Milk

[klwilliams]

What a wonderful movie. Sean Penn did a fantastic job playing Harvey Milk, and the entire cast was superb. It was interesting to watch given that I knew the final outcome, but even so I didn't know enough of the history of the times that the plot was exciting. I was a teenager in Idaho when Milk and Moscone were shot, and I heard of the Twinkie Defense but never knew what the trial was about. I was pretty clueless, though. I also didn't know that most of the boys in my high school drama department were gay, as was the (married with children) teacher.

Comments

[edanam.livejournal.com]

I remember the mixed comments my parents made. On one hand, murder was wrong -- on the other, it was somehow okay because he was gay. But the city by the bay was a whore to my oh so very catholic parents, anyway.

Like you I was clueless about who was gay in school (I was too focused on escaping my life). I like to think that I've kept that cluelessness throughout my life (though for different reasons). I know it's surprised a few friends over the years how easily I accepted their alternative lifestyle.

It's not the Catholic-ness that does it.

[martianfencer.livejournal.com]

I was off to college at the time, so I don't recall my very Catholic parents' comments, but they liked SF, and I am certain that they did not think it was ok to kill him because he was gay.

[darcyjavanne.livejournal.com]

My parents were the sort to explain everything if I asked a question about the subject, so I not only got a lengthy discussion of the Twinkie defense, I also got a multi-day discussion of what "gay" meant.

Really. More detail than I wanted!

[cokescroaks.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Fred's daughter is my friend on Facebook, and I have no idea whether that's safe to bring up, even today.

I got so mad at the Hispanic boyfriend... so sort of real, what he did, his character, so feeble and understandable and maddening. :( Made me cry more than anything in the movie.

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I'm sure she wouldn't want to talk about it.

I agree about the Hispanic boyfriend. You always recognize the signs when it's too late.