I'm sure many of you have heard of the documentary 'Outrage' which shines a light on closeted polititians who vote to keep gays from having equal rights in the United States, but enjoy getting face slapped with peens on the low. Well the film was recently snubbed at the GLAAD awards which sparked anger from quite a few people as well as the film's director.
Here's GLAAD's half-assed excuse:
The GLAAD Media Awards are about elevating and promoting the fair, accurate and inclusive stories of LGBT issues, people and allies that have increased awareness, understanding and respect for our lives and our pursuit of equality.
Outrage is a fine movie and an important one that focused attention on anti-LGBT politicians whose efforts put our community and our families in harm’s way. But the GLAAD Media Awards aren't the Academy Awards, they are about highlighting media that move America by telling the stories of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people - not those who run from who they are.
The decision to come out as LGBT is an extremely personal one that benefits the individual and the people who know them. While there is certainly an argument that is made for speculating on the sexual orientation of anti-LGBT politicians in an effort to hold them accountable for the harms they inflict on our community, that sort of speculation doesn't promote awareness, understanding and respect for our lives and thus does not fit the criteria for the GLAAD Media Awards.
Now here is director Kirby Dick writes:
"While I was understandably disappointed that Outrage did not receive a GLAAD Media Award nomination, I know that awards are subjective and am happy that attention is being brought to all the excellent LGBT media projects that were nominated.
However, I take issue with GLAAD’s statement explaining the reasoning behind their decision to not award the film a nomination. Their claim that Outrage "does not fit the criteria of the GLAAD Media Awards" is untrue. In fact, the film meets all four criteria listed on their website: "Fair, Accurate and Inclusive Representations" of "the LGBT Community", "Boldness and Originality", "Impact", and "Overall Quality".
More troubling is their position that the subject of my film - the hypocrisy of closeted politicians and the harm they do the lives of millions of LGBT citizens - is inappropriate for the GLAAD awards. By taking this position, GLAAD is playing into the same philosophy that has kept the closet in place in politics for decades and has caused so much damage. Like the mainstream media which has been silent on this hypocrisy, GLAAD seems to think that by avoiding this complex subject it will go away. Just the opposite, the longer attention is not brought to the subject, the more the damage of the closet will continue, both in politics and in Hollywood.
The Supreme Court has just issued a ruling that exemplifies this country's long history of keeping LGBT concerns in the closet by voting to not allow cameras to cover our country's most urgent civil rights trial. Isn't it time for GLAAD to stop protecting the closet as well?"
Source: Towleroad
Why would they protect something they helped build? I've always said closed mouths don't get fed and for far too long gays have just sat idly by and allowed themselves to be walked on and portrayed as interior designers, choreographers, fashionistas and stylists. GLAAD has become like every other organization in this country. The bottom line for them is to get in the room and mingle with these powerful closet cases instead of keeping focused on what's at hand. Just like it took them forever to come to Adam Lambert's defense when he was crucified by ABC after the AMA's. GLAAD's more interested in being starfuckers instead of fighting for equal rights for gays in the media. If GLAAD shows their support behind a film that exposes closteed people with money, maybe the funds they've been so accustomed to will be cut? We seriously need to stand up and fight for ourselves instead of waiting for that white knight to come along and always save us. We'll be waiting just about as long as those uber-Christians are for Jesus. What do you guys think?
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