After Elton on Breakthrough Film Roles for Black and Latino Gay Men

With the exception of Maurice's Jamal's soon-to-be-released independent feature Dirty Landry—which we profile in the next (?) issue of The Advocate—the cinematic landscape for black gay men has been practically barren. "It’s barely a landscape," notes veteran television producer Kevin E. Taylor at a comprehensive new analysis at Logo-owned After Elton. "It’s a window garden at best."

The editors After Elton asked us to survey and analyze the more important roles for black gay men and Latinos on the big screen. The piece went live last last week and has caused a strong buzz in comments and across the e-telligentsia. Was Brother to Brother more important than Patrik-Ian Polk's PUNKS? Should Isaiah's role in Get On on the Bus be reevaluated give recent developments? Rev Kev, director Maurice Jamal and critics such as Keith Boykin ,J. Brotherove, and author Fred Smith express cautious optimism.

On the other hand, several Latino voices say they have even fewer choice and are largely unimpressed with their portrayals in Hollywood, including the well-received Quinceañera, seen above. "There are actually very few instances where Latino gay life has been depicted in American film,” says Andrés Duque, the well-known New York City-based advocate for Latino LGBT issues at Blabbeando, Repoter and novelist Johhnny Diaz and poet Emanuel Xavier agree, saying some of the most complex portrayals of Latino gay men are seen in Spain and Almodóvar movies. “It's interesting that countries supposedly plagued by religion are putting out the most provocative cinema [for gay Latino roles]," adds Xavier.

After Elton's Breakthrough Black and Latino Roles on the Big Screen is easy to read, but, clocks in at some five jump pages. Grab your morning coffee (or two) and enjoy the article. It's important issue and thankfully is getting some much-needed recognition.

More After Elton HERE.

Comments

[Bill]

I will always say that I don't feel Isiah Washington is homophobic. I feel he is ghetto as hell, and still utilizes the language of how he grew up, but not homophobic. Putting a thug in a suit does not take the thug out of him. Does that make the remarks ok? No, it doesn't. yet for me it does put them in context.

[Jim]

Rod, I enjoyed your After Elton article.

However, if, as you say...

The editors After Elton asked us to survey and analyze the more important roles for black gay men and Latinos on the big screen.

...then why didn't you include Young Soul Rebels by Isaac Julien? Aren't black gay men in England black gay men, too?

In any case, that film, winner of the Critic's Award at Cannes, is the first full-length feature I ever saw where the main character was a black gay man—and a well-adjusted one at that.

And, the director was an out black gay man, too.

[Rod]

Jim, I'm quite familiar with "Young Soul Rebels" and its director, Isaac Julien, has often been discussed on these pages.

The focus was on films that were primarily produced and/or distributed in America. There are many fine British films that feature black gay characters, but, the genre and experience is purely British.

Thanks for reading.

[Michael]

I have read the article and while I found it interesting, I was disturbed by the need to pit the small number of black gay films against one another. I enjoyed "Brother 2 Brother" as well as "Punks" for different reasons and on different levels. I am just glad both movies were made.

[Rod McCullom]

Michael, the point of the article was not to "pit films against each other." It was simply to recognize some of the best roles for gay black gay men in American movies.

[secret law of attraction]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts in that last post. You have a talent for making a hard subject clear to others. I enjoy reading the posts from a guy who has the same flair for explaining things.

[universal law of attraction]

That was a really knowledgeable post. I often find that this topic is complicated to get your head round but you have summed it up really well. You reminded me of a guy I was reading the other day who was really good too.