GAY FILM ROLES

Cliff Rothman’s commentary “Playing Straight With Gays (April 19) actually reads more like a classic self-loathing personal ad: “HOLLYWOOD WANTS ITS GAYS TO BE STRAIGHT-ACTING.”

The new assimilationist mandate being advanced by both straight and gay Hollywood is unbearably homophobic to me. Throughout the article, negative references to “swishy queens” and “hairdressers” as outmoded entities that are no longer useful (to whom?) reek of social cleansing.

Please, let’s not confuse assimilation with integration. Assimilation, in this case, only accomplishes a cosmetic acceptance based exclusively on straight standards. The possibility of a believable integration can only happen with hard-core legislation.

At the very least, this would give those “swishy queens” and “hairdressers” the power to sue Hollywood for misrepresentation, transfer property without elaborate “living wills” and get married, all without, thank God, worrying about what the straight world thinks.

Let Hollywood do that dirty worrying!

LARI PITTMAN

Los Angeles

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While the recent films that have portrayed gay men as possible romantic interests for women may well increase tolerance, from another perspective they are simply part of the continuing demonization of the white heterosexual male in popular culture. Increasingly, the straight male onscreen is portrayed as puerile, trivial and even loathsome--certainly unworthy of the love of an accomplished, attractive woman.

So film heroines are left to fall in love with angels, ghosts, aliens in male form and now gay men, who are shown to possess all of the favorable characteristics of women but in pleasingly masculine bodies. Stereotyping has far from vanished--it’s just become politically correct.

WILLIAM PLATT

Sherman Oaks

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I take some exception to the rosy picture Rothman paints of just how far society has come in its acceptance of gays and lesbians, suggesting that Hollywood is even lagging behind society at large.

My partner and I viewed “The Object of My Affection” in Long Beach along with an audience who presumably knew they were going to see a gay-themed film. Through the first hour or so, the audience seemed to be engaged and amused until two men were shown innocently and modestly kissing one another goodbye. Audible groans and gasps filled the theater. And downtown Long Beach isn’t exactly the Bible Belt. Ironically, an interracial kiss, which would have caused quite a stir a generation ago, did not elicit a sound.

As co-founder of GLIDE (Gays & Lesbians Initiating Dialogue for Equality), a local nonprofit speakers bureau addressing thousands annually about homophobia in the school and workplace, I can assure you that on the front lines homophobia is alive and well. Thanks in large part to the courage of groups like GLIDE and countless individuals, we are moving toward a more accepting society. However, I caution against a complacent and generalized view that would suggest we are there, especially as seen from such an insular world as Hollywood.

MICHAEL ESELUN

West Hollywood

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Here’s another extensive article about gays with no mention of lesbians. Rothman refers to television shows that depict both gay men and women, yet he sees fit to ignore portrayals of gay women in film. All the gay male screenwriters and executives quoted in the article continue this neglect of portrayals of gay women.

We would love to hear more about films’ portrayal of lesbians. Heck, we’d love to see more movies about lesbians. And enough with the characterizations of lesbians as twisted or pathetic. There have got to be some great lesbian comedies out there. Let’s see them produced!

KATHLEEN WILLIAMS

Los Angeles

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Rothman’s article raises a pertinent moral question. Does Hollywood’s increasingly wholesome image of gays mirror the culture or lead the way in normalizing homosexuality?

Rothman insists the former but I’m not so sure. Over the last 20 years I’ve watched uneasily as Hollywood has challenged heterosexual norms with increasingly lovable gay characters, worthy of emulation.

Larger than life (as are any screen portrayals), and of more persuasive influence than political activists or clinicians, these new images of gays lead the way in convincing the world that homosexuality is as normal as heterosexuality.

I’m one who believes that sexual orientation is malleable and subject to many moral decisions. These decisions are powerfully influenced by screen images of family, gender and sexuality.

Hollywood must take moral responsibility for leading the world into accepting homosexuality as a viable and wholesome alternative to heterosexuality.

ANDREW COMISKEY

Desert Stream Ministries

Anaheim