Posted by Biran McGuirk at 205.245.170.33 on August 01, 2001 at 15:40:27:
In Reply to: Some bad, bad news concerning me and GLAAD posted by Kevin on July 31, 2001 at 17:52:15:
Hi Kevin,
I haven't posted in this forum since View Askew web board #3 or so. I'm probably what you'd call a casual fan (so everyone else forgive me for not reading your replies to this issue and saying something stupid). Last night I read about the whole GLAAD flap on News Askew and I'm here to cry foul.
After reading their comments to you I tried to think of some movies and shows that I thought would at least register the same response that GLAAD has bestowed on Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. I came up with Scary Movie and South Park because they both seem to be aimed at a similar audience demographic. A quick search for South Park on GLAAD's site finds an article that supports the Big Gay Al episode where Stan's Dog runs away to Big Gay Al's gay animal sanctuary. Scary Movie, which repeatedly makes fun of a character because of his latent homosexuality didn't make it to their radar.
Why is South Park given the license to satirize homophobia and Kevin Smith not? It doesn't seem consistent and it's borderline hypocritical. I think GLAAD has a lot of explaining to do.
The recent trend of organizations going to deep pockets and playing the part of the morality police is disturbing. Jesse Jackson and Rainbow Push do it and it bothers me, even though I'd vote for Jackson for president if he ran tomorrow. Now GLAAD doing it in Matthew Shepard’s memory and that is equally disturbing. I wonder what Mathew Shepard’s parents would think of this? I wouldn't want that money from Kevin or Miramax if I were them. It's tainted and it makes their charity look bad.
Think about it. If Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back were truly homophobic, would Miramax and Kevin paying a "Gay Bashing Tax" make it morally OK for it to gross millions of dollars while peddling an anti-gay message? Not in my book and I hope not in anyone else's book either.
I could go on forever about this. Kevin, don't let this get to you or change the movies you create. You're heart is obviously in the right place and those of us who love your movies realize that Jay and Silent Bob are not to be imitated.
Good luck,
--Brian