For what it’s worth, I think the character who acted the most like gay men was Alex.

When I discovered on the DVD extras how originally there was a subplot involving two lesbian schoolgirls (omg!hot!girlongirl!HOT!) that got drafted out of existence and then a subplot that actually got filmed and then cut during editing, involving the principal of the school in a lesbian relationship where OF COURSE her partner was dying of a terminal illness… well, I was glad that he didn’t touch on it at all, if that’s how it would have happened.

Ah, Richard Curtis. The gays only exist in your world if they don’t do anything, you know, overtly gay, or die.

I think that what gets people heated with movies like this is that they want to have their cake and eat it too. They essentially want to be straight white upper middle class films, but also want the accolades of having a diverse cast, so they add all of these POC and queer characters as window-dressing. It’s a slap in the face. You almost want to say “Don’t bother,” but you also want your favorite POC actors to get work.

Whatever happened to seeing a movie for the entertainment value it presents? It seems any movie mad nowadays regardless of the race or life style or career of the gay characters in it here comes comment after comment about how the movie either stereotypes or leaves out something from their respected communities.

I bet the people who scream and critize the most have no idea how difficult it is to find investors, actors, support crew, marketing and everything else it takes to get these projects to the big screen.

Let’s face it folks, there really are some gay boys who are at bit less masculine and it’s not always homophobic to show them. In fact it may be a wierd sort of homophobia to insist that all portrayals of gay men be indistinguishable from stereotypical hetero men.

THE IDEA that AMBUSH cures AIDS
is being proven by the more than 400 individuals who have taken a dose of 60 ml three times daily for 21 days. The result is that AMBUSH ‘KILLS’ the virus by causing the protein envelope to rupture and the viral particles are discarded by the white blood cells. AMBUSH is able to ‘KILL’ the virus that are ‘hiding’ in the lymph system by its ‘natural radioactive’ properties. This process allows the body to ‘return to normal health’ with a corresponding immunity to that or those strains of the virus.

What is AMBUSH ?
AMBUSH is a radioactive isotope of uranium that is found in the ‘palm’ plant of which there are more than 3000 species. When ingested, AMBUSH causes the body temperature in the trunk area to rise to about 102 degrees when the individual is sleeping. The preparation takes four hours per batch, which is then given to the individuals for consumption 60 ml three times daily for 21 days. AMBUSH is a herbal preparation in this form but it contains an active ingredient which is a ‘NEW’ crystalline substance, a drug from the ‘palm plant’ similarly to ASPIRIN originating from the willow tree bark

RESULTS:
After 21 days on AMBUSH, ALL the individuals experienced a decrease in viral load to undetectable, an increase in cd4, increase in RBC, an improvement in general health such as more color to the face, decrease in Buffalo hump, an increase in gluteal muscles, a decrease to having no joint pains whereby individuals can bend to touch their toes, and walk up steps are but a few examples. There is also a dramatic increase in their sexual appetite beginning after the first week of therapy

DISCUSSION:
In any plant concoction such as percolated ‘tea’, there are 30-40,000 compounds, whi ch would take the scientific community twenty years to isolate one particular ingredient if they knew what they were looking for. The LORD GOD has given me seven steps to isolate the active ingredient, which is soft and metallic in nature and has a carbon- uranium-sulfur-(classified)-phentolamine configuration or structure. This is similar to Federick Kekule and the discovery of the benzene ring where he dreamt the structure.

As an antiviral and ‘natural radioactivity’ producing agent, AMBUSH is also effective against leukemia, lupus and HPV. Here I am saying that I have ‘GIVEN’ AMBUSH in the same ‘strength’ and dosage to patients with leukemia, lupus and HPV. A 35 year old male with HIV found it difficult to impossible to urinate was put on ‘green tea’ and water while the doctors contemplated prostrate surgery. One of the doctors gave him my number , I sent him a supply of AMBUSH an d he has not been given any more ARV’s, since taking AMBUSH 18 months ago, is in ‘good’ health and has expressed a willingness to be examined by HIV investigators like many others who have taken AMBUSH.

I have sent this ‘IDEA’ to most HIV research agencies, scientist of the field, universities, hospitals, clinics, politicians and news agencies to which it is REJECTED because the name of THE LORD GOD is mentioned. He has steered me scientifically through the processes such as which plant and how to produce the active ingredient. What are the odds of a Florida Pharmacist picking a plant would contain the CURE for HIV/AIDS ?
I have never charged any of the people for their supply of AMBUSH but a life saving has been spent on the project with NO renumeration from any sources because AMBUSH falls outside the walls of modern medicine and research.

PROPOSAL:

My proposal is that I PROVE that AMBUSH CURES HIV/AIDS by giving it to a number of END-STAGE or DRUG-RESISTANT people and the scientific community watches their recovery. This proposal addresses the problem in that I have already outlaid the results to be obtained.

This IDEA is unconventional in that the scientific community has rejected AMBUSH because I say it is GOD given. Secondly if I wrote it according to certain standards, then it might be peer reviewed. However, THE LORD GOD has also shown me that there are five enzyme systems associated with the virus, reverse transcriptase, protease, fusion and two more of which causes the virus to be AIRBOURNE. This means that without DIVINE intervention mankind and ALL warm- blooded mammals will be extinct in a number of years.

The PROOF of what I am saying is found in scientific papers wherein it is found that when the protease cuts the viral strands, it cuts it at DIFFERENT lengths EVERY time, to which it should always be a valine at the end but is a different amino acid every time. This is why it is IMPOSSIBLE to produce a VACCINE.

Since this is NOT a hypothesis but there are about 400 individuals who have taken AMBUSH, here lies a vast area in which to check, recheck and confirm that AMBUSH CURES AIDS. Let it be mentioned that during the HIV reproductive cycle, reverse transcriptase converts viral RNA into DNA compatible to human genetic materials. Thus the human DNA has been ‘hijacked’ and since each person has a DIFFERENT DNA, then the new viral copy is unique to that person which shows that each individual has a DIFFERENT STRAIN of the virus. Consider two HIV positive people swapping viral strains and increasing its complexity with multiple partners.
It can also be proposed that they be revisited as proof that the strain or strains that they had were ‘killed’ at the time of taking AMBUSH considering that a person can catch as many different strains as there are people who are infected by HIV.
I am also willing to work with the scientific community in identifying those individuals who took AMBUSH and wish to be identified with this process notwithstanding that some are stigmatized while others are jubilant,

Once AMBUSH is verified as being able to accomplish that which is aforementioned then the next stage might be the natural and artificial synthesis of the substance.

Finally, if this is accepted or not, believed or not, THE LORD GOD always wins and this is the heavenly truth to which AMBUSH was divinely given to mankind for the CURE of HIV/AIDS and it will be here forever. Apostle Shada Mishe.

apostleshadamishe@gmail.com

Here is a video taped presentation that I gave at t he Martin Luther King library in Washington

Let’s talk about IMPORTANT stuff – like can Drew Barrymore really pull off her upcoming role as Edie Beale in HBO’s Grey Gardens? haha

I just prefer not to patronize films that don’t at least TRY to appeal to me as a well-rounded same gender loving person in the 21st century. It may very well be funny, but it’ll be just as funny on Netflix.

I understand black actors of the 40 playing the roles they were given, I don’t begrudge Wilson or anyone else who has to flame on for a role. Gone With the Wind’s Hattie McDaniel was hated for playing a maid, but she famously said to her critics, “I’d rather play one than be one.”

I couldn’t agree more. So, go Wilson Cruz. But my money won’t be part of its opening weekend tally.

@ DGZ: I don’t think this is a battle, more like a discussion about a review. No one’s loading weapons and heading for Drew’s place. LMAO …..

agreed, well said. the above post was in response to timmeeey and taylor.

but if *your* issue with the film is that the gay characters aren’t complex, i think we need to recognize that these aren’t main, lead characters, so they don’t have the space for complexity. and if you complain that they aren’t main characters, please bear in mind that this is a movie about WOMEN who don’t understand MALE, HETEROSEXUAL signals.

this is just another instance of a poorly chosen battle, imho, with emphasis on the h.

in the case of blacks in film, then I am most def *against* the stereotypes of 1930s and 40s…it sucks tho that a talented and well-respected pro like Willie Best had to be reviled by civil rights activists when the times changed. He simply took the parts that were offered as embarrassing and offensive as they were.

I don’t think it’s fair to compare today’s gay film roles to the
Step N Fetchit angle.

I think as far as gay sterotypes go —
well, we DO have humorless dykes, queeny immature gay men, as well as boring-as-hell committed types…and they are ALL depicted in one mainstream film or another.

Besides, the well-written real roles for actors (gay or straight) are pretty much only on TV these days anyway.

I am not sure that this Drew Barrymore produced fluff comedy is really the FILM to push our buttons. I will take Wilson Cruz’s viewpoint over a snippy critic with an aversions to campy queens.

This isn’t about self-loathing or a hatred of fem men. I love fem guys. Love ‘em!! But why do our lives and loves on screen have to be such narrow caricatures? Why, in a film ABOUT relationships, can’t at least one gay character be in one?

Oh, thats right, all we do is screw and do hair.

Seriously, given Mr. Gaines’ article, we should be mad because the gay characters in a blockbuster movie — characters who are FEATURED IN THE TRAILER — are depicted as good friends and givers of advice?! just because they’re effeminate? Mr. Gaines, i realize you are gay, but have you met any of the rest of us? According to this author, half my friends are deplorable stereotypes.

P.S. i’m going to go see this movie with some of my girlfriends, one of whom i advised on her relationship last night. and no, i’m not a shill for the studio.

p.p.s. Japhy, i have to say i love how you formatted this post, with two diverging viewpoints and no comment of your own. great dialogue prompt! kudos.

You forgot “drag queen lands in intolerant small town and wins everyone’s heart after proving how tough/cool she is…turns town more gay-friendly than the Castro and everyone dances to disco music while engaging in end-of-the-movie love fest.”

4 decades later and we can still look to our gay peers and find:
1. financially irresponsible debt-plagued friends
2. couples struggling with monogamy
3. self-loathing drug-addled friends
4. teacher friends who are closeted at their job
5. friends who are struggling with acceptance from their families
6. friends who struggle with depression and the idea of growing old

He should try to be as inclusive with the mincing gays about town
as Obama says his administration will be to ALL. (yah, right)

Ps — In 1947, the black mammy and stepin’ fetchit roles fizzled in Hollywood because the NAACP and black newspaper editorals put pressure on Hollywood Studio heads to stop insulting their community with stereotypes. It worked. With the changing times,
busy black actors like Willie Best (once billed as “Sleep ‘N Eat”) couldn’t find any work — and ended his career doing TV.

You are the most negative person I think I’ve ever encountered. Almost every post you write be it on Queerty or on Towleroad is horrifyingly negative. Lighten up.