Domestic Policy

Brokeback Mountain Stirs Political Controversy

January 3, 2006 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

Conservatives state the movies premise is immoral and unacceptable, Liberals say that the movies popularity reflects their political bases acceptance of changing lifestyles, what do you think? Is this just a movie or is it the tipping point in a very heated debate on Gay Rights initiatives in America?

Whether you like it or not Brokeback Mountain has earned global acceptance in other parts of the world. The movie has earned multiple Golden Globe nominations as well as awards from critics and outstanding raves from film festivals, there is an Oscar buzz already surrounding the movie.

A recent story in Newsweek described Brokeback Mountain by stating, “No American film before has portrayed love between two men as something this pure and sacred. As such, it has the potential to change the national conversation and to challenge people’s ideas about the value and validity of same-sex relationships.” This statement is exactly what the conservative right feared the most.

Brokeback Mountain has put numerous conservatives groups on the offensive once again. Conservatives are worried that the gay rights issues soundly defeated in the 2004 elections will once again become political issues because of all the attention the Brokeback Mountain movie is generating. Conservative groups believe that the attractiveness of the movie will once more energize the gay rights movement groups to once again seek change to current legislation involving controversial issues such as same sex marriage, and life mate benefits.

Conservatives take issue with the movie, Brokeback Mountain, because they feel the popularity of the movie will inspire gay rights groups to once again become politically active, believing that that their way of life is becoming more accepted in mainstream America. The conservatives want the message out there that a good movie does not mean acceptance of a way of life, Bob Jones stated, “Just because Gladiators is a great movie doesn’t mean we begin to accept slave combat.” The statement is a little irrational but you can understand his passion, and his position, on the correlation issue. Many conservatives don’t want their to be an implied correlation that the popularity of a gay based movie means America is ready to accept the gay lifestyle into its mainstream ideals.

The movie stars two heterosexual male actors, Heath Ledger, and Jake Gyllenhaal, as cowboys who are both involved in a man woman relationship. The two end up in a circumstance where they have closeness, then something happens and the apparent heterosexuals find that they have homosexual feelings for each other. The story has created a lot of exposure based on the stories foundation alone.

The movie is getting a staggered release; it will not be widely showing until the middle of January, this is when you can expect the issue to heat up.

Brokeback

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