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Increased interest by the public has changed the perception of the Globes, which have become something of a predictor for the Oscars. Indeed, the Globes have correctly forecast eight of the last ten Best Picture winners for the Oscars. Their track record with other nominations is somewhat less impressive, clocking in at around 65% or so. (So take heart, Heath and Michelle.)

So what do last night's awards portend for the Oscar chances of Brokeback Mountain? Nominations will be announced January 31st, and the Oscars themselves will be presented on March 5th. No serious competition emerged at the Globes against Brokeback for the Best Picture category. Crash, which is often mentioned as a potential rival, failed to garner a single award. Ang Lee's win for directing also cemented his spot as the prohibitive favorite.

Philip Seymour Hoffman, however, must now be considered the Best Actor front-runner, having won not only the Golden Globe, but most of the other awards as well. Michelle Williams still has every bit of a chance at a Best Actress nod, and while Jake Gyllenhaal wasn't even nominated for a Golden Globe, talk is mounting that he will at least a receive an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

All in all, things are looking golden for Brokeback Mountain.

And that explains the gay community's interest in last night's ceremony. For many of us, Brokeback Mountain is becoming our movie. It's an acknowledgment of the pain inflicted on us by a homophobic society and a recognition of the power and beauty of our love.

I followed much of the evening's events over at Dave Cullen's discussion board where it was possible to see the Brokeback-mania first-hand. Anxieties ran sky-high just before each award was announced. Each win was greeted with cries of triumph, and each loss—especially Heath's—with cries of dismay. Gay and lesbian people care about this movie—passionately. Indeed, I've never seen—or felt—anything quite like it.

We're not the only ones who see the movie's success as a stamp of validation. The rightwing Christian spin-machine has been running at full tilt for weeks now, trying desperately to derail Brokeback's growing momentum. (Naturally, it's not just Brokeback's success that has their ire up. They're also upset over Capote, Transamerica, and even Desperate Housewives.) Conservatives have attacked Brokeback Mountain and its success on every conceivable level, from the “morality” of its story, to its “true” box office success to, naturally, the credibility of the gay-friendly Hollywood folks praising and voting for the movie.

The same day that the Golden Globes aired, a conservative website ran a piece about how the Golden Globes were now utterly irrelevant, especially in light of Brokeback Mountain's seven nominations. This was the twelfth hit piece to run on this particular site, the various articles alleging Brokeback promoted everything from adultery to sodomy to, naturally, bestiality. Right-wing critics have appeared on FOX News numerous times trying to claim the movie isn't nearly as successful as its backers claim. Their proof? King Kong has made so much more at the box office.

Some of the media coverage after the awards seemed biased as well. FOX News' initial headlines touted the wins for Walk the Line's Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon . Even CNN's first headline was “Alternative Lifestyle's Get Globes Nods.” At least MSNBC called Brokeback the “gay romance” as opposed to the “gay cowboy” movie.

No doubt tomorrow will bring a whole new barrage of attacks on everyone involved with Brokeback Mountain, Hollywood, and the gay community itself. That said, the attacks clearly aren't working, with critics or with audiences, who continue to flock to a movie still in limited release.

Last night was gratifying, but it will be even sweeter when a Best Picture Oscar envelope is opened on the first Sunday in March which reads "Brokeback Mountain."

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