The Celluloid Closet

My first thoughts about the film were annoyed: why so much with the men? Why why why do gay men get all the attention? I realize that it's because of how society views men and women in general, of course. It's okay for two women to live together, to hold hands and cuddle. That doesn't make them any less feminine; it may make them less feminine. And lesbian sex involves--I don't know if you guys are aware of this--four breasts. Yes. It's true. Gay male sex, meanwhile, involves two penises, which are widely acknowledged to be less sexy and interesting (I've had more than one gay guy ask if he can play with my boobs, because they're just fun). In addition, there's an assumption that two chicks can't do anything in bed that isn't fairly standard for a hetero couple, while two guys, well, we know what THEY do, and it's *dirty*. Even though millions of straight couples--and lesbians--have anal sex, it's still viewed as dirty (both morally and literally). So there's that. Gay men have sex that is viewed as gross, and seeing them even in asexual context is a reminder of their gross sex. Lesbians, on the other hand, did I mention the four boobs?

In addition, of course, it's easier for a straight woman to "act gay"--to be a tomboy, to have short hair, etc, without being called gay. A straight man, on the other hand, cannot wear makeup and tight pants and be, oh, swishy, without being called gay. Hence, perhaps the lesbians represented in film are simply more subtle. I would like to note here that I've read Rebecca several times, and seen the movie, and I've always read Mrs. Danvers as simply a creepy, obsessed servent, an archetype all its own. It never seemed to me that she had any romantic or sexual feelings toward Rebecca.

I was really intrigued by the "sissy" character. I've been watching Running Wilde, a new TV show from the creator of Arrested Development (one of the greatest shows of all time) which will soon be cancelled because it kind of sucks, and the sort of butler character is very much a sissy. Exaggerated to the point that I'm amazed gay rights groups haven't protested. It's fascinating that that trope is still being used today. I also just watched the pilot of My So-Called Life and found a similar character, although he is acknowledged as being "bi" (in quotation marks because that's the term they use).

It was interesting to see how things have changed. Gay movies still have sad endings (Brokeback Mountain, anyone?), but have also in many ways broken into the mainstream (Brokeback Mountain, anyone?), but also can inspire things like theaters being harassed, bricks thrown at posters (Brokeback Mountain, anyone?). I can think of several gay movies, however, that don't have sad endings, don't have caricatures, treat gays as "normal". Imagine Me & You is one of my favorites for how it completely doesn't care that the women are gay; D.E.B.S. is another great one. Rent does have sad gay characters, but also sad straight ones.

I'm rambling a bit, but my point is: the celluloid closet has gotten bigger and smaller over time, and in the last few years we've seen enormous progress with it. Let's hope that continues.