A Homosexual Cinematic Storm Is Brewing

Not so long ago, pioneering film makers and script writers fought to push homosexuality into the celluloid world of cinema. Often, we could only be portrayed in dingy art house cinemas, in underground film movements. Homosexuals cried out to be given a place in mainstream cinema, and now that time does indeed seem to be coming, ironically all we can do is moan.  
 
Of course gay people are sterotyped in 'pop' culture, but give me one group of people who aren't. Popular film works on these sterotypes to share information with mass audiences, its the only way it works, and we shouldn't take it as a reflection on ourselves, but as every group (minority or majority) as a whole. Black people will always be portrayed the same way, as will action heroes and feminists, and teenagers, for god sake, we have our very own parady of teen labels in 'Not Another Teen Movie'.  
 
Gay consumers need to look back at a time when it was illegal to portray homosexuality in cinema, and think about the brave men and women who did it anyway, and very often paid the consequences. Their indie films paved the way for what we are going through today. A surge of gay popular culture. Whatever the portrayal, its a portrayal, we might moan at Will & Grace for being too camp, but we KNOW there are millions of 'Jacks' out there. We may moan about films like Bent, but we know also there are millions of down trodden and scared young gay people in the world. All portrayals, no matter how cliche are based on truth. If what you really are mad about is that there is no film out there to portray YOU, then it's time to go out there and make it yourself. But, of course, because you are an individual, and different to every other person, whether your bonded by skin colour or sexual orientation, then your film will be individual as well, as we'll be back to the grungy back street art house cinemas. Its one choice or the other people, you play the fame game, or you don't. It's up to you.

Guest