Take the ‘A’ Word Out of the Closet

As I sat in the Pasadena Civic Auditorium at the 46th annual nighttime Emmy Awards, snuggling with nominee Sir Ian McKellan (the most elegant and eloquent openly gay actor in the world), it became painfully apparent that--in spite of the ubiquitous self-serving red ribbons-- AIDS has become a dirty word on the Emmy telecast (in startling contrast to last year’s Oscars).

For the record, the “A” word was never mentioned. Perhaps it was on a list of words the producers threatened to bleep?

When introducing the list of nominees for best made-for-television movie, Angela Lansbury awkwardly referred to “And the Band Played On,” employing the catchy phrase (presumably provided by the show’s writers) “a microscopic organism.” Hello? That’s a bit like calling “Murder, She Wrote” a “criminological detection show.” Those writers for the Emmys should get an award for euphemizing.

And when producer Aaron Spelling accepted the award for “Band,” he also managed not to utter the “A” word. It would be like Steven Spielberg accepting the award for “Schindler’s List” and avoiding the words Jew or Holocaust. While Spelling managed to acknowledge author Randy Shilts, he failed to mention Shilts died of AIDS. Is it accidental, or deeply subconscious, that Spelling chose to speak more openly about AIDS backstage--in front of a fraction of the audience? While the cause of Shilts’ death may be considered common knowledge in Hollywood, certainly Spelling, if anyone, knows the impact of speaking directly to multimillions of television viewers and educating them about another talented young man being eclipsed in his prime.

Oh, well, he had on a red ribbon. But what do the red ribbons mean? Are we presumptuous enough to believe everyone in the television audience knows? Are we so blase about AIDS we no longer need to include a heartfelt statement indicating the significance of the red ribbon? Red ribbons on award shows have become a vapid, politically correct accouterment, worn as routinely as a cummerbund.

Watching the Emmys, one might have assumed “And the Band Played On” was a biopic depicting the life of John Philip Sousa and wearing a red ribbon indicated you were a Sousa aficionado.

The biggest laugh of the evening was when a teary, quivering Faye Dunaway, responding to a deserved testament to the late, great Jessica Tandy, suggested Hollywood “has a heart.” Really, Faye. What about Emile Ardolino, the Emmy-nominated director of “Gypsy,” who died of that microscopic organism? No special mention of his name, let alone a tribute. A town with heart, blah, blah, blah.

AIDS, however, wasn’t the only “A” word avoided. When accepting her award for best actress in “David’s Story,” a compelling movie about autism, a loopy Kirstie Alley managed to ramble incoherently about her husband instead of seizing an opportunity to inform multitudes about a disease that screams for understanding. A town with heart, blah, blah, blah.

But the most damning of all is the parade of gays and lesbians in the television industry--most of whom ostentatiously sport red ribbons--who remain barricaded in their closets. If we know anything about HIV/AIDS after a dozen years, we are absolutely certain its relentlessness is largely due to homophobia. Gays and lesbians in the entertainment industry who refuse to come out are directly contributing to the specious notion that homosexuality is shameful. That goes for everyone from the stars of series (you know who you are) to key grips. Robotically pinning on a red ribbon doesn’t cut it; the only way a gay man or a lesbian can effectively combat AIDS is to come out of the closet. Period.

That brings me back to Sir Ian, an actor whose luminous career continues to reach meteoric heights after he proudly announced his homosexuality. While no one really takes seriously his not picking up an Emmy, many of us longed to hear his impassioned voice, soulfully embracing his gayness and actually saying the word AIDS. A man with heart, yes--from London, not Hollywood.