The Daily Sheet August, 2010

[killersmom]

Tuesday, Aug. 3rd, 2010

A Visit to Brokeback Country

By royandronnie

Dear Fellow Buddies of Ennis and Jack, I have been to Brokeback Country, and it was good. Actually, it was better than good. It was wonderful. In the company of my tireless and gracious guides, mouk—who lives in Calgary these days—and regular pilgrim Oregondoggie, who joined us for the occasion, I was given the grand tour, and over four long but deeply rewarding days, I saw nearly every site of importance from the movie. A natural question would be “which sites were the most special?” and the answer is easy: the parking lot in which Aguirre’s trailer once stood, the place where it all began for our boys, and without question, the campsite where their lifetime love took flight, suspended above ordinary affairs. Actually, all of the little town of Cowley was special, that place where those first few scenes were filmed, and it’s special for exactly the same reason as the FNIT/SNIT site: it’s 100% real. Everything’s there that should be there, right where you think it should be. No composites, no cheating, no SFX. (The lofty mountains in the background at the sheep muster site are actually rolling hills, though the site is in the mountains. And when Ennis looks up from washing the coffee pot to see Jack like an insect on a tablecloth—two different locations.) You drive into town exactly as Jack did, next to the railroad tracks, and there’s the lone cottonwood, right where you turn into the parking lot. As we drove up, there was a train coming the other way. How cool was that? Next to the parking lot site is the alley where Ennis punched the wall, back at the end of the summer of ’63. Someone has written, faintly, the word “Heath” on the wall just at eye level. It’s there, but you have to work for it—O’Dog spotted that one—just like Ang and Annie have made us work since 2005. And just beyond that, appearance cosmetically changed but instantly recognizable, where Jack had his truck parked all summer. And when you leave town by the same road, you see the same view Jack saw in his rearview mirror, minus the long-legged cowboy in the palomino Carharrt jacket. It was a sunny day with heaps of clouds when we visited—just as it was 47 years ago, movie time, when Jack asked “your folks just stop at Ennis?” In that parking lot I could stand just about where they stood, and though the spot where Aguirre’s trailer stood was cluttered with lumber and a truck, I could feel them all near me: Heath and Jake, and Ennis and Jack. Yeah. I cried, a few stinging, but joyous, tears. And then there was the FNIT/SNIT campsite, quite a long way off from Cowley, about 1½ hours west of Calgary. We chose to tour the mountain sites on July 6th, my last day there, because I wanted to visit the campsite on the approximate anniversary of FNIT/SNIT, which happens one month after their first night on the mountain, under the full moon of July. Again, we had overcast weather much like that leading up to FNIT. This is the “don’t miss” site. It’s all here, too. First you see the mountainside beyond the camp, beyond Ennis as he lay there stinking drunk, with its four distinctive streaks of remnant snow, just as in the movie. Then you see the log bridge beside which Jack so memorably washed Ennis’ shirt he would later steal. Then you find yourself in the campsite itself, and when you turn around and look behind you—there it is. Ennis’ hillside, where we see him sitting shattered after Jack passes on the message that dooms them: bring em down. And above that, instantly recognizable, the sharp-angled face beneath which they wrestled briefly before Ennis broke, and punched the man he loved. I didn’t expect that. I figured that was some other location. But there it was—complete, and real. And yeah—I cried again. You’re probably surprised I didn’t mention the Riverton apartment site, also instantly recognizable and essentially the same. I posed there as Ennis greeting Jack, and with my butt where Heath’s once rested as Alma saw them kissing. But the site held no joy for me, or I should say more correctly that my joy was outweighed by the poor condition of the site, specifically the staircase. The people who own the building are proud of their tie to Brokeback, and have put a large poster, with several establishing shots of the interior and exterior as filmed, on the wall “just yards from the spot where Ennis and Jack had their passionate reunion!” But the staircase itself and the building speak of neglect, or, most likely, not enough money to keep it up. And for us, for those who love Ennis, Jack, Heath and Jake, that is a tragedy. The stairs, though still sound, are rotting, the paint deeply peeled and the wood underneath apparently unsealed against the elements in an area where the highs can go into the 80s and even occasionally 90s—and the winter lows can go far below zero. I would say the staircase in its current condition has a year at most before it will need to be replaced. And then what? You know what. It’ll be torn apart and chopped up for firewood or something. And one of the most iconic locations in recent movie history will be gone—like the bus station, which is now only a shell. (We couldn’t even see if Ennis’ table is still in there. We hope the former owner took it away with him.) We’ve come together before, on Oscar night 2006, and on January 22nd 2008, and all during 2006 during the compiling of Beyond Brokeback, to get our message out. Let’s find a way to do it again. There is no easy solution. I’m sure that for a reasonable donation, the stairs could be stripped and painted. But how could they be kept up? Donations by visitors? I fear we are too few for that. The second choice is unattractive but may ultimately serve us all best: have the staircase removed as a unit and shipped to the Smithsonian, which keeps such treasures. Will they see it as such? Would they accept it? It would be a very expensive undertaking to ship such a large thing better than 3500 miles by road. I can just imagine getting it through US Customs… It would be beyond the pockets, I think, of our group. For that we would need someone, or several someones, like Tom Gregory, guardian of The Shirts. What can we do? Let’s think about it. Perhaps some of you are, or know, friends of Brokeback with deep pockets that might be called in. In the meantime, the one thing we must NOT do is write angry letters to the owners. They are friends. I would like to relate the last adventure mouk, O’Dog and I had as we ended our Brokeback pilgrimage. Visiting the mountain sites in order in Kananaskis Country is an all-day loop, and we ended it with dinner in the ski-town of Canmore. We thought the best lay behind us as we passed the mountains shown on Ennis’ postcard at the end of the movie—but we were wrong. All through the previous seven days the weather had been changeable and unsettled, and as we headed back to Calgary, sun low in the west and a rainstorm ahead of us, we began to chase a wide section of rainbow among the twists and curves of the road ahead. At last we were heading into it, and found the partial bow on both sides, and to our right, on the outskirts of Ennis and Jack country, the bow was doubled. And then, saving the best for last, we found ourselves driving out of the land of Brokeback under a full 180º rainbow with double feet on both sides. On the anniversary of FNIT/SNIT. Perhaps Heath sent it to us. I like to think so, anyway. Love from my bit of the Mountain, Charlotte/royandronnie

Click images to enlarge. Click images to enlarge.

Modern Maestros: Ang Lee

Robert here, back with another entry in my series on great contemporary directors. Maestro: Ang Lee Known For: Prestigious, emotional, subtle character dramas. Influences: according to Ang Lee himself, Bergman, Antonioni and Billy Wilder. Masterpieces: Brokeback Mountain of course. Maybe Sense and Sensibility too. Disasters: Taking Woodstock wasn't notable enough to really be a disaster. Not sure if that's worse. Better than you remember: I maintain that whatever people dislike about Hulk, the real driving force against that movie was the special effects. If those were better, people would be more likely to overlook other things. Box Office: That being said, Hulk is his highest grosser with 132 Million.

It's said that no film is about the time it's set as much as it is about the time it's made. For Ang Lee, whose films for the past fifteen years have all but one been period pieces, this is not just a truth but a great convenience. His stories of evolving social, sexual, and class mores and how they sow despair are more easily embraced by a society that sees someone else's ugly reflection in the mirror. But make no mistake, it is a mirror we're looking into. Historical settings are also a useful way for Lee to keep his films modern without being dated by by distracting social or political messages. In fact, for Lee, social and political messages are never the point, they're merely a means to an end. The end is people. Consider how many evil, one-dimensional homophobic characters Lee presented in Brokeback Mountain to underscore a "society bad!" message. Can't really think of any? Because Lee's not as interested in criticizing society as much as he is understanding the individuals whose desires run directly into the wall of its constraints.  Read more.   Source: filmexperience.blogspot.com

NOM Indianapolis: Newbie Report

By Betty Greene Salwak  (neatfreak)

I'm breathless, but in a good way. I attended the protest at the NOM rally in front of the Indiana Statehouse on Monday, and someone took my picture. That picture has found its way on the InterWebs, and it's kind of overwhelming. I had no idea the response it would engender. When I read that NOM was planning a visit here, the seed was planted that I might represent another view of Christians to the straight and LGBT communities. I had a sign that I'd made for a previous, very small local event. But up to the minute I got into my car that morning, I was wondering if I'd have the nerve to show up. I am decidedly introverted and joining a group of angry activists--even when we agree--is my equivalent of entering the seventh circle of hell. Repeating my mantra "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" I drove downtown. I had an inauspicious start. The downtown parking meter jammed. I hoped I wouldn't get a ticket and got out my sign. I arrived with only a few minutes to spare but only four other protesters were there. They told me I couldn't keep the yardstick with which I'd so carefully constructed an interior framework to hold the sign aloft in the wind. One of the guys just broke it off at the bottom of the sign. (All that lovely work! But the inner frame was still there.) Read more.   Source: bilerico.com.com

Keeping Up with Rufus Wainwright

Rufus with the San Fran Symphony On November 11, The San Francisco Symphony will perform the world premiere of Five Shakespeare Sonnets, with Rufus as a guest vocalist. Ravel's Piano Concerto, conducted by Jeffrey Kahane, and Kurt Weill's Second Symphony will be performed on either end of the Sonnets. This piece will run for three nights, with Off the Podium, a Q&A session with the artists, following the November 12 performance. Rufus in The Netherlands Upon Rufus' return to Europe, after his tour in Australia and New Zealand, he'll be stopping in Groningen, Netherlands, to play a show at De Oosterpoort. In addition to his De Oosterpoort show, Rufus will play Crossing Border, an interdisciplinary festival of literature and music, on November 18. Tickets are available for this performance in The Hague, Netherlands, through the Crossing Border website. Watermill Summer Concert With Kylie Minogue The Watermill Summer Concert is a one-of-a-kind event on the East-End of Long Island combining the sleek beauty of Robert Wilson's Watermill Center and the breathtaking landscape of the grounds with a live outdoor performance featuring this unique pairing of pop singers. The proceeds of the concert will support Watermill's Fall and Spring Residency Program that provides young and emerging artists who embrace avant-garde, multidisciplinary approaches with space and time to explore and further develop their work. The artists exhibit or perform their work for the Hamptons, Long Island, and New York community as part of their residency experience. Find out more at rufuswainwright.com

Three Films Offer a Historical Look Through the Gay Experience in America

June was Gay Pride Month, which explains the DVD release of three seminal films about the gay experience in America. Watching "Before Stonewall" (1984), "After Stonewall" (1999) and "Word Is Out" (1977) is a moving but weird experience. If you're a young person - gay or straight - these documentaries about life back when it wasn't safe to be out will be eye-openers. For those who lived through the eras discussed, it's bound to raise both good and bad memories. As cultural documents, these three films are priceless, offering both insights into a shadow world of repression and paranoia and a taste of the joy experienced by men and women who finally were able to openly be themselves. Today we have gay superstars, gay characters on network TV, even a gay cable network. It's easy for young people to take all this for granted. These films explain how we got here. Read more.   Source: kansascity.com   Watch the Word Is Out trailer on YouTube.

Clips from Word Is Out, 1977.

Gay America by Scott Pasfield Photographer Scott Pasfield shares with us his project 'Gay America,' a road trip of sorts in which he visited out and proud gay men across the states of America. Starting in February 2008 and finishing in Hawaii a couple weeks ago, Scott has made it to all states, a journey in which he drove over 26,000 miles and flew about the same distance. Capturing the men at their home element in over a hundred shoots, Scott's images tell a story where the personal and political become one. Visit Scott's site to see more and read the story behind each image. Click the 'Gay America' link to see the 36 images and click 'info' to read the short bios. Read more.   Source: homotography.blogspot.com

Inception Hunk Tom Hardy Admits: 'I've had sexual relations with men' Hollywood heart-throb Tom Hardy has revealed he had a string of gay flings as a teenager. The 32-year-old Inception star, who is engaged to British actress Charlotte Riley, 28, and also has a two-year-old son with a former girlfriend But asked if he'd ever had any sexual relations with other men, the broody actor said: 'As a boy? Of course I have. I'm an actor for fuck's sake. 'I've played with everything and everyone. I love the form and the physicality, but now that I'm in my thirties, it doesn't do it for me. 'I'm done experimenting but there's plenty of stuff in a relationship with another man, especially gay men, that I need in my life. 'A lot of gay men get my thing for shoes. I have definite feminine qualities and a lot of gay men are incredibly masculine.' Read more.   Source: dailymail.co.uk   See Tom in East West Magagine, via gussip.com Watch Tom playing Heathcliffe in a scene from Wuthering Heights, on YouTube. Gear Up: A Man’s Guide to Camping Summer is finally upon us, and that means a few solid months of baseball, BBQ, swimming, and camping trips. Nothing says “summer” quite like sitting around a campfire with friends, heading back to the tent and finishing a good book, and cooking your own meals over a camp stove. Before you head out for the summer nights under the stars, consider the gear and be certain to “Be Prepared.” What should you ensure is in the trunk? No list is going to be perfect or complete for every situation. Your needs will vary, depending on how many days you’ll be away, who’s going with you, or where you’re heading. Assuming that it’s just you and one or two other people heading out for a night or two, here’s a primer to help you gear up for the excursion. The Tent The tent is key – it is your protection from the elements. If it rains, you’ll appreciate a good, water-proofed tent, properly erected. Tents are almost always sold with a suggestion of the number of persons they’ll hold. If you’re buying a tent for comfort, or for your family, aim high. If it’s just you and a friend or one or two of your kids, you can look at smaller models. Read more. Source: artofmanliness Tent Making Made Easy: Miner's Tent and The Toque The accompanying sketches show a few of the many different tents which may be made from any available piece of cloth or canvas. The material need not be cut, nor its usefulness for other purposes impaired, except that rings or tapes are attached at various points as indicated. For each tent the sketches show a front elevation, with a ground plan, or a side view; also a view of the material laid flat, with dotted lines to indicate where creases or folds will occur. Models may be made from stiff paper and will prove as interesting to the kindergartner in geometry as to the old campaigner in camping. In most of the tents a ring for suspension is fastened at the centre of one side.  This may be supported by a pole or hung by means of a rope from any convenient fastening; both methods are shown in the sketches. Guy ropes are required for a few of the different models, but most of them are pegged down to the ground.  -- by H.J. Holden Fig 5. - Uses all the cloth, has a triangular ground plan, a square front opening, plenty of head room at the back and requires two or more guy lines. This shelter resembles a "toque". Fig. 6. - Square or "miner's" tent. Two corners are turned under. This tent is enclosed on all sides, with a door in front. Read more. Source: elbtipi.com Beyond Beyond Backpacking: Trail Life Where Beyond Backpacking, [Ray] Jardine's second iteration of the lightweight backpacking topic, was thought to be tainted with a few speculative claims that sent his credibility sailing with a few among the lightweight backpacking community, it was an important work nonetheless for popularizing the lightweight philosophy to a wider audience and inspiring so many of us to try his crazy ideas - most of which, I have to say, work fabulously. Trail Life, the newest iteration, provides a more honest assessment of lightweight backpacking techniques and thus has the potential to be an even bigger hit with his fans, as well as bringing in new ones who come to endorse the "Ray-Way". This is a big (10" x 10"), beautiful, full-color book, and certainly worthy of a spot on your shelf. I'm really enjoying reading it, and watching Jardine's style of practicing, and writing about, lightweight backpacking evolve over time. He even has good things to say about free standing dome tents. Read more.   Source: backpackinglight.com   Check out Beyond Backpacking on amazon.com Best Meteor Showers of 2010: Perseids Whether you're watching from a downtown area or the dark countryside, here are some tips to help you enjoy the best meteor showers of 2010. First a word about the moon -- it is not your (the expectant meteor watcher's) friend. Light reflecting off a bright moon can be just as detrimental to good meteor viewing as those bright lights of the big city. There is nothing you can do except howl at the moon, so you'll have to put up with it or wait until the next favorable shower. Even though the 2010 Perseids and Geminids will share the night sky with the moon, they are still expected to produce more visible meteor activity than other major showers that don't have an interfering moon. The best thing you can do to maximize the number of meteors you'll see is to get as far away from urban light pollution as possible and find a location with a clear, unclouded view of the night sky.  If you enjoy camping, try planning a trip that coincides with dates of one of the meteor showers listed below.  Once you get to your viewing location, search for the darkest patch of sky you can find, as meteors can appear anywhere overhead. The meteors will always travel in a path away from the constellation for which the shower is named. This apparent point of origin is called the "radiant." Perseids Comet of origin: 109P/Swift-Tuttle Radiant: constellation Perseus Active: Perseids begin to rise early August. Peak Activity: Night of Aug. 12-13 Peak Activity Meteor Count: Approximately 50 meteors per hour Time of optimal viewing: Crescent moon will set early in the evening, allowing for dark skies all the way up until peak viewing just before dawn Meteor Velocity: 61 kilometers (38 miles) per second Note: The Perseid meteor shower is one of the most consistent performers and considered by many as this year's best shower. The meteors they produce are among the brightest of all meteor showers. Read more.   Source: jpl.nasa.gov HOME PLATE: Heath LA + Skid Row Housing Trust Bring us your dinnerware!  August 1-31, 2010 We're proud to announce a collaboration between Heath Los Angeles and Skid Row Housing Trust, an organization that produces, maintains, and manages innovative (and affordable) housing for those in or around Skid Row in Los Angeles, California. The collaboration represents our ongoing support of local community projects, as well as offers a way to trade in their existing dinnerware collection. No guilt in past tableware collections going to waste - you're encouraged to swap your existing dinnerware pieces in exchange for a 25% discount* off any corresponding Heath item. ... We will then donate the collected dinnerware to Skid Row Housing Trust, who will in turn place them within one of their communal spaces or with one of their newly housed individuals. You win, we win and they win! Home Plate: August 1 through August 31 at HEATH LOS ANGELES. Visit heathceramics.com for more info. Heath Ceramics has also unveiled DWELL, an exciting new line of ceramic tiles. NOTICE: TDS is taking a short break and will be back in a few weeks. Hope your summer is great! Fun Question of the Week This week's question is a visual clue:  What is the unusual item pictured at left? Who used it first, and what does it do? Let us know your answers in the Response Thread. Last week's question and answer: Which is the only country in the world without coins for currency? fofol said, "I believe the Vatican is the only country in the world without coin or currency." Which is partly true because it relies on euros for its currency. However, the Vatican does issue its own coins, according to its Wikipedia page, and they are highly collectible due to their rarity. foreverinawe was correct in adding, "Laos uses paper money, but no coins." According to the Big Site of Amazing Facts, "Laos also has less money in circulation than any other country, only about $1 per person. And Laos is the only nation on earth without coins, Laotians use paper money only!" TUESDAY'S TECH TIP:  What's the easiest way to post an avatar with my username? Posted by donna in Slash Discussion and Recommendations Pt. 12 Okay, here is the easiest way, although probably not the most desired thing you can do... depending... well, you'll see what I mean... Click on the 'Profile' button in the upper left of the screen. Click on 'Forum Profile Information.' Click 'Personalized Picture.' Now, you can choose from Actors or Musicians (assuming you don't want to have 'no pic') Choose one. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the 'Save Profile' feature. Hey, look at me, I'm Christina Aguilera! Try it!  Maybe blondes do have more fun! Post of the Day By Lyle (Mooska) in News & Current Events "Brokeback Coalition" Brokeback Mountain referenced in a teachable moment:  First Ladies >> Eleanor Roosevelt >> Brokeback Mountain I was watching One on One with John McLaughlin today and his guest was John B. Roberts II who authored a book called "Rating the First Ladies."  They were talking about Robert’s assertion that Eleanor Roosevelt was a lesbian if not bi-sexual. Mclaughlin asked the skeptical questions you’d assume would be asked (but maybe hoped would not be, maybe hoped would just be accepted) like "How do you know" and "Isn’t the correspondence between her and other women just a product of their times and not to be read with carnal intent" and this one: "Doesn’t the fact that Eleanor and Franklin had five children together negate that she’d be lesbian." Things like that. Robert’s response to that last one was: "Well, people used to have to do what they thought was expected of them. As we saw in the film Brokeback Mountain, many gay people had to, or thought they had, to marry have children and raise a family when they were really oriented to being gay or lesbian. So it wouldn’t negate that at all." My quotes above are my recollected quotes and may not be verbatim. I would also like to point out that in discussing the affairs of some of the other Presidents known or suspected to have had them, the ideas that were presented in this light were pretty much taken for granted. There was no "skepticism" about that. "Brokeback Fever." BayCityJohn also posted in News & Current Events a link to an article on out.com: "We love our Brokeback Mountain references -- and the fact that a movie title has become a verb, a noun, an insult, and a term of endearment. So watching the British government squabble and backtrack after ex-Tory deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft allegedly called the ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat partnership a “Brokeback coalition” has been fun (if not ridiculous)." The Cowboy Image Posted by coal615 in Cowboy Up! Favorite Cowboy Pics Quote of the Day “Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got.” ~ Cowboy Saying ~ The Forum Image Posted by Miasland in Life Through The Lens 4 "The memories of one sunset on the island lasts a whole year." Photo Caption of the Day Posted by Paul029. Part 1 of 6; see them all in Photo Captioning Fun 5 1. Contributors: royandronnie, neatfreak, donna, BayCityJohn, Lyle (Mooska), Miasland, coal615, Paul029 Calendar of Events If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you. Fifth Anniversary Screening of Brokeback Mountain and the staged reading of selections from Beyond Brokeback Los Angeles, CA, December 11th, 2010 Let us know of any events you’d like listed here. The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum. Today's edition by gnash Researchers: BayCityJohn, Killersmom, Kittyhawk, Marge_Innavera, Stilllearning Editors emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning, MissYouSoMuch We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day. If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to gnash. To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, click the “Notify” button at the top or bottom of the page. When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail. The Daily Sheet Archives Respond to The Daily Sheet

[killersmom]

Tuesday, Aug. 24th, 2010

A Letter from Gregory Hinton Dear Friends of Out West: In my digging though gay western history at the One LGBT Archives at USC, I discovered several gay rodeo photographs by Los Angeles photographer Blake Little in a 1990 glossy gay mag. I was moved by them because reflected back to me were several handsome bull riders and chute doggers I had known who passed away in the next few years. Blake photographed me for POZ Magazine in 1996 after IMP. I contacted him several months ago. In addition to being beautiful, Blake's rodeos photos are historical documents. He is also an excellent rodeo photographer. After my call, he pulled together this collection which he'd put away all these years. We went through many of them together. He has hundreds of photos and a great personal rodeo narrative. He was 1990 IGRA Bull Riding Champion of the year. I'm working on getting him an exhibit and a book! Gay Rodeo is wonderful option for rural gay men and women to stay in touch with their country roots. These photographs say it all. This is why I am devoted to the mission of Out West, which seeks to illuminate the positive contributions of the LGBT community to the history and culture of the American West. On behalf of Out West, I am indebted to Blake for sharing this wonderful body of work. Please visit his website. If you have personal memories of Gay Rodeo, Blake has provided an opportunity to blog. Best, Gregory Hinton Creator and Producer of Out West: LGBT Stories of the American West

One Man's Journey: A Conversation with George Takei A hero to science fiction fans and the Asian community alike, George Takei is an actor, writer, and activist who earned his place in pop culture history as Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the Starship Enterprise. He was a spokesman for the Human Rights Campaign's Coming Out Project. On his nationwide speaking tour, “Equality Trek,” he talked about his life as a gay Japanese American. A native Angeleno, his life has been a personal journey along the sweeping saga of California history. Free with museum admission. Presented by OUT WEST at the Autry When: Sunday, Sep 19, 2010, 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Where: Museum of the American West, Wells Fargo Theater, Griffith Park For more information, visit theautry.org

How the West Was Worn by . . . Michael Jackson In the world of style, pop icon Michael Jackson’s willingness to try different patterns and designs made him truly unique. Millions of people around the world saw his elaborate costumes, but very few realized the Western influence in the design. The Autry National Center’s installation shows how Jackson’s use of Western wear evolved over the years, reflecting his ability to use classic Western styles in distinctive ways. Featured items on display include: Cowboy outfit Western-style belt and buckle Steel cowboy boots Red bib-front shirt with black trim Designers Tompkins/Bush’s original sketch Black 501 Levi’s jeans Black fedora hat Aviator sunglasses Single white glove Where: The Autry at Griffith Park For more information, visit theautry.org   See Michael in his cowboy outfit on YouTube

Letters from Lexy: Cowboys and Woven Shirts My stepfather’s family owns a dude ranch. I will save you from the stories of horses cantering up steep paths, sore insteps and astonishing vistas to speak about all that really matters — woven shirts. We in the industry in the thick of the muck, speak in department talk, as in “wovens are up-trending this week, and their inventory is outselling their ownership.” At the ranch, the inventory was shallow, but highly diverse. Every wrangler wore a different western shirt daily. I gloried in the woven variations, deep red plaids, western raw edges, snap buttons, light feminine chambrays. All the while thinking, am I missing something? Does everyone in Colorado wear woven shirts for mucking out horse stalls and roping cows, while the rest of us in the U.S. are wearing t-shirts and layering knits? Had we missed a trend that was critical to the heart of America? Then Sunday came, the day when the guests leave, when the wranglers become regular folk and start fixing things, clearing up garbage, and resting. And on this day, the t-shirts rose, yellow ones with text, plain ones, navy blue. The wranglers had transformed from gods of woven shirting into everyday flatlander folk. And then the light-bulb went off in the dimwitted brain of a garment executive—the uniform at the ranch is the western shirt. Too bad, I was enjoying the bliss of a nation of Brokeback Mountain clothes riding Western style down city streets. Yee ha. Shown: The Grizzly Plaid Shirt from Brooklyn Industries Source: wordsfromthewatertower.com Find out more about Lexy and Brooklyn Industries

Texas Filmmakers Ready Western For Production A contemporary Western in the tradition of “Hud” and “Brokeback Mountain,” “The Garden and the Wilderness” explores some of the profoundest questions of our daily lives: “Why do we have to work to live? Why must we grow old and die? Why is life so hard?” The film examines the story of Will James, a Texas ranch hand who has served as the caretaker of the private Triple-C hunting ranch in the Texas Hill Country. After the death of the ranch’s owner and patriarch, his family decides to sell the property to developers so that it can be converted into a housing development. Faced with the prospect of leaving a patch of earth on which he has worked for more than 30 years, James is forced to grapple with the reality of a life without the job that has given his life purpose. “In researching this film, I became very interested in writers who examined the question of what role work plays in our daily lives,” says the film’s writer and director Craig Whitney. “As the joke goes, the tragedy of life is that work is the only thing that you can do for eight hours a day, everyday. But on the other hand, writers from Hesiod to Martin Luther have found something steeling and ineffable in the purpose with which work imbues day-to-day life. It’s a dichotomy that I found very interesting.” Learning that he must leave the ranch, James is then faced with a personal tragedy that further calls into question the central role that work has played in his life. Without the ordering role of labor and vocation, he must confront a harrowing new reality where work is no longer enough to order the fragments of his existence and “make whole what has been smashed.”

To raise additional production funds for “The Garden and the Wilderness,” Whitney and his team have turned to IndieGoGo, an innovative new website that allows emerging artists to solicit funding for their film, music, photography and other artistic projects. Individuals who are interested in assisting the production can visit the film’s page on IndieGoGo and contribute funds in exchange for perks including exclusive email updates, DVD copies of the film, and thank you or associate producer credit. Read more.   Source: mediasyndicate.com

Seventeen Semi-Finalists Chosen in Great Gay Screenplay Contest Chicago, IL - Seventeen screenplays with GLBT themes or characters have been named semifinalists in the first Great Gay Screenplay Contest sponsored by Pride Films and Plays.     PFP's Executive Director David Zak says "I am thrilled with the quality of the work received, and with the semi-finalists chosen by our judging panel of film and theater professionals from across the country. We firmly believe in the need for fresh GLBT stories that are important to the community and ready for the world." He continued, "The screenplays were submitted to the panel blindly, and I am delighted that the seven women and eleven men whose work was chosen represent six different states (CA, IL, GA, KS, NY, WI), and international entries from France and Australia."     The next round of judging by film and theater professionals will winnow the field to five finalists, and those works will be performed as stage readings at the Hoover-Leppen Theater at the Center on Halsted on November 20 and 21, 2010 as the conclusion of Reeling: The Chicago International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival.     Read about the 17 plays.   Source: chicago.broadwayworld.com

Satirist ponders true meaning of Christ outside Christianity Becky Garrison is a New York-based religious satirist with the requisite irreverence and vicious wit. But, as she reveals in her new book "Jesus Died For This? A Satirist's Search for the Risen Christ," she's also a seeker who truly wants to understand what Jesus was about and how believers should follow him. In her travels over the past several years, including visits to the Holy Land, Ireland, Seattle and Yankee Stadium, Garrison separates the spiritually meaningful from what she calls the "ungodly glitz and Jesus junk." She shared some of her observations in an interview with Eileen Flynn. Austin American-Statesman: You write religious satire, but your search for the risen Christ is very sincere. What inspired you to write ‘Jesus Died For This?' Becky Garrison: Like Anne Rice, I often find myself wanting to "Quit Christianity so I can follow Christ." In Brokeback Mountain fashion, "I wish I knew how to quit Christ" because most days I'm in complete agreement with George Carlin, Bill Hicks and Eddie Izzard that these faith follies make no freaking sense whatsoever. Maybe I am just reading the wrong red-letter version of the Bible, but I cannot reconcile the Greatest Commandment with the sound bites uttered by believers like Ann Coulter, Sarah Palin, and Bill O'Reilly. Nor am I interested in the God goo espoused by Oprah and her cadre of self-help quacks. Read more.    Source: statesman.com

Discrimination Puts All Alaskans at Risk August 11 marks the one-year anniversary of the Anchorage Assembly's courageous decision to pass Ordinance 64, which protected all residents of Anchorage from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Even though the assembly passed Ordinance 64 by a vote of 7 to 4, Mayor Sullivan vetoed the assembly's democratic vote. In spite of lengthy testimony and thorough documentation of discrimination against gay and transgender Alaskans, Mayor Sullivan insisted that there was no evidence of discrimination in Anchorage. The absence of Ordinance 64 means that all Alaskans—gay and straight—are vulnerable to discrimination. In an age when gay couples are constantly in the media, when we watch Will and Grace on TV and see Brokeback Mountain in the movie theatre, it can be easy to forget that lesbian, gay, and transgender equality is about livelihoods rather than lifestyles. Because of discrimination, gay and transgender Alaskans suffer economically. Supporting equal rights is as simple as supporting the right of all Alaskans to earn a living and provide for their families. Read the full article.    Source: anchoragepress.com

Jakey G is Doing the Ugly Dance



Have you ever wanted to dance with handsome Jake Gyllenhaal? Now's your chance!

TheUglyDance.com is an interactive work of art created by the Swedish band Fulkultur.

Make Jake dance, or create your own at theuglydance.com

Jake Gyllenhaal: Better than Viagra




"The last time Jake Gyllenhaal shared the screen with Anne Hathaway (in 2005's Brokeback Mountain),
her boobs played a major role. Anne's ample assets are also prominently featured in their trailer for
their latest film -- albeit in a much more PG-13 way. Love and Other Drugs sees Jake take on
the role of a smooth-talking, womanizing pharmaceutical sales rep who ends up meeting
Anne's character as he's pretending to be an interning physician."

Read more and watch the trailer at nypost.com

Join the discussion for Love and Other Drugs in the spoiler free or spoilers okay threads.

Guess Who's Doing Porno (Again)? It seems Mark Walhberg will be involved in the porn business once more. On television, that is. The New York Post says a new show on HBO is in the works that will focus on the porn industry in Los Angeles, and that it's going to be huge: "Entourage and Boardwalk Empire executive producers Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson are working with controversial writer James Frey -- whose next book is titled The Final Testament of the Holy Bible -- on a one-hour drama that will use both legit actors and real porn performers. "The plot will focus on a giant video company under siege from Internet competitors and a girl from the Midwest whose boyfriend convinces her to move to Los Angeles to become a star. "We're going to make a sprawling epic about the porn business in LA," says Frey. " We're going to tell the type of stories no one else has told before, and go places no one has gone before." Hmm. Maybe they'll go the gay route and really raise some eyebrows. But isn't it funny how Wahlberg himself said that reading 15 pages of the Brokeback Mountain script creeped him out and that his Catholic advisor and long-time friend Rev. James Flavin strongly discouraged him from accepting the job? Apparently this advisor thought Wahlberg's role as a drug sniffing and well-hung porn star in the film Boogie Nights was fine, and that his involvement in this upcoming HBO program about pornography passes muster in the eyes of the Lord. It's too bad a film about two men in love wasn't good enough, but we're not complaining: if Wahlberg was in Brokeback, it probably would have been excruciating, even if he once posed with Crisco.

The Forum Pet

Posted by doodler. See more adorable Whoodles in Pets and Other Animal Friends

"And this is Montana from the Fall '09 litter who lives in New York but is vacationing in New England."

Post of the Day

Posted by michalflanagansf in Gay History -- How We Got Here

"...was was this coded homophobia in the 19th century? Were the aesthetics perceived as homosexual
by the larger culture and was part of the parody of them homophobic? When you look at the image
included in that article of the teapot from 1882 you can understand why I ask that."

Please feel free to join the discussion on the Aestheticism movement of the 19th century and its
relationship with the nascent homosexual rights movement of the time in the Gay History thread.

Fun Question of the Week

This week's question:  What is the shortest film title to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy award? Let us know your answers in the Response Thread. Last week's question and answer: What is the unusual item pictured at left? Who used it first, and what does it do? fofol was correct: it's a chocolate stirrer! Or a molinillo, to be exact. Judyh elaborated and added her insight: "The item featured in Question of the Week is a molinillo. It is used to beat hot chocolate into a delicious froth. I have one, bought in the market in Oaxaca, Mexico. As to the origin, opinions differ. Various stories have it invented by the Maya centuries ago, by the Spanish colonists in the late 1700s, or by the French again in the late 1700s after Europeans developed a taste for the New World treat. Don't know who is right. I'd vote for the Spanish colonists." Read more about the unusual kitchen gadget on the Smithsonian Magazine website.

The Forum Image

A trio of photographs by Cally, Trigger Hippie, and conny, as seen in Life Through The Lens 4

Quote of the Day

“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.”

~ Pamela Hansford Johnson ~

Photo Caption of the Day

Posted by TwistandShout in Photo Captioning Fun 5

"Kiss?" "No kiss . . ."

Contributors: michalflanagansf, fofol, JudyH, Cally, Trigger Hippie, conny, TwistandShout

Calendar of Events If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you. Fifth Anniversary Screening of Brokeback Mountain and the staged reading of selections from Beyond Brokeback Los Angeles, CA, December 11th, 2010 Let us know of any events you’d like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum.

Today's edition by gnash

Researchers: BayCityJohn, Killersmom, Kittyhawk, Marge_Innavera, Stilllearning

Editors emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning, MissYouSoMuch

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.
If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to gnash.

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When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail.

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[killersmom]

Tuesday, Aug. 31st, 2010

CALL FOR PAPERS: Queer Love 2010 Film & History Conference: Representations of Love in Film and Television Not so many years ago, a kiss between two men or two women on television or in a Hollywood movie was shocking, but images of two people of the same sex loving each other—in groundbreaking television shows such as Queer as Folk and The L Word and movies such as Brokeback Mountain and Milk—are gradually becoming a more visible part of the cinematic landscape. The real life love stories of same-sex couples are also becoming more visible. And with same-sex marriage now legal or being actively debated in many states within the U.S. and in many countries around the world, now seems a good moment to take a critical look at how gay and lesbian love has been represented in film and television history. This area, comprising multiple panels, welcomes papers that investigate the idea of “queer love,” broadly speaking. How have representations of homosexual romantic and sexual relationships changed over the years? What is the relationship between representation of gay and lesbian romantic and sexual stories in popular film and television, and attitudes toward gay and lesbian individuals and the LGBT community in general? In other words, is there a relationship between representation and social change?  What is the relationship between same-sex love stories and heterosexual love stories? Has the broader acceptance of gay and lesbian stories in all forms of media and society altered the nature of the love story more generally? In other words, what would it mean to say that the love story has been “queered”? Papers might take any of a number of approaches—aesthetic or textual, historical, philosophical, cultural, psychoanalytic, semiotic, post-structural, post-colonial, gender or—of course—queer. Topics might include, but are not limited to the following: •   The legacy of Brokeback Mountain •   The representation of same-sex love and romance in film and/or television history •   The representation of gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender sex in film and/or television history •   Homosexual love in world cinema traditions •   Love, sex, and romance in television shows featuring gay or lesbian characters (e.g., Queer as Folk, The L Word, Will and Grace) •   Same-sex romantic subplots in television shows not primarily focused on gay or lesbian characters (e.g., Ugly Betty, Glee) •   Gay and lesbian love, sex, and romance in reality television •   Queer theory, love, and film •   Queer love, television, and politics •   Homoerotic subtexts in heterosexual love stories •   Queer love and genre: comedy, drama, sci fi, and more •   Fan love – audience response to television and movie characters/actors •   Straight viewers who love queer characters •   TV and film characters in fanfiction – gay and lesbian romance and slash fiction Please send 200-word paper proposals to the area chair Pamela Demory, Ph.D, University Writing Program at the University of California, Davis. Email: phdemory@ucdavis.edu (email submissions preferred) Final Deadline: September 15, 2010 Panel proposals for up to four presenters are also welcome, but each presenter must submit his or her own paper proposal. For updates and registration information about the upcoming meeting, see the Film & History website (www.uwosh.edu/filmandhistory). 2010 Film & History Conference: Representations of Love in Film and Television, November 11–14 at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. Visit www.uwosh.edu/filmandhistory for more information.

Vote for AfterElton.com's 50 Greatest Gay Movies

Looking back over the past twelve months since we last surveyed our readers as to which are the Greatest Gay/Bi Movies of all time, it's hard not to feel at least some dismay at how little gay cinema seems to have progressed since the high water mark of 2005's Brokeback Mountain (which has topped our poll two years running). In fact, if not for the critical success of A Single Man last fall, the entire past year might be considered the worst in some time when it comes to high profile gay movies garnering mainstream attention. But even the critical success of A Single Man is tempered by the fact it only earned $9 million in the U.S. and another $15 million overseas. Meanwhile, Milk, the year's previous big gay movie, not only earned two Academy Awards, but pulled in more than $50 million dollars worldwide. Throw in the fact that Ewan McGregor and Jim Carrey's I Love You Philip Morris has languished in distribution hell with its release being pushed back numerous times (it's now set for early December), reportedly due to concern over its graphic portrayal of gay male sex, and it's hard not to wonder if things might not be going backward. At least us gay and bi guys can take heart in the fact that the lesbian-themed The Kids Are All Right has been one of the most acclaimed movies of the year, thus far earning nearly $20 million dollars and hopefully multiple Oscar nominations next year.  ... Below, you'll find a ballot where you can enter your top five choices. Cast your votes by midnight Friday, September 10th and we’ll tally and post the results for you on Monday, September 20th. We're going to ask everyone to play nicely, so please no ballot stuffing. Ballots that have the same movie more than once only get counted as one vote for that movie. And note, only one vote allowed per IP address. Also, this list is only meant to encompass movies about, or of interest to, gay and bisexual men. If you happen to be interested in movies about lesbians and bisexual women, please visit our sister site AfterEllen.com. If you need a little something to jog your memory, you can peruse the lists for 2008 and 2009, or visit our movie forums where there are several threads about gay/bi movies. Read more and VOTE NOW!    Source: afterelton.com

Hundreds Join Nepal's First Pride Parade Hundreds of people from the community of homosexuals and transgenders marched together, singing songs and performing dances, in a colourful display of gay pride, as Nepal held its first international gay parade here today.

The colourful rally culminated in the lighting of hundreds of candles, coinciding with the Hindu Cow Festival.Horse bogies, decorated elephants, cultural floats also featured during the gay pride parade as gay artists presented cultural performances. Irish Lawmaker Dominique Hanningan, also a gay, and British Ambassador to Nepal John Tucknott were present.Besides, diplomats from Denmark, Germany, UK and French embassies also came in to offer support, said Sunil Babu Panta, gay lawmaker and president of the Blue Diamond Society, a body dedicated for the welfare of LGBTI (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-sexual and inter-sex) community. At least a dozen lesbians and gays from India also took part in the first international gay parade in Nepal."The International Pride Day organised in Nepal is not just about LGBT people standing up for their rights. Its about all of us - straight or gay - supporting them in their quest for equality," British Ambassador John Tucknott said. Read more.    Source: deccanherald.com     Watch the historical parade on YouTube

IRELAND: Gay Couples Call for Full Rights SAME-SEX couples should not be grateful for being given half the rights of married couples in Ireland, a demonstration to highlight shortcomings in civil partnership legislation was told yesterday. Anna McCarthy, organiser with Noise, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender campaign group, said while the introduction of civil partnership legislation may have been a victory for decency, it was not a victory for equality or civil rights. More than 2,000 people took part in the march in Dublin city centre yesterday afternoon from City Hall to the Department of Justice on St Stephen’s Green. Organisers said the Government had tried to “pacify” the gay community but had failed. They called for the right to marry for same-sex couples. The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2009, signed into law last month, extended marriage-like benefits to gay and lesbian couples in some areas but did not address the rights of children. Ms McCarthy said the legislation had given same-sex couples half the rights of heterosexual couples. “As citizens of this country we should not be grateful that we have been given a select number of the rights of everybody else,” she said. “We may acknowledge it is better than no rights, but in tandem with this express our outrage that we are being denied the other half.” Read more.    Source: irishtimes.com

Rachel Maddow’s Powerful Interview with Cadet Katie Miller Katie Miller, the West Point Cadet who resigned her career in the Military over the Don’t Ask Don’t tell Policy, participated in a series of interviews tonight, conducted by Rachel Maddow, raising questions about the Administrations handling of the DADT Policy. Maddow conducted a powerful interview with Miller responsive and clear in her motivation; here it is for our readers to view and to comment on their impression. Watch the video on lezgetreal.com   Source: lezgetreal.com

Mexican Supreme Court OKs gay adoption In a 9-2 vote August 16, Mexico's Supreme Court upheld the portion of Mexico City's same-sex marriage law that lets married gay and lesbian couples adopt. As previously reported, in two other August rulings, the court had upheld the main part of the marriage law and ruled that same-sex couples who marry in Mexico City are validly married everywhere in the nation, in all 31 states. Human Rights Watch said the trio of rulings confirmed "that the state cannot withhold any legal rights on the grounds of a person's sexual orientation and gender identity." "This decision will have resonance for courts throughout the continent for protecting the basic human rights of LGBT people," said the group's Juliana Cano Nieto. Mexico City's legalization of same-sex marriage and adoption had been targeted by the federal attorney general, whose office said the moves undermined "family" and the interests of children. The court decided, however, that married heterosexuals are just one kind of "family" and that children's interests are served by having a loving family regardless of their parents' sex. Same-sex marriage is legal in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Mexico City, Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Washington, D.C. Mexico City same-sex marriages are recognized throughout the nation. Two other U.S. states – New York and Maryland – recognize, as full marriages, same-sex marriages that were entered into elsewhere. California recognizes both same-sex marriages from elsewhere and same-sex marriages that took place in California – if the marriage in question occurred before the November 2008 passage of Proposition 8. Same-sex couples can adopt in Belgium, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Mexico City, and 16 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. In addition, a gay or lesbian partner can adopt his or her partner's child in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Norway and 25 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Read more.   Source: ebar.com

Directed by Heath Ledger: She's Hot



Performed by ARIA-winning rapper and friend N'fa Forster-Jones,
directed by Heath Ledger, with solo dancer Carolina Cerisola.

Watch the video on youtube.com

JJ Bird Eyes Ibiza Trip with JLS Pal Aston BIG BROTHER (UK) hunk JJ Bird is set to go on the pull in Ibiza with pal Aston from JLS (Jack the Lad Swing) The pair who are mates booked to go off to the party island months ago. Boxer JJ also joked how he guessed gay fans might have misread his close friendship with John James in the house. He said: "I thought they'd call it a bromance. "I don't mind but we're not gay. "One night we were gonna camp out in the garden like cowboys. "But I thought we'd end up looking like Brokeback Mountain so we ditched that idea." Readmore.   Source: dailystar.co.uk

Shame Video Premiere - Not as Brokeback as Expected Starring both Robbie and Gary Barlow on screen for the first time in fifteen years, the hilarious music video for Robbie's new single, Shame, sees two of the newly re-united Take That members share a spot of topless bromance in the rocky Santa Monica mountains in Malibu! The new video is directed by Vaughan Arnell, the genius behind Robbie's recent Morning Sun and Bodies videos, plus the iconic Angels, Rock DJ, Supreme, Feel, Let Me Entertain You, Millennium, Radio, Rock DJ and Somethin' Stupid videos too. Shame will be released on 4th October 2010, but the CD, which features brand new track The Queen on b-side, is available to pre-order right now from Amazon.co.uk. Watch the video on robbiewilliams.com

Cannabis Car Powered by Electricity A Canadian company called Motive is developing an electric, four-passenger vehicle with a shell made out of composite material from hemp mats. (Photos of it have not been officially released yet, but an indication of what it might look like can be found in a photo of one of their other car designs.) Such a material is known as a bio-composite because it is plant-based. These materials are becoming more popular because they are light weight and low cost. Dr. John Wolodoko from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures who makes the material said, “Natural materials such as hemp can offer a green and sustainable alternative to conventional fibres used in composites.” The company is located in Edmonton, and the hemp they use is grown in Vegreville. Read more.    Source: care2.com

UV Light Reveals how Ancient Greak Statues Really Looked Original Greek statues were brightly painted, but after thousands of years, those paints have worn away. Find out how shining a light on the statues can be all that's required to see them as they were thousands of years ago. Although it seems impossible to think that anything could be left to discover after thousands of years of wind, sun, sand, and art students, finding the long lost patterns on a piece of ancient Greek sculpture can be as easy as shining a lamp on it. A technique called ‘raking light' has been used to analyze art for a long time. A lamp is positioned carefully enough that the path of the light is almost parallel to the surface of the object. When used on paintings, this makes brushstrokes, grit, and dust obvious. On statues, the effect is more subtle. Brush-strokes are impossible to see, but because different paints wear off at different rates, the stone is raised in some places – protected from erosion by its cap of paint – and lowered in others. Elaborate patterns become visible. Read more.    Source: io9.com

I Cain't Quit This Science Conference Flier



The American Society for Cell Biology, based in Bethesda, Md., is using this
postcard to entice scientists to send in cell-biology-related videos to its annual
convention this winter, as well as to encourage journalists to cover it.

Read more. Source: popsci.com

Remembering tacitus - Robert Baxter

Robert Baxter, a Courier-Post writer who provided a voice for the South Jersey arts community for almost three decades, has died. Mr. Baxter, 69, was a critic and reporter whose work reflected a high degree of talent and expertise. But many people on Thursday remembered his passion, describing a quiet and reserved man with a lifelong love for the fine arts, particularly opera. On occasion, Mr. Baxter's work could be intensely personal. In an August 2005 column inspired by the release of the film Brokeback Mountain,  Mr. Baxter came out in print as a gay man -- recounting the pain of keeping the secret from his family, even after a severe beating in a gay-bashing incident. "I locked away a lifetime of hate and persecution in an emotional tinderbox," he wrote at the time. "It ignited when I saw Brokeback Mountain." Three of his works also appeared in Beyond Brokeback: The Impact of a Film, a 2007 collection of personal stories culled from tens of thousands of contributions. Read more.    Source: courierpostonline.com    Photo via philly.com

Real-life cowboys offered hope to young man growing up gay in America

By Robert Baxter  (This story is also published in our book Beyond Brokeback: The Impact of a Film as The Brokeback Miracle)

I know all about the homophobia that existed in 1963, the year Jack and Ennis met on Brokeback Mountain. I came out that same summer -- not in rural Wyoming but at a liberal California university. Like Ennis, I kept telling myself, "I ain't no queer." Finally, after years of tortured denial, I embraced what I am. Gay. It was rough then. There were no support groups and no resources available to provide a helping hand as we struggled to accept our sexuality and overcome the self-loathing society heaped on us. Five of my close friends at Stanford, I later discovered, also were gay. But that was a subject we couldn't raise with each other until years later. We were too uptight and, I guess, ashamed. So we led our secret lives. Read more.    Source: courierpostonline.com

Fun Question of the Week

This week's question: What country does Haagen Daz™ ice cream come from? Try to answer without running to your freezer! Discussing your favorite flavors is also encouraged. Let us know your answers in the Response Thread. Last week's question and answer:  What is the shortest film title to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy award? Ennis Del Mark was correct when he said Z was the film with the shortest title. He was also correct when guessing the date as well: 1969. The films nominated in the best picture category that year: Midnight Cowboy, Anne of the Thousand Days, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Hello, Dolly!, and of course, Z. "Z is a 1969 French language political thriller directed by Costa Gavras, with a screenplay by Gavras and Jorge Semprún, based on the 1966 novel of the same name by Vassilis Vassilikos. The film presents a thinly fictionalized account of the events surrounding the assassination of democratic Greek politician Gregoris Lambrakis in 1963. With its satirical view of Greek politics, its dark sense of humor, and its chilling ending, the film captures the outrage about the military dictatorship that ruled Greece at the time of its making." Read more about Z on wikipedia.com

The Forum Image

Posted by dahlia in Life Through The Lens 4

"Fierce looking hairy cows"

Post of the Day

Posted by BayCityJohn in the Happy Birthday Thread

Happy Birthday Diana from your Brokeback Forum Fans!!

August 24 was Diana Ossana's birthday. I sent her a little greeting card. Diana sent a reply to us: You're the reason we made this film...thank you, thank you, thank you. All good things, Diana

The Forum Pet

Posted by Marz in Pets and Other Animal Friends

"this is Bob!"

Quote of the Day

“Love makes you empty — empty of jealousy, empty of power trips, empty
of anger, empty of competitiveness, empty of your ego and all its garbage.”

~ Osho ~

Photo Caption of the Day

Posted by george66 in Photo Captioning Fun 5

Let’s see how…


“I Am What I Am (I’m my own special creation)”

Must be some self-help song.


”Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”

Sounds like a song for strippers.


”Express Yourself”

Sung by Madonna. Must be a song about religion.


”It’s Raining Men…Hallelujah!“

Definitely a religious song. How else you explain men falling from the sky?


"Sweet Transvestite"

A song about Transylvania here in Riverton? Oh well.


”You Make Me Feel Mighty Real”

Funny. Saying the words got my hips shaking.


”I’m Coming Out”

Coming out where?


”Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down”

Mm...Jack.


”Free, Gay and Happy”

Mmm…


“Macho Man“

”In The Navy”

”YMCA”

Finally! Songs a real man can enjoy…what a minute…


”A Love That Will Never Grow Old“

Sounds real pretty. Bet Jack would really like that one.

Contributors: lovelyamazing, Marz, Ennis Del Mark, BayCityJohn, dahlia, george66

Calendar of Events If you have ideas about initiating a gathering, go to Start Your Own Threads and get the ball rolling to plan a get-together near you. Fifth Anniversary Screening of Brokeback Mountain and the staged reading of selections from Beyond Brokeback Los Angeles, CA, December 11th, 2010 Let us know of any events you’d like listed here.

The Daily Sheet is a production of The Ultimate Brokeback Forum at www.davecullen.com/forum.

Today's edition by gnash

Researchers: BayCityJohn, Killersmom, Kittyhawk, Marge_Innavera, Stilllearning

Editors emeritae: CactusGal, Marge_Innavera, tellyouwhat, Stilllearning, MissYouSoMuch

We count on you to send us your news items, questions, and nominations for posts of the day.
If you have items you’d like to see published, send them to gnash.

To subscribe to The Daily Sheet, click the “Notify” button at the top or bottom of the page.
When a new issue of TDS is posted, you will be notified by e-mail.

The Daily Sheet Archives
Respond to The Daily Sheet