Posted by JCruzDir at 138.87.47.157 on August 01, 2001 at 17:47:53:
In Reply to: Some bad, bad news concerning me and GLAAD posted by Kevin on July 31, 2001 at 17:52:15:
ViewAskew-ers:
I'm so glad to see that so many of us have taken GLAAD to task for their mishandling of this situation. Out of respect for the artistic freedom of their very own members, I hope they'll stop this negative campaign before it goes too far.
I have included the letter I sent in case anyone cares or would like to add something.
We'll be rooting for rationality, Kevin.
To Scott Seomin and whomever else it may concern:
I am very disappointed in your recent campaign to demonize director Kevin Smith's new movie, "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."
In the letter that Mr. Smith received from GLAAD, Mr. Seomin enumerated several reasons why an impressionable audience could be swayed to believe that defamation of the homosexual lifestyle was acceptable. I could refute the concerns outlined in the letter one by one, but I think I'd be kicking a dead horse.
What infuriates me the most is that GLAAD has not only defamed the viewing public by insinuating that we are so impressionable as to accept the humor in the film only at face value, but GLAAD has pursued this campaign to the media in an attempt to extract their pound of flesh. I agree that there will be a few people who will see the "gay" jokes in the movie as a standard of conduct. I think you have sorely underestimated the intellect and understanding of the average ViewAskew fan.
Most people who will see this film will see it because they love Kevin Smith's fast-paced, funny stories and characters. They will not see it to confirm their views on racism, child abuse, or homosexuality.
I don't need to remind you that this movie is also being agressively marketed as part of a series. That series also includes the movie "Chasing Amy", a film that is based on the premise that being "gay" is just loving someone. I doubt people will be able to see "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" without referencing that viewpoint from "Chasing Amy".
Instead of defaming one of the gay and lesbian community's media proponents, perhaps the GLAAD time and funding would be better spent supporting the spread of an important message. "Your artistic freedom is important because it reflects our freedom to choose our own way as well. Please, enjoy the show, and when your hear the "gay" jokes, I hope you can enjoy them in the spirit in which they were meant: as a lens to view us all, homosexual and heterosexual alike, as a part of this crazy, hilarious, and sometimes ludicrous world."
Very truly yours,
Jessica Thompson