Sean Penn and gay rights
Toward the end of his column about Sean Penn [“The Advocate Is Not Standing by Sean Penn,” Dec. 13], Patrick Goldstein wrote: “Should we concern ourselves only with Penn’s wondrous work as an actor in ‘Milk’ . . . Or does his off-screen embrace of gay-bashing dictators matter just as much as his on-screen artistry . . . ?”
First, who’s “we”? We movie-goers? We lefties? We Americans? We organizers?
It seems clear that on matters of gay rights, which I support with every fiber of my being and pocketbook, Penn is ignorant to support thugs like [Hugo] Chavez and [Raul] Castro, who are hypocritical and power mad. As a lefty, even I recognize this.
But Penn the actor should not be judged by we the people for his dunderheaded opinions. He should be judged by his talent on the screen, which is undeniable. His performance in “Milk” does more to advance the human rights of lesbians and homosexuals than any Op-Ed piece. His performance does more to make human the suffering our brothers and sisters encounter than any embrace of murderous thugs.
Alex Downs
Long Beach
--
Given that his column is titled “The Big Picture,” it is ironic that Patrick Goldstein did not see the big picture -- or, apparently, go looking for it.
As your readers may or may not know, I am a gay man who has dedicated my life to promoting civil rights; I was inspired to do so by my late friend and mentor Harvey Milk. As founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, I have traveled all over the U.S. and the world.
So too has my friend Sean Penn, an actor and filmmaker by trade whom I have come to know best as a citizen of the world, one who lives up to Harvey’s legacy and is himself a passionate advocate for civil rights and the gay community.
Let me be clear, especially in the wake of the passage of Prop. 8: Sean has completely embraced our community and our cause.
As historical consultant to the movie “Milk” (in which Sean beautifully incarnates Harvey), I take issue with the film’s being used to shore up precisely what Goldstein refers to as “softball showbiz journalism.”
You may not always agree with Sean Penn -- he aggressively questions and challenges the status quo in ways that aren’t always polite and diplomatic, and if that puts you off, well, fair enough. But Sean gets out in the world and asks questions, and questions the answers he gets. He’s documented much of this as an accredited journalist too.
Sean does not endorse dictators in any way, shape or form. (And by the way, like him or not, Hugo Chavez is a democratically elected official.) But Goldstein’s column includes such shamefully baiting verbiage as “[Penn’s] off-screen embrace of gay-bashing dictators” and “Penn’s naive admiration for totalitarian despots.” These last two phrases are Goldstein’s elaborations, and are not to be found in the Advocate piece commenting on the Nation piece.
I have spent a lot of time with Sean over the past year: on-set every day for four months during the filming of “Milk;” traveling by bio-diesel bus with 150 young volunteers to New Orleans on the Dirty Hands Caravan (including a stop at the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation); as well as private time with him and his family. I know Sean to be a kind, principled and smart man, and I am infuriated by this attack on his character.
Goldstein is right about one thing: In this era when everyone strives to be and post first and/or to be most controversial, journalists (even for a respected publication like The Times) no longer fact-check or take the time to investigate all sides. Your readers deserve better.
Cleve Jones
Palm Springs