I wouldn't do something just caus J and Bob did NT

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: : GLAAD just sent me this email. A bunch of you probably just got the same message, but I thought I'd put it up here. I still don't agree with some of their points, but here's their official stance on the film. Note the passage about a disclaimer being added to the film's credits. That's right, another VA film will apparently carry a disclaimer. : : Annie : : ************************** : : Thank you for contacting us with your concerns about GLAAD's response : : to "Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back." Below please find a document : : currently posted to the GLAAD web site. : : POINT-BY-POINT: : : STATEMENTS BY THE GAY & LESBIAN ALLIANCE AGAINST DEFAMATION (GLAAD) : : ADDRESSING OUR CONCERNS WITH THE UPCOMING FILM "JAY & SILENT BOB : : STRIKE BACK" : : AUGUST 2, 2001 : : : : GLAAD ENTERTAINMENT MEDIA DIRECTOR SCOTT SEOMIN - "GLAAD has raised : : and will continue to raise concerns about 'Jay & Silent Bob Strike : : Back.' We also want to clarify some of the issues that have been : : raised in response to our concerns." : : REGARDING "JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK" AS A SATIRE OF HOMOPHOBIC ATTITUDES: : : "Satire is easily misinterpreted and misunderstood. The impact on a : : viewer may not be what the filmmaker intended, and not every person : : who sees this film will have the sophistication to identify it as : : satire. : : "The audience members who a) think that Jay and Silent Bob are cool, : : and b) see Jay and Silent Bob making anti-gay jokes, may think that : : they can be cool too if they are intolerant and cruel toward gay : : people. This is not OK, and GLAAD has an obligation to speak out : : against representations that pose a threat to gay and lesbian people. : : "Kevin makes films that stimulate dialogue about cultural issues, and : : we want to ensure that the dialogue about 'Jay & Silent Bob' includes : : a discussion of the very real impact of anti-gay slurs on real gay : : people. It's important to note that at no time has GLAAD asked Kevin : : Smith or Miramax to change the content of, or drop plans to : : distribute or promote, 'Jay & Silent Bob.' Nor are we launching any : : organized protests." : : ********** : : REGARDING PREVIOUS PRO-GAY, PRO-TOLERANCE MESSAGES IN KEVIN SMITH'S : : BODY OF WORK AND HIS REPUTATION AS AN ALLY OF THE GAY COMMUNITY: : : "Our concerns with 'Jay & Silent Bob' have nothing to do with Kevin : : Smith's prior films. We understand that his previous films have : : included pro-gay messages, but 'Chasing Amy' is not the movie opening : : on August 24th. We're reacting to the content we've seen in 'Jay & : : Silent Bob Strike Back.' We do not presume that everyone who sees : : 'Jay & Silent Bob' will be familiar with Kevin's past work. They : : will only see what's on the screen in this film. : : "This has never been about Kevin Smith, his talents or his beliefs. I : : truly do not believe that Kevin Smith is a homophobe, nor are we : : doing or saying anything to vilify him personally. I do think that, : : given the film that I've seen, GLAAD has a responsibility to ensure : : that the public dialogue around this film addresses the possible : : consequences of putting homophobia on the screen -- even in a : : satirical context." : : ********** : : REGARDING THE DONATION TO THE MATTHEW SHEPARD FOUNDATION: : : "As Kevin Smith stated in his online post, I asked Miramax (in a : : letter to Sally Morrison, Senior Vice-President of International : : Publicity) to consider making a substantial donation to the Matthew : : Shepard Foundation. During our subsequent conversation, Kevin asked : : if he could do likewise. : : "The suggested Miramax donation would serve two purposes: first, it : : would be a significant monetary contribution to a very worthy cause; : : and second, it would be a powerful symbolic gesture. It would be an : : acknowledgment by Miramax that anti-gay intolerance and violence is : : unacceptable and that Miramax has a role to play in ending it. : : "I'll state the obvious here: GLAAD has nothing to gain from this : : donation. We are not, nor were we ever, the recipients of this : : donation. We encouraged Miramax to express their support for a : : worthy cause. There was never any threat of retribution if they : : choose not to do so. Kevin asked to make a personal donation as : : well. Kevin's donation is a significant gesture of goodwill and : : concern for a good cause, and it stands on its own merit. It does : : not lessen GLAAD's responsibility to educate the public about the : : harmful nature of anti-gay slurs and attitudes." : : ********** : : REGARDING WHAT ELSE GLAAD IS DOING IN RESPONSE TO THE FILM: : : "As a result of the constructive dialogue between Kevin and me, Kevin : : will include a brief comment during the end credits of the film, : : indicating that use of the film's anti-gay slurs in real life is not : : acceptable. We did not ask for, nor will it include, a reference to : : GLAAD or our phone number. : : "The publication on the internet of our letter to Kevin Smith has : : sparked media interest about GLAAD's concerns. We will express our : : concerns with the film in response to media inquiries." : : ********** : : REGARDING COMPARISONS TO THE PROTESTS OVER "DOGMA": : : "'Dogma' was the target of picketers and calls for boycotts. GLAAD : : is doing neither with 'Jay & Silent Bob.' In addition, most of the : : protesters who picketed 'Dogma' had not seen the film; we saw and : : thoughtfully evaluated the potential impact of 'Jay & Silent Bob' : : before making any comment on it. : : "Catholics are not routinely targeted for legal discrimination and : : bashed into school lockers just for being Catholics or for being : : perceived to have Catholic 'tendencies.' Gay people and youth are. : : GLAAD's goal is to spark discussion about the messages of 'Jay & : : Silent Bob' and the potential impact of the film's content on the : : safety of the gay community."

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