This weekend, Transamerica opens in Pittsburgh.  This film, which garnered a Best Actress Golden Globe for Felicity Huffman, focuses on the relationship between a transgender woman (Huffman) and the teenage son she didn't know she fathered. 

It is playing in one (1) theater -- the Cinemagic on Forward Avenue in Squirrel Hill. 

(Side note:  Brokeback Mountain is now showing in 11 local theaters.)

The PG gives the movie 2 1/2 stars, taking Huffman's performance seriously but finding weak the credibility of her having been a man.  They also question the director's choice to have a biological-born woman play the role of a biologically-born man transitioning to a woman. 

Is Paris suggesting that only a biological-born male could convincingly play a MtF transexual woman?  Or veering into a homophobic suggestion that only a transexual woman could convincingly play a transexual woman? 

If Huffman isn't convincing, it is due to her acting.  Not her gender identity. 

The Trib's Ed Blank weighs in on this facet of Huffman's performance in his positive review

What's striking is that you can see in the performance the struggle to repress a(n effeminate) male who, as we know, isn't really beneath the makeup.

Hopefully, I can get to the movie this weekend. 

Sue

This morning the Post-Gazette editors condemn the bill introduced in the PA House of Representatives that would amend the constitution to "protect marriage." 

The PG notes that the amendment's impace reaches far beyond the queer community, threatening unmarried heterosexual families including adoptive parents and senior citizens. 

They rightly criticize the homo-haters who have signed on to co-sponsor this piece of legislation:

Shame is right!  Every single one of these co-sponsors has taken time away from meeting their constituents real needs in order to propagate a hate-laced agenda.  There's no justification for co-sponsoring this bill.   Especially the Democrats!  This is pure and simple pandering to the right wing base and it is going to come back to haunt them. 

They give a shout out to our friend and champion Dan Frankel for using his time constructively to address family issues. 

Two Pennsylvania residents weigh in on the the vicious discrimination underlying this legislation. 

Disgusting!

Sue

Brokeback Mountain came to town two weeks ago and opened in two (2) theatres -- Loews at the Waterfront and The Manor in Squirrel Hill.  That's it.

Fast forward and there are homo curious moviegoeers lined up all over this town.  It is playing in NINE theaters.  Hmmm ....

Another point of interest ... I have not seen a single Letter to Editor about this movie in any local paper.  Unusual, no?  There's a whole cadre of homohaters who seem to live for penning nasty missives condemning anything gay related to the fiery pit of hell.  But nada on this movie. 

What's that about?

One final very important point -- Transamerica opens this weekend here in our fair city.   

Synopsis: A preoperative male-to-female transsexual travels to New York when she discovers she may have fathered a son who is currently in prison. A misunderstanding finds her son believing she is a Christian missionary, and the two travel to Los Angeles together where they begin to build a relationship.

Felicity Huffman took home the Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in this movie.  The critics love her in this role and I am very excited to see a transsexual character generate so much positive buzz. 

Now we need a mainstream movie where the lesbian is not a murderer or a sidekick. 

Sue

Last night episode of the Book of Daniel should appease all the homo-hating fears of the right wingers.  Not one but both gay characters lived down to stereotype and experimented with heterosexual sex.  The self-described "lesbian" sister in law got all hot and bothered by one of the male mafia construction workers, but in all fairness she did start off in a heterosexual marriage. So like all good stereotypes, she fits right in with the bisexual image of being promiscuous and flighty.  Goody for her!

Then there's the son.  Allegedly 23 years old and somewhat somber, he's been dodging the machinations of his oblivious grandfather to set him up with a nice girl.  Said nice girl (the niece of grandpa's mistress) got the hots for the homo and tried to seduce him in the backseat of a sedan.  Rather than the awkward fumbling we anticipate, he acted like any "23 year old man" and screwed her. 

Hallelujah, he's cured! 

What a crock.  The mumbling mafioso have more authenticity than the homos. 

Disgusting.

Sue

L.A. Johnson sums up local reaction to the Pittsburgh opening of Brokeback Mountain

Variety reports that from Friday through Sunday, the Pittsburgh theaters in which the film opened grossed more than $20,000, a high figure for even a Hollywood blockbuster.

That confirms my unofficial report from Dustin, the Loews' waiter who took care of our table Saturday evening. 

The article goes on to quote many local viewers, most of whom appear to be deeply moved by this movie experience. I've been asking everyone I know when they plan to see it and lecturing them sternly if they hesitate.  Not sure how that is working out.

One viewer had the perfect response to the homo-hater naysayers. 

"Ultimately, this is a piece of art, and if you don't want to see it, don't go see it," says Ariel's dad, Michael Horowitz, 50, of Squirrel Hill.

"It was very good. People walk away with a message that says love is love, whether it's heterosexual or homosexual."

Go see this movie!

Sue

The gays swept the Golden Globes last night, taking home Best Actor (Capote), Best Actress (Transamerica), Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay and Best Original Song (Brokeback Mountain) for all heavily gay themed performances.

Here's what the incomparable Felicity Huffman said during her acceptance of the Best Actress award for her performance as Bree in Transamerica

"I know as actors our job is usually to shed our skins but I think as people, our job is to become who we really are, and so I would like to salute the men and women who brave ostracism, alienation and a life lived on the margins to become who they really are," the actress said, to roaring approval."

It was an ecstatic night for your lesbian correspondents followed up by an exclusive appearance on The Temporary John McIntire Show on KDKA during the 11 PM hour. 

A caller (let's call her Sue) wanted to know if I saw a comparison between Brokeback Mountain and The Crying Game (you remember the "big reveal" don't you?).  She was almost rapturous describing her emotional response to the compassion and beauty of this movie's touching story about the gay experience.  When I asked if she was planning to see Brokeback Mountain, she told me probably not because the gay male sex scene seemed unnatural.

SIGH

Sue -- you need to go see this movie.  I guarantee if you had such a strong response to The Crying Game (an excellent film) that Brokeback Mountain will be a completely satisfying experience for you.  Please PLEASE go see this movie. 

please.  I will take you to the movies AND dinner afterwards to discuss. 

Sue

Tonight your faithful correspondent will talk with ardent lesbian admirer John McIntire during the 11 PM hour on KDKA.  Our topics of conversation will be Brokeback Mountain and other random LGBT issues. 

Call in!

Sue