Got Milk?

[dotinthesky]

Harvey Milk
Originally uploaded by magerleagues

At the beginning of 2008 I set up a table at a LGBT job fair in central London, representing a small charity I was working for at the time that wished to recruit volunteers. There were plenty of organisations happy to sign up fresh graduates for actual paid work - the police, firemen, banks, insurance companies, local governments, you name it. I shared my table with two bitchy and unfriendly guys from our sister phoneline organisation who made me want to run away from the place as soon as I could. The event was organised by a pair of transexuals who went around each table making sure everyone was OK. Students came and went as well as mature workers looking for a change of career. I Saw my community in full action - a community that I admitedly don't participate in, or even feel I belong to.

Last night, I was invited by lovely amberholic for a preview screening of Milk in Notting Hill and found myself sitting beside those two bitchy guys again. Luckily, they didn't try to start a conversation and the film soon started. The film itself is about the rise of California's first openly gay politician, Harvey Milk - his help in turning the Castro in San Francisco into a gay neighbourhood, "a home away from home"; his fight against religious bigots; his role at the start of gay rights across America. There's a power to the film that comes from what happened recently in California's elections. Back then, in 1978, California fought against Proposition 6, an attempt by extreme Christians to fire any teacher that was gay and banning them from working. Milk helped fight agaist Proposition 6 and defeat it in the ballots by a huge margin (over 60%) Now look at the state of things today with Proposition 8... how could it get this way?

The biopic follows a chronological timeline, weaving real footage from the time into the story. It's conventional enough to appeal to queers as well as Middle America. What makes it quite special is Sean Penn, who does a brilliant job in the title role, and James Franco, the best translation I've seen so far onto the big screen of a Tom of Finland figure. The film left me with a lot of thoughts and mixed feelings (especially about my involvement these days with anything resembling "gay rights"). Eventhough we have come along way, with our civil partnerships and job fairs, those hippies and early queers had something good: they had a sense of common goal, of history in the making, that didn't leave them apathetic at home, unwilling to engage with politics. They had each other, and they felt they could count on that.

Comments

[loraine.livejournal.com]

Excellent write-up, I now want to see the film.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Glad it made sense! I had so many thoughts about it, and feelings too, that I didn't think I'd be able to squish it into a LJ post.

[etre-moral-etre-sincere.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

It's a great post Ollie. I am so looking forward to seeing the film now.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Based on the many posts you have written on gay rights, I think you and Tim will particularly enjoy it.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I did see that post! I'd be interested in hearing more about your step-brother's experience, what it's like to live in San Francisco now, etc. Maybe one day, over a pint. :-)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Will you be seeing him these holidays in America?

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think it's the same with women's rights and the civil rights movement. There's a sense that these groups have "won" within them, new generations have enjoyed a certain amount of freedom that their forebears didn't have, and the momentum has slowed to a crawl. I'm kind of surprised that the passage of Prop 8 in California hasn't spurred it back on as that was clearly pretty hateful.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I have LJ friends who were involved in campaigns against Prop 8 but I don't know how supportive the gay community was, as a whole, in California (in the sense of people getting themselves to voting polls). The same issues from 1978 reappeared, i.e. Christians feeding lies to their congregations about what it meant, creating a sense of fear so that people would vote for it.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Yeah, it's truly regrettable that most Christians can't remember certain tenets like "Love thy neighbor like thyself".

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Not only them but most people who are devoutly religious. There's something about faith, and devotion to scriptures, that rots the brain.

[desayuno-ingles.livejournal.com]

I agree. And why do all these religions say one thing and then say something completely different when it comes to people who are different?

[steer.livejournal.com]

Wendyhouse in Leeds used to be held in the Harvey Milk bar. It was cool they named something after him but it was a pain every time they got their licence renewed. "So, it's a change of purpose for the place then" -- "No, it's always served alcohol" -- "But it says here it's a milk bar".

I swear it's true!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Have you heard of the Twinkie Defence (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twinkie_defense)?

[steer.livejournal.com]

I've heard of the concept but not that particular term. I eat so healthily that when I murder someone I will have to blame it on the beer and fags.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I'll blame it on you the next time I kill someone.

[amberholic.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad we went to see it! It's really got me motivated again on the fight for gay rights.

Check out the article I linked to on my lj...

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Will do!

[vilia64.livejournal.com]

I saw Milk recently at The Castro Theatre--also saw Some Like it Hot with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, and Marilyn Monroe. Tony Curtis was at the theatre and I got an autographed picture and a copy of his new biography!

If you've ever just walked in 'The Castro', that neighborhood is completely amazing. There truly is a sense of community, and we're really lucky out here to have it. Have you ever been there?

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I've never been to California! It's one of the places I'd like most to visit. Not only for the friends and places like the Castro, but because I've heard of the beautiful coastline.

[vilia64.livejournal.com]

Oh well then get on it, Ollie! Come out here! I would love to take you around and have you march up and down the hills in this city. Then, when you're panting and out of breath, I'll show you how we could've avoided those hills in the first place-- ;)

But seriously, ever neighborhood is a little different, and they're all so close to each other, you can literally walk just about anywhere in this city--

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Sounds great. :-)

[sallypointzero.livejournal.com]

It IS a good write-up indeed, and I'd b tempted to see that at Dalston Rio

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

The movie isn't perfect - it's not a Querelle or Boys Don't Cry - but it's thoughtful and has great performances. It's got that traditional attempt to woe critics and the Oscars, but if you can overlook that for the history portrayed, then I think you'll enjoy it. :-)

[sallypointzero.livejournal.com]

Good - and BTW i am skipping off to the post -box!

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

You need to message me your address!!! You only left your full name in that poll. ;-)

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Cheers! I've screened it so only I can see this comment. xo

[kevyn-kronycles.livejournal.com]

Great write-up...Christine and I really enjoyed this awesome film when we saw it a week ago. I'm cheering it on for Oscar time.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

Sean Penn for Best Actor, absolutely.

[octoberxswimmer.livejournal.com]

I dont know if you read my "review" of the movie but i thought it was incredible. I just found a few days ago that Harvey Milk actually grew up in my town on Long Island, New York. He even graduated from my high school. Weirout d.

[commonpeople.livejournal.com]

I did read it! You were very lucky to hear the major players talk about it afterwards. I actually remember you mentioning the film in a previous post, which made me aware of its existence for the first time. How is the movie doing in the box offices in America? And are there any photos of Harvey Milk up on the walls of your high school?

[octoberxswimmer.livejournal.com]

It is actually doing pretty good in the box offices considering it is a biopic, and a biopic about a gay politician nonetheless. It just opened in more theaters this past weekend because it was doing so well. I just realized it had a $20 million budget, which I am not sure it made back yet. But this is a movie should do well over time.

As for my high school, I have no idea if there are photographs of Harvey Milk up on the walls. I don't remember there being. I just realized he grew up on Long Island. I must inquire.