Maleforce

Reviews for Clint Eastwood's latest venture from behind the camera have been mixed. He directs Leonardo DiCaprio in the starring role of J. Edgar Hoover in the biopic that's revived speculation about the man who was the driving force behind setting up the FBI. The film touches on the relationship between Hoover and his right hand man Clyde Tolson, played by Armie Hammer, but the screen-writer has been criticized for 'de-gaying' the storyline to protect Hoover's memory, a criticism which he denies. But hold on; didn't they kiss in the movie?

There's always been a lot of talk about whether Hoover, who made a name for himself poking around other people's private business, liked to cross-dress. The flick does go some way into explaining how his mother's conservatism could have lead J Edgar into leading a closeted lifestyle but during his career Hoover went out of his way to dispel any rumours about whether he was homosexual.

The movie itself has been dogged for its plodding screenplay and dodgy make-up but it's been a while since the mainstream has been presented with a story that seemed to represent such repressed gay love and affection.

For us here at Maleforce, Armie Hammer emerges as the star, in his role as Tolson, J. Edgar's possible secret love. His baby blue eyes and baby face reeled us in when he popped up as one of the super-rich Winklevoss Twins in The Social Network. Those fine features got him teased at school for having a face like a girl, but those same refined looks have got him spreads in gay mags and being adored by many men!

Members of the Maleforce Gay Chat team are already objectifying 25-year-old and have had me abusing my office colour printer privileges to get Armie's pics stuck over their Wildboyz posters.

Maybe this movie will do for 1940's fashion what Brokeback Mountain did for the checked shirt in sparking a new fashion trend. But it does leave me wondering just how many key figures give up their sexual expression for the sake of their profession?

Anne Hathaway - who is set to play Catwoman in the new Batman film next year - has spoken out about gay marriage. Being a New Jersey girl with a gay brother, she has called on her home state to follow New York's lead. Quoted from Interview magazine, the Devil Wears Prada star said; "They need to get on the New York bandwagon and legalise gay marriage." This is most prevalent as a lesbian was refused a wedding dress in New Jersey last week due to the fact she was marrying another woman.

A noted supporter of gay rights, the Hollywood star hopes other US States will follow suit. As well as her on-going support for gay rights, Hathaway has also recorded a video message for the It Gets Better campaign.

It isn't very hard to understand why there is still so much prejudice and diversity in America when you think that there were still fifteen States that outlawed sodomy until 2003. Florida was one of those States and even though they still don't accept it, they cannot legally enforce their own ruling on sodomy thanks to the government.

It's strange to think of Florida clinging on to this law for so long, especially as the Sunshine State is home to a very large and diverse group of clusters such as Miami Beach, Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach and even Disney World. But it must say something about the mentality and tolerance of some of the heterosexual populous. In fact a once celebrated teacher of Social Studies has recently been suspended from teaching after making anti-gay comments on his personal FaceBook account. "I'm watching the news, eating dinner, when the story about New York Okaying same sex unions came on and I almost threw up. And now they showed two guys kissing after their announcement. If they want to call it a union, go ahead. But don't insult a man and woman's marriage by throwing it in the same cesspool as same-sex whatever! God will not be mocked. When did this sin become acceptable???"

I am a big believer in freedom of speech, but this man is a school teacher (for Social Studies - maybe he needs to go back to school himself!) He is shaping young people's minds and how they will perceive the world as adults. Closed-minded and bigoted people should not be allowed to teach in schools (or be in government... yes, I do mean you Michelle Bachmann!)

For as long as I can remember, gay men have been banned from donating blood in the UK. This has always been a bone of contention and just another shocking blow for equality. To say gay men are at a higher risk is factually wrong. There is a higher infection rate of STIs with heterosexuals, homosexuals are more likely to get checked out at the clinic than their straight counterparts - and we get free condoms and lube in every gay bar and club. The gay community is now more savvy when it comes to STIs and probably more cautious ever since HIV/AIDS hit our community three decades ago.

A new petition is currently online calling for an end to the gay blood donation ban. We here at Gay Chat Towers signed it today and know that there is an evidence-based review underway with an announcement of any changes from the health association likely to be soon.

But this is not the first time a call on the ban has been incited. In 2008 an identical campaign was put forward (bloodban) and still hasn't achieved its goal of 5000 signatures. This new petition has already reached almost that in a matter of weeks. Maybe people have now realised that this on-going saga is not just about equality, but about saving people's lives.

My boyfriend, best friend and I were watching old music videos on YouTube at the weekend. Late at night and rather inebriated, we danced around as we watched Club Tropicana and couldn't believe just how camp George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley look in that video. How did we not know about George back then? (Okay, we kinda guessed.) Even though they are both very flamboyant, they are still surrounded by and flirting with scantily-clad women. It's a little unsettling to look back at now!

Since the break-up of 80s pop sensation Wham! George began a successful solo career that wasn't even damaged by his very public, gay outing in 1998. The music video "Outside" which played homage to and glorified his cruising habits was seen by most as harmless fun - all except Marcelo Rodriguez of course, who was the officer that caught George in the LA public toilet.

George has done a lot for gay rights and HIV/Aids charities over the years. Being a close friend of Elton John who runs the Aids Foundation; together they have performed at money-raising galas and many charity gigs. But George has never really being known as a gay activist even though he has been out of the closet for thirteen years. In NME Magazine recently, George addressed this point by saying he plans to release a gay album to make up for "letting the gay kids down".

It's pegged to be a dance album and will be a collaboration with gay/gay friendly artists. "I'll be 48 when the album comes out, but I have to say that gay men's relationship with dance music probably doesn't end at the same time as straight people's does." Ain't that the truth George!

Terry Gee

It's a very wide and open question, but something that we here at Gay Chat Towers would be interested to hear about.

For me personally, I love being gay. I am an out and proud man, I love my boyfriend and openly show him affection when we're out in public with no fear or trepidation. But, I realise I am living in London which is known to be more tolerant than most cities. I also have a good network of friends who accept me for who I am without question. I live in a protected, gay bubble where the heterosexual community poses no threat to my lifestyle or whom I love.

London is very different from Yorkshire where I grew up, holding hands with a person of the same sex in public could cause quite a lot of animosity and even violence from fellow residents. I find that lack of education; knowledge and exposure are key factors to homophobia. Think about how most parents react when we first come out as being gay. For mine, there were tears, tantrums, arguments and hurtful things said and done. But as time goes on, they saw that this is who I am. I am still there son and what does it matter who and of what sex I fall in love with?

But then I read stories of people in countries where being gay is punishable by death or lifetime imprisonment; people who fear to walk out of their own home in case they are attacked and tortured. Countries where government officials and religious bodies tell the populous that being gay is a choice and it is wrong. How can being gay truly be a choice? Would anyone choose a life of persecution, the loss of friends and family and fear of the world outside because of who they are? No one would put themselves through that if they could help it. Being gay was hard enough for me growing up in Yorkshire, so I can't imagine just how bad it is in places like Uganda and major Muslim countries. If being gay really was a choice, there would be no gay people living in those places at all.

But what about you? Where do you live and how has being gay affected your day-to-day life? I imagine the residents of San Francisco are only too happy to welcome another gay person into their protective care; but what about people who live in middle America and the deep south? From what I have read, these places still have low tolerance from what they consider "the norm". Were you forced into a heterosexual union or even been sent to one of the clinics that say they can "cure" homosexuality? Maybe you have been fighting who you really are and have only just come out or are you still in the closet?

We all must face challenges in life and sometimes they can feel too hard to bear. We find a brick wall in front of us with no way of scaling it to get over to the other side. But there is more than one way to get over such obstacles. Most of the people on Maleforce will have gone through similar situations and had to face the wall. Just speak to them and ask. I'm sure most will have a story to tell. A lot of people will have pushed and shoved, knocked through the bricks one by one and fought their way to the other side. For me, I had my friends to help me through it and their faith in me gave me the strength I needed. And then there are the few people who don't have the support of their peers, don't have the tools to get through the wall and feel trapped in a place they don't belong in. It is to those people who I say there is always hope and help out there. For the fortunate ones who don't live in repressive countries where the internet is monitored and blocked, find a local support centre and speak to someone there. These are always confidential and can help with getting your life back on track and give you the tools to break down that wall.

Always try and remember that if you are gay, this can't be changed - and why should it? You are a loving human being with the same rights as everyone else on this planet. And as terrible and futile as life can feel at times, remember that there is nothing wrong with you, the only wrong in this instance are certain people's misguided views on homosexuality. This is changing rapidly and I honestly believe that in time, prejudice will be a thing of the past. Try and keep that in mind. They are the ones we should pity, as they are a dying breed whose beliefs are so wrong they are now being exposed for the evil bigots they truly are. Let that thought to spur you on, find people who can help you grow and get past a stage in your life that is being repressed by the smaller man.

I am a gay man and wouldn't change it for the world.

Terry Gee

In 1999 writer Russell T Davis (now known for Doctor Who and Torchwood) engaged, shocked and transformed the nation with Queer as Folk. Later to be remade for the American audience, it was first shown in the UK on Channel 4. Queer as Folk was met by high praise and stark controversy in the British press - but with millions tuning in to see the show; Queer as Folk became a triumph of broadcasting and a great step forward for more queer characters.

In the US the previous year, NBC had started the first series of soon-to-be hit comedy Will and Grace; a high camp and hilarious show about a gay guy living with his (usually) single best girl friend.

The wheels had been set in motion by the late 90s for networks and TV stations to say yay to gay and provide the viewing populous an insight into a world that before had only ever been about death and despair. As the years went on, more pro-gay programming and countless gay characters in films, soap operas and documentaries were brought into people's home all across the US and Europe. Even the once stuffy BBC have had many gay characters on prime time television but have never broadcast a show that was solely about homo life... until now!

To fill the void of the soon to finish Friday night show, My Family - the BBC are bringing together My Family's Robert Lindsay and Harry Potter's Uncle Vernon - AKA Richard Griffiths - as a quirky gay couple in a brand new sitcom announced this week. "It's slightly less than conventional in terms of the family set up but it's the 21 century and things move one" said one BBC insider.

The new show will start filming in autumn with the working title: George and Bernard Shaw. So far the BBC are only committing themselves to a pilot, but if this works there's no reason the show couldn't run for eleven years just like it's predecessor My Family.

I'm trying to reserve judgement until I've seen the show, but I am unsure whether moving the main character from one primetime programme (where he plays a straight father and devoted husband) to being shacked up with another man in the same timeslot on the same channel is the right thing to do. You would think that the core viewing audience is going to be the same and how differently can Robert's character really be at that time? Perhaps his character is leaving the onscreen marriage to Zoe Wannamaker, coming out as being a gay man to live with a guy - but I can't see that happening! Who know though - many more extraordinary things have happened on TV shows; Dallas - it was all a dream, Cheers - the doctor is going to get his own, more popular show and let's not even get started on Twin Peaks!

Here at Gay Chat Towers, we think it's great that the BBC is bringing a gay sitcom to their primetime audience and we're looking forward to seeing George and Bernard Shaw when it airs next year. Both actors are well known, talented and naturally funny so I have no doubt that they will make a storming piece of entertaining television. Now it's down to the writing and the audience figures to see if this is sustainable.

Terry Gee

For the past 100 years we have used the term "there's no such thing as bad publicity?", although I would say that when you're a presidential candidate and you're receiving so much bad press; this can't be a good thing.

Last week it was announced that nine students have committed suicide over the past two years in Minnesota, the state which Michelle Bachman represents. Yet, her own views of homosexuality are tainted - to say the least, and therefore has not (and I doubt will ever) speak out for gay and human rights.

I reported a few weeks ago that her husband is running a Christian clinic that says they can "cure" gays and in Michelle's own words, that homosexuality is "sexual dysfunction".

Since Michelle entered the race for the Presidency; she has refused to talk about her stance on gay rights. Is she ashamed of how she feels? More likely, she must realise that this is not the way to win a lot of people's votes and although there is still a lot of discrimination in the US, I'm sure there are a lot more who believe human beings have a right to be themselves.

Children in her State are now dead after killing themselves because the pressure of bullying had led them to believe that there is no way out. And for what? Because they were gay, or at least perceived to be gay by their fellow students? Those poor children felt they had no one to turn to for help and no where to go except six feet under. But when the State has someone like Michelle Bachmann representing it, it's no wonder they would feel trapped. When your governor is telling you that being gay is wrong, that is surely going to rub off to the schools, parents and children.

As a gay teen, trying to come to terms with your sexuality is never easy and you can feel alone and vunerable. No amount of "It Gets Better" videos can help when you're the one who has to live through this every day and everyone around you is so anti-you! Being shouted out, punched and segregated because of there's something inside you that can't be changed regardless of what people say. If gay was a choice, does anyone really believe that these kids would choose suicide over being straight? Michelle Bachmann surely does and we know that her husband does; so how can anyone that narrow-minded be representing one of the fifty States, let alone be running for President?

Being a UK citizen, it is sometimes hard to follow the politics of the United States (I barely follow my own country's) and so it was with great joy that today I learned about Nancy Pelosi, a super-politician who has been lobbying for gay rights for many years. Nancy is the Minority Leader for the House of Representatives and is currently the highest ranking female Politian in American History. She also lives in San Francisco which is my favourite place in the world and probably the most out and proud gay city on the planet. We here at Gay Chat Towers are already huge fans of Nancy Pelosi.

In an interview with leading gay magazine The Advocate, Nancy called for Mrs Bachmann to address the teen suicides in her State. But will she? Bachmann has already criticised the anti bullying legislation saying "there have always been bullies, always have been, always will be." Oh darling, you were so a cheerleader at High School and the one doing the bullying weren't you?

But this isn't just petty name-calling; this is harassment and mental torture leading to death. Surely even she should be able to see this?

Nancy also talked about the Bachmann's alleged "gay cure" clinics; "You know, 20 years ago somebody might ask; does it work? I think today, people are asking; why would you want to have somebody be who they aren't?"

And I think that really does reflect where the world is at the moment. For the majority of us, we are desperately all trying to bring human rights to the forefront and see the good in people whatever their skin colour, sexuality or background. There will always be those who shout and scream to repress these changes, and unfortunately these are the ones that gain the most exposure. But we have to look at the effects of that exposure; does it gain more support for their cause, or does it - as I suspect - turn people away from them and see expose them for the inhuman monsters they really are?

Only time will tell what people really think. If Michelle Bachmann does get chosen to lead the Republican Party in the race for America's top spot, then I will admit that I was wrong and we really are in bad shape.

The Michelle Bachmanns of this world should never be in a position of power when human beings and the lives of our friends, family and children are at stake. Confusing people with power and religion to turn on their fellow man or woman is simply disgusting and perhaps there should be a regulatory comity that prevents such people ever getting this far in life let alone with a shot to be the most powerful person in the world!

Instead of "In God We Trust" shouldn't it be changed to "In People We Trust"?

Terry Gee