Welcome to AfterElton.com!

Enter your AfterElton.com username.
Enter the password that accompanies your username.
News, Reviews & Commentary on Gay and Bisexual Men in Entertainment and the Media

Michael Moore's next topic: homophobia?

In a recent interview with The Advocate, documentary filmmaker Michael Moore said that gay civil rights issues could be the subject for his next film:

I am not sure what I am going to do for my next film, but I certainly believe that I have no right to tell another couple whether they can or cannot be married. That is simply not allowed in my ethical book of standards ... I think it’s a very ripe subject for someone like me to make a movie about it, simply because we are not there yet and it remains one of the last open wounds on our soul that we are not willing to fix yet. And so I have often thought as a straight person that I should continue to tackle this issue even in a long-form documentary, because generally you wouldn’t expect that of me.

I could easily see Moore tackling topics such as marriage equality, hate crime legislation and Don't Ask Don't Tell. Moore frequently questions how the media misses the real story by focusing on the aspects that inform us the least. I could quite easily see him challenging how news networks let anti-gay advocates use obviously dubious claims unchallenged (at least, until it gets a well-deserved mocking on The Daily Show) or present people with little credibility as experts (such as ex-gay therapy advocates or crime "experts" who can't read actual crime reports.)

Additionally, Moore's films of late usually take the time to give a human face to issues that are typically discussed only in the abstract. This would fit well with the topic of LGBT equality, as he says earlier in the interview:

Those gays and lesbians who 20 or 30 years ago decided to come out did something very brave and also helped to turn things. For those who were filled with hate, the hate was against the unknown and it had to do with their own personal fears. Once it was humanized, once their son or daughter said to them, “I’m gay,” or their best friend said, “I’m gay,” or that next-door neighbor that was always there for them to help with the kids or mow the lawn said, “I’m gay,” it became very hard for a lot of people to hate. Now, that’s not to say that there weren’t a lot of people’s parents who just disowned their kids and friends, who said, “Well, I’m just not going to be friends with them anymore.” But you know, that wasn’t the majority experience.

Moore makes it clear that he hasn't settled on his next movie topic, but if he tackled gay topics I expect he'd help change the dialog for the better, but some might argue that his methods and larger-than-life persona might bring negative attention to gay issues. Thoughts?

  • Lyle Masaki's blog
  • Login or register to post comments
  • Evan's picture

    More Michael

    It would be an interesting film.  I would like to see his perspective on anti-gay sentiment.  He's the favorite whipping boy for conservatives and this won't change that.
    Average (1 vote):
    see individual ratings
    Janet's picture

    Not sure about Michael Moore

    I would be a little nervous about Michael Moore tackling this issue. He tends to use propaganda and and manipulates facts and situations to push his point. I have always wished this man had more honour in his methods. He gives the conservatives fuel to use against him. But, maybe he is learning. Would definitely be interesting.

     

     

    If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

    Movie_Dearest's picture

    One thing about Moore ...

    ... that always kind of bugs me about his movies is that he is in them so much, sometimes unnecessarily (as in "Farenheit 9/11"). 

    If he did make such a film, he would get the subject a lot of publicity (good or bad), but I'm thinking I would rather see something more along the lines of a "Michael Moore-like documentary" from an actual gay filmmaker on the subject.  It would give it more depth. 

    Here's an idea:  Maybe Moore could produce it?

    Pragmatist's picture

    Micheal Moore's documentary on LGBT

    Dear All,

    Hi I am the lesbian that sent him (MM) the idea. I did it the night I saw sicko with the San Diego Dem. club. I have been a fan of his over the years. We need his help. We cannot mitigate intolerance without working with all Americans. Our community needs to infuse where and when possible the support of others. The time for change is long over due. We have been betrayed by the general media and can generally get legitimate news about our issues from within our own news sources. We have been betrayed by many politicians. How many of you noticed that when the President decided to target us (LGBT) that many politicians removed from their websites the LGBT choice from their hot buttons for issues? The President and other politicians have targeted us using prejudice to obtain; "Power, prestige, and capital, thus demonstrating that he and others of his ilk are morally bankrupt!" We know that the LGBT Amercians have been and continue to be oppressed to excess during this administration. Please community work with MM and let us all contribute to positive change by exposing the truth. Time to harmonize this effort with those that are tolerant and have the ability to depict the truth in ways that are not easily dismantled!

    Love, Lisa

    Average (1 vote):
    see individual ratings
    David Ehrenstein's picture

    It's an interesting idea for Moore that he just might try

    As anyone who truly knows his work is well aware for all his out front "showboating," he's exceedingly scrupulous. Being that Flint was his hometown Roger & Me was quite personl, so he was in it all over the place. In Bowling For Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11 he was doing the job "mainstream' reportrs weren't so he was out in front too. But in Sicko he takes a back seat to real epople who thought they were insured until they got sick and discovered the awful truth. He let them tell their stories in their own words and then backs them up with further information. If he were to do a film about same-sex marraige I'm sure real life gay couples and and experiences would be first and foremost.
    Brian Juergens's picture

    I agree

    He gets undue criticism for being so subjective (a lot of it from people who just don't want to hear what he has to say), but in his earlier work he never claimed to be neutral on the topics; he's in the films and is clear that it's a personal perspective on the topics. I think either with or without his own out-front perspective it would be a fascinating study.
    a_peanut's picture

    Might be more visible

    Michael Moore can be quite subjective but he does have a larger audience than a new (or even established) LGBT director might have. Any documentary done by him will be viewed by way more than just the LGBT community which is what we really need. We all know what it's like to be gay, the hard parts and the great parts and everything in between, so we need other people to know that we're essentially like them. Which is what Moore is basically saying in the quote above. He does seem to get people talking.