Movie Review: Jeffrey (1995)-Measuring Societies Views on Gay Folks

[sauu4equality]

I just watched a movie called Jeffrey (1995) Friday night and I thought it was cute. It got me started thinking about movies like In and Out (1997), a movie that I saw with my parents when I was in middle school...I remember not getting a negative reaction at all from them to this movie even though it was about a man coming out to himself in mid-life. Did we get really close in the 90's to societal acceptance?

In the movie, Jeffrey, a late 20 or early 30-year-old man has decided to be celibate because he is so afraid of AIDS (this movie really hit home for me as I have done this and I'm hating it...it is torture). Almost as soon as he decides to be celibate he meets the man of his dreams. He falls in love with the man and then finds out that the man is HIV positive. The movie is part musical part not-musical and includes an eccentric couple that Jeffrey is friends with, one that is HIV positive. I won't say anything more other than you should all see this movie.

Now, back to my earlier question...while the movie does allude to the ick factor that straight men have toward gay action (and how cute straight women think it is), it seems that this movie went on without much of an outcry...I don't remember hearing about it (please, enlighten me if this movie was perceived negatively at the time). While my fears about HIV and intimacy were seriously challenged by the movie, some observations or thoughts were brought up that were even more troubling and thought-provoking...did the AIDS epidemic of the 80's start the Fundie movement to go after gay people? It seems that in the 90's things were going fine, but the Fundies were beginning to mobilize. And all of the sudden, just after Sodomy laws were taken out, here comes this movement by neo-cons and fundies to erase all of the positive societal feelings about gay people. It seems as if they often use AIDS to say that God is punishing gay people. Why was their response not a reach out effort rather than a militant, violent attack on our character? Why is there such a disconnect between Christ and the average Christian? This movie stirred so many emotions in me and got me wanting answers to how this movement began. I know it is fear-based, but I just don't understand how they can continue to call their religion Christianity when Christ is so far from the focus these days...

Any thoughts? Have we back-tracked or am I being naive? Did the AIDs epidemic energize the efforts of anti-GLBT's?

[Alecto]

Most historians I've talked to take the stance that the AIDS epidemic energized the gay movement at the time, not the antigay movement. Some even dub it "the gay 90's" (a throwback to the 1890's, but this time referencing the surge in queer activism and advancements). This is what then energized the anti-gay movement. It's like, they were happy enough when everyone was tucked safely away in a closet. When the status quo was utter garbage for us, there was no reason for them to change it. Then, we come along and push for understanding and equality, so their natural reaction is to push back.

[sauu4equality]

So, the Gay Rights movement is more likely the cause of the back lash movement by fundies. That's too bad.

[Zerbie]

Did we get really close in the 90's to societal acceptance?
Closer then than ever before in my memory, but not as close as we are now.
I won't say anything more other than you should all see this movie.

Saw it when it was new.

it seems that this movie went on without much of an outcry...I don't remember hearing about it (please, enlighten me if this movie was perceived negatively at the time).

Not that I recall, but I seem to recall it was only shown at a few select theaters, and I had a difficult time finding it. It may not have been talked about much at all in the 'mainstream.'


did the AIDS epidemic of the 80's start the Fundie movement to go after gay people?

By no means. That movement had already begun in the 70s (to find out what I mean, just do a search on "Anita Bryant.") Essentially, the anti-gay hue and cry was born out of backlash against the societal changes that were begun in the 60s with the civil rights movement, and the 70s with the women's movement. Gays saw their particular issues as meshing in with those of the other movements, the women's liberation movement in particular, and organizing increased (see post-Stonewall organizations and marches, etc.) Though there had been LGBT organizing going on in the US since the 50s.

To directly address your question, the AIDS epidemic of the 80s by no means began the fundamentalist anti-gay crusade. Rather, opportunists used the AIDS epidemic to amass power for their ideological agenda. I think specifically of Jerry Falwell who was either the first, or among the first, to state publicly that "God" sent AIDS to punish homosexuals. He and his ilk used AIDS panic to appeal to Americans for vast amounts of money which they used to build organizations such as Moral Majority.



It seems that in the 90's things were going fine, but the Fundies were beginning to mobilize.

Not at all. They were no where near the beginning.

They had been mobilizing for at least 10 or 15 years, probably more like 20. It wasn't until the mid-90s that the power and influence they built up was massive enough to impact politics at the national stage. It was 1994 when they brought us Contract With America. Most of us normal people even then thought these people were such a lunatic fringe that they would never be taken seriously so didn't worry too much about what they said or did. Meanwhile, they continued using gays as scarecrows in their fund-raising appeals to their memberships, and they continued building influence by electing more and more like-minded ideologues to small local offices, and then to bigger, more influential positions.

Gays were targeted in election campaigns as early as the early 90s, when the first (someone correct me if this is not the first!) anti-gay ballot initiative was voted on in Colorado. It basically said that gays could not be allowed to participate fully in society -- that they could be fired from jobs, thrown out of homes, even hotels and restaurants. The measure PASSED. It went all the way to the US Supreme Court (Romer versus Evans.)


And all of the sudden, just after Sodomy laws were taken out, here comes this movement by neo-cons and fundies to erase all of the positive societal feelings about gay people.

That's the way it looked to a lot of people, but it was really the result of 20 years continuous effort, fund-raising, and power-building by right-wing ideologues. It did not come from nowhere, neither was it all of a sudden.

It seems as if they often use AIDS to say that God is punishing gay people. Why was their response not a reach out effort rather than a militant, violent attack on our character?

Because that is not their goal. Their goal is power, not loving brotherhood.


Why is there such a disconnect between Christ and the average Christian?

I'm not touching that one! :p

Any thoughts? Have we back-tracked or am I being naive? Did the AIDs epidemic energize the efforts of anti-GLBT's?

Nope, nope, and nope. We're just in the middle of a multi-decade 'culture war' that has been declared on us by our neighbors. Lovely, isn't it? :rolleyes:

[sjbouza]

I will touch this one...

Why is there such a disconnect between Christ and the average Christian?

From my views with my family, and this is my own opinion, the disconnect has come from the stance that the Bible is inerrent and therefore the final word on anything. Well that is unless it applies to the "christian". They have lost the true meaning of Christ's words. They have taken it upon themselves to be the "moral right" in this world so how they interpret the Bible is the only possible way that it can be. Seeming to look past their own sins and short comings thinking that they have a "God given right" to make everyone believe just as they do.

I don't remember anywhere in Christ's teachings where He said that we are to judge others based on the Bible or any other thing for that matter. It is God who is to judge us for whatever we do or how we live our lives. But the some "christians" of today feel it is their right to interpret the Bible and use it to whatever means that they feel is necessary to accomplish thier ultimate goal.

I see this with some of my family. They will "study" the Bible but will not and cannot accept any other interpretation but their own. If it isn't how they, or their minister, interpreted the Bible then it isn't from God, it "must be" from the devil. They are so locked into that mentality of "I have a 'line to God'" they cannot see past their own noses. No matter how you present it to them they will just not take it as even a possibility. If they do then they may have to admit that they may have been wrong and we all know how damaging to the "christian" psyche that is.

Look at the civil rights movement and the womens rights movement. How many "big wig" ministers "knew", without a doubt, that blacks were lower than whites and women are to be in the home barefoot and pregnant. Two different races shouldn't marry. They "knew" these things because that is how they interpreted what the Bible said. Well we all know now that they are wrong. It is taking their authority away from the hierarchy and placing it in the home. Women are working now, they can serve as ministers, they aren't home subservient to the "man of the house" anymore. Blacks and women are now independent to do and think how they will. This loss of power was a HUGE blow to the church.

Now gays want to be in the picture too. So once again they have to "do what the Bible says" (according to them at least) and keep the gays where they belong, in the closet. Well we are tired of being there, its effin crowded now with all of us. So we are coming out and they are seeing another possible loss of power. If gays are accepted and they cannot control what they can in our lives then that is just that much less power that they have over this country.

They have had the taste of power. Just as with greed it breeds nothing but bad. If you get a little, you want a little more and a little more and so on. Now they have risen to the "top" and will do what it takes to stay there, even if it means perverting the very thing they hold so sacred.

You see it all falls back on power. They have tasted this awesome power that is "politics" and will do everything they can to keep it, no matter what the cost or who they hurt in the process. It didn't start with the gays. I can remember back in the 60s and 70s good ole Dobson's big boogieman was the "communists". He and his like used the exact same tactics they use today. Breeding fear about the big bad commies coming for your children. Just substitute homosexuals for communist and you have the same campaign Dobson ran back then. He is just one of the many.

Sorry to ramble.

Peace,
Scott

[BruceChris]

a restaurant and a dance floor, is the "Gay 90's".

On Dec 31st, 1989, there were protesters outside, with signs that said "There Will Be NO Gay 90'S"

Well, the "90's" is still there, well after the 90's are long past.

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[tdogg]

Part of the anti-gay era is about fear and hell. My fundie relatives are so afraid of losing their salvation they will stoop at nothing if they think it will save them. That includes bashing gays (emotionally at least). They also must put GLBT people down because it makes them feel much better about their own selves, which in turn makes them feel more confident about their salvation. It's a vicious circle. Of course, they are afraid of losing their salvation because their preachers tell them it could happen if they aren't straight, don't give enough to the church, etc. That's the power part.

I have never been able to wrap my mind or heart around the 'fear' part of Christianity. I used to think it was because I was a failure as a Christian. Now I completely believe it's a failure of those who call themselves Christians but do not actually follow Christ. I have listened to, talked to and met many Christians who have stood with us for equal rights and been against the anti-gay religiosities. So although I have a bitter taste for organized religion in general, I believe many Christians are in fact following their Christ. They do it in their hearts, behind the radar. It's the haters who we hear about most.