte, NC (Black Pride); Colorado Springs, CO; Kitsap, WA; Peel, ON; Portland, OR (Latino Pride); Reading, PA; Rochester, MN; Rochester, NY; San Diego, CA; and Sheffield, UK.
And Also: Bear Week, Provincetown, MA.
TODAY IN HISTORY:
Gay Pub Raided in London: 1810. From The Times of London: “The existence of a Club, or Society, for the purpose so detestable and repugnant to the common feelings of our nature, that by no word can it be described without committing an outrage upon decency, has for some time been suspected by the Magistrates of Bow-street; who cautiously concealing the odious secret, abstained from taking any steps on the information they had received, until an opportunity should offer of surprising the whole gang. About 11 o’clock last Sunday evening, three separate parties of the patrole, attended by constables, were detached from Bow-street on this service. … The enterprise was completely successful. — We regret most deeply, that the information given at the office was found to be so accurate, that the Officers felt themselves justified in seizing no fewer than 23 individuals, at a public-house, called the White Swan, in Vere-street, Clare-market.”
Two men were found guilty of sodomy and were hanged. Six more were found guilty of attempted sodomy and were made to stand at the pillory. The crowds who turned out for the pillory were particularly violent, throwing rotten fish, dead cats, “cannonballs” made of mud, and vegetables at the convicted men. The men were severely injured and barely survived their allotted time at the pillory.
“Brothers” Debuts: 1984. The first American television program featuring a gay lead character finally debuted on Showtime. The show, set in Philadelphia, centered around the three Waters brothers: Lou was a typical blue-collar construction foreman, Joe was a retired placekicker for the Philadelphia Eagles and owner of a sports bar, and Cliff, who in the first episode left his bride at the altar and came out to his family as a gay man. ABC and NBC had already turned down the series out of fear of portraying homosexuality on prime time, but when Showtime decided to begin producing original television series, they saw Brothers as the perfect fit. After a successful first season, Showtime decided to pick up the series for a second season. Showtime also offer the series for syndication to over-the-air broadcast stations, and the fledgling Fox network decided to jump on that deal. Brother would go on for a full five seasons and 115 episodes.
TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS:
Robert Gant: 1968. He was Ben Bruckner in the American version of “Queer as Folk.” His HIV-positive character gave the series an opportunity to explore anti-AIDS hysteria and stigma, both outside and inside the gay community. He has had numerous television guest roles, and he acted and produced in Save Me
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MattNYC
July 13th, 2011
It’s a bit late (and I may have missed it here), but David Mixner has a very nice piece about Betty Ford and AIDS:
http://www.davidmixner.com/2011/07/in-memoriam-betty-ford-and-aids.html
Maurice Lacunza
July 13th, 2011
The show Brothers was not the first American show to feature a gay lead character. SOAP paved the way in 1976 with Bill Crystal playing the gay character of Jody.
Maurice Lacunza
July 13th, 2011
correction: Billy Crystal.
Jim Burroway
July 13th, 2011
Crystal’s character was not considered a lead character. That went to the two sisters around which the entire series revolved, Jessica Tate and Mary Campbell. Crystal’s character, while a regular role, was not a lead character. But because the character was gay, it was a controversial one.
But speaking of which, don’t get me started on that ridiculous storyline about how, becuase Jody was gay, he really wanted a sex-change operation… That whole storyline playing on pure ignorance and stereotypes is MUCH better left forgotten.
justme
July 13th, 2011
I re-watched all of SOAP just last year, so I have to correct you on Jody’s sex change: he didn’t want it because he was gay, he wanted it because his closeted pro athlete boyfriend wouldn’t be seen in public with him because he was a man. Jody came to his senses when his boyfriend told Jody that he, of course, didn’t want him to become his girlfriend. It was actually very pro-gay and the absurdity of it was no more or less so than any other storyline on that show.
Now, if you want to get upset about Jody’s character, get upset because they did eventually not only turn him straight and give him a long-term girlfriend, but his girlfriend was a predatory vindictive woman who announced she was going to have him no matter what and, essentially, raped him, thus showing Jody the light and converting him. That you can get upset about.
In other comments, the Times of London excerpt is utterly horrifying and I can’t thank you enough for posting it. A good sense of perspective is always a good thing to have.
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