Michael Lucas certainly has cause to celebrate. The pouty-lipped porn mogul can continue distributing his porn epic, Michael Lucas’ La Dolce Vita. You may recall International Media Films Inc. filed a lawsuit claiming Lucas’ skin flick encroached on Federico Fellini’s similarly named classic.
On Friday, a judge ruled in favor of Lucas, saying that [it] seems extremely unlikely that a hapless purchaser seeking to buy Fellini’s film will inadvertently stumble across ‘Michael Lucas’s La Dolce Vita.’ Reacting to the verdict, Lucas told Wall Street Journal‘s law blog,
From the beginning, this case has been more about anti-gay and anti-sex prejudice than about well-founded legal claims. I am thrilled about this ruling and I hope we can now get this whole unnecessary distraction behind us.
For those of you interested in the nitty-gritty, click here to read the entire court transcript. It’s riveting.
35-year old Lucas has also been celebrating his new column in The New York Blade. This week, Russian born Lucas spilled some ink on his favorite subject, “anti-semitism” in the gay community. Lucas opens by wondering why so many gays support Muslim causes:
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
I’m disturbed that the world gay community is increasingly anti-Israel… How can gay people side with the Muslims who want to kill the Israelis?
Because every Muslim wants to kill Jews and fags. And, of course, ever single Jew in the world loves gay people.
Lucas goes on to outline Israel’s pro-gay policy – certainly a rarity in the Middle East. While Lucas makes some interesting – and valid – points, he again conflates anti-Israel sentiment with universal anti-semitism:
Unfounded attacks against Israel are sometimes called “Israel bashing.” My conclusion is that gays engaged in that bashing are doing it because of deeply-rooted anti-Semitism. After the Holocaust, anti-Semites felt they could no longer say “I hate Jews” in public. But they retained their anti-Semitism, and making ill-reasoned, unlimited attacks against Israel is the form that bigotry has taken. Gays, of all people–who understand what it is to be historically oppressed and unrecognized, not to mention bashed–should know better.
We fail to see the logic in this conclusion. Nowhere in the article does Lucas offer evidence of overarching anti-semitism in the gay community. He simply outlines Israel’s positive gay politics, bashes Muslim countries and then asserts that gays hate Jews. It seems to us that Lucas may simply be using this mythical Heeb-hatred to vent his virulent, frightening Islamophobia.
Of course, he’ll just use our opinion to further fuel his reactionary fire.
Ryan
Ugh. Just because someone is against Israeli policy in some capacity, doesn’t automatically mean their antisematic. I’m against a lot of American policy; that doesn’t make me against Americans.
And why is this guy penning columns about such matters anyway? I know columnists have a lot of range in their issues, but generally they have some sort of area they tend to – be it religion in how that relates to society, to national politics, international, military, local, women’s rights, etc. I’d think a guy like Lucas would have a lot of interesting things to say about sex & sexuality, etc. that readers of the blade would be interested to know. However, not so much about Israeli-Palestinian policy…
Mr B queens out
Reading about Michael Lucas’ political commentaries cracks me up. Dude–there are porn stars with brains out there, but you’re not one of them. The only people who have a shred of interest in you care about your penis, not your world view!
Comments about Lucas being a notorious has-been who talks out of his ass aside, I have to be a typical fag here and add that he’s also fugalicious. I mean, seriously, will someone please tell him that looking like you’ve been punched in the mouth didn’t make you sexy back in the day, and it sure as hell ain’t working now?
Xarro
Taking side in that war is by itself a very bad idea. It only deepens the fracture. Inclusion is the way to go.
Stephan
Perhaps Lucas can use his money to either take an extensive persuasive writting course (no American GED equivilant either), or hire a decent ghost writer. I’m absolutly confused as to what he’s trying to say in this article. I know this is an editorial, but if you’re going to blanket attack muslims you are no better than those anti-semites you despise—you become one
Ryand
Well, I take some of that back after reading it in full… I can see why he’s interested in the subject, seeing as how he’s Jewish. However, his column isn’t exactly going to win a Pulitzer any time soon…
Without addressing some of the issues he says up front that he won’t – the actual policy – I don’t see how he can attempt to make the arguments he does. What are gay people “siding” with Muslims on? If it’s stuff like having a free west bank, well, duh. Most of my Israeli and Jewish friends support that – and considering the amount of Jewish friends I have, that’s saying a lot (my previous employer was a JCC).
He scoffs at people who say Israel is “brutal” and backs that up with the fact that Israel is relatively tolerant toward gay rights. Well, that doesn’t change the fact that the country doesn’t have a great track record in its treatment of Palestinians. When you bull doze their homes and create walls that seperate what used to be coexisting neighborhoods, it isn’t exactly nice and gentle. Recent actions by Israel, such as the wall, have created real hardships and have put Palestinians in a tough situation, without a lot of resources to get out of it.
Both Israel and Palestinians have done so much stupid crap to drag out their hostilities like spoiled children that it’s just sad, sad, sad. It would be nice if they could act like the brothers and sisters they are and find some sort of peaceful solution. That would have been a far more interesting column.
naprem
We don’t hate him because he’s Jewish. We hate him because he’s a paranoid, egotistical, megalomaniacal asshole.
Mr. B
Right on, Naprem. I’m Jewish and I sure as hell don’t agree with that joker. If there’s anything worse than a Zionist, it’s an ignorant, misinformed Zionist with delusions of grandeur.
qjersey
Why is being critical of Israel as a nation always leads to accusations of anti-semitism?
Michael Lucas is the Paris Hilton of the gay community. If it weren’t for his endless self promotion, no one would know who he is. Who gives a fuck what he has to say about anything.
Oh yeah and as far as being “mr responsible” and calling out others for barebacking…he may fuck safely, but tries to get all his tricks to swallow his cum.
Charles
“Why is being critical of Israel as a nation always leads to accusations of anti-semitism?”
Because people know that the phrase “anti-semite” or “the Holocaust” is enough to shut up anyone. Some Zionists wield that term like a club to kill all debate. It’s cynical and paranoid.
bob
I know Michael says he’s a top, but his anus must really be tired!
I mean, it seems like his ass is doing all the talking.
nystudman
He’s a great producer and even director, but as an “actor,” he’s waaaaay over the hill. and as a political commentator, he’as a great porn actor!
Evan
It’s possible for a porn person to have a brain…unfortunately Lucas doesn’t prove that theory. What he does prove is that he can find a b/f who can bankroll him. Gus Mattox…good porn, good brain. Michael Lucas…neither.