Milk Drops Keep Falling on My Head
by Jaden
The trailer was recently released for the new Gus Van Sant movie Milk, screenplay by Dustin Lance Black, starring the outstanding cast of Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, and more.
Many months ago, I wrote about my set visit and about the movie, Milk. At that time, people were doubting Sean Penn’s ability to play California’s first openly gay elected official, Harvey Milk. If you watch the movie trailer, I think all doubt shall be removed from your mind. The movie looks amazing.
One of Harvey Milk’s tactics to change the way people feel about homosexuals was to encourage gay people to go out, knock on doors, introduce themselves and talk to their neighbors.
The other day, there was a knock at my door. I don’t like solicitors. It was the morning and I was in my underwear. To my surprise, it was a young friendly woman. She was passionate and upset about current politics and had a lot of moxie to be going out door to door to talk about it.
“Do you want money?” I asked her. But she didn’t. “Do you want me to sign something?” She didn’t want that either.
The woman at the door wanted to get out the word that in many states, there are still many laws in place against LGBT (also GLBT), which is an initialism referring collectively to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender/transsexual people, preventing them from work and other normal life pursuits. Preventing people from working is preventing people from eating, which is preventing people from living.
I promised the young lady that I would go to her group’s website to learn more about it and do what I can for her.
The knocks continued on all my neighbors doors. I could hear her bravely talking to each of my neighbors: people with families, foreigners, and old people.
In the spirit of Harvey Milk who was murdered, I urge you to learn more about the Human Rights Campaign website http://www.hrc.org/ and to see the movie Milk when it comes out November 26, 2008.
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12 Responses to “Milk Drops Keep Falling on My Head”
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Jaden,
Why do I always come to Hollywood to calm down? I don’t get it.
Harvey was murdered? That sucks. A lot of things in this country suck and I can barely keep up with what sucks here and is transferred overseas.
I do like Gus Van Sant and I will watch this movie.
PS I’m on my way to look at a Sunday pic before dinner. Hey, it’s only 2:50 in Hollywood!
Thanks Ellen. It is hot as hell in Southern California right now. Seems to be another heat wave. Are you serious about being calm here? Or do I rile you? Could not tell if that was sarcasm or not.
This is a good time to note that in the upcoming election, California voters can protect marriage for all people and eliminate discrimination against GLBT by voting NO on proposition 8, which seeks to ban same-sex marriage. Personally, I think people who spend their time working to prohibit loving couples from getting married can probably take a look at the world we’re living in and find a much better cause. Fight poverty, illiteracy, or help orphans. I’m all for making the world a better place and upholding the constitution, which guarantees EVERYBODY’S right to pursuing happiness.
Thanks Melissa for adding that important and timely information.
You answer the door in your underwear???
I was going to comment about the actual issue at hand, speaking about the LGBT community. But since I don’t have a clear position on where I stand, it’s best if I left my inner conflicts inside. For the sake of argument, we’ll just say I’m passively supportive of the LGBT people.
I think I Am Sam was the first (and only) Sean Penn movie I really watched so far, and him playing that character has always stayed in my head. But then again, I really haven’t seen many of his movies. I may see Milk sooner or later, however I never knew he was murdered, but I only had a general idea of who he was.
You didn’t grab a robe or throw on a sweatsuit or something? That’s something that happens at my house and I yell through the door, pretend I’m not home, or put on some pants if I’m expecting some delivered pizza or something. Regardless, that’s a significant piece of detail you left out in your story, just in case you didn’t think anyone noticed. I get the point though, unexpected visitor.
t.sterling — Laughing here. No comment. But don’t come knocking on my door to find out. Normally, I don’t open it.
As for LGBT rights… I won’t get into the nitty gritty about marriage and all that… because that gets complicated.
I know a lot of LGBT people; they are all really nice intelligent people who should not be prohibited from teaching or other work — they benefit and positively contribute to society. I recall several teachers who must have been gay or lesbian that were great people — it would have been a shame if they were ‘found out’ and fired from the school for no reason other than their adult private time.
The issue of work and livelihood is more of what concerns me than the sex or marriage part. If one can’t work, how can one eat or survive? One’s sex life should not determine whether a person is allowed to live, because that is what barring someone from work means, that they don’t want that person to live. It is cruel and beyond reason.
As for marriage, I am sure a lot of straight people would gladly hand over their right to marriage. *wink*
I was going to hand deliver the cookies too… oh well. Maybe I’ll come by in February to spead the word of African American Historical Civil Awareness Month.
I’m too young to want to get married right now, but anyone who does–go for it. I’m not too bothered by the thought of two men or two women marrying. But this is where my personal moral fence comes into play and since I avoid getting into that debate, I won’t go into it. However it’s complete wrong to keep someone from working because they are gay or lesbian. Discrimination in any form is wrong. The only job I think you, as an employer, could tell someone “no” to is being a seeing eye dog for the mere fact that the applicant is human. That example is a bit out there, I know… But my point is I’m completely against workplaces denying the right to live based on a person’s belief, sexuality, gender, or race. Especially race. I’ll tell you more in February…
t.sterling — If you want to write something for SfH about African Americans in Film, I would be happy to publish it for you on my site.
Jaden,
No, actually I do feel strangely calm coming here and thinking of movies and stories. I save it up like dessert. Sorry you couldn’t get the feeling through my words. If I can’t give the feeling then I’ve missed my mark.
Ellen
Ellen Wilson — Thanks for the lovely compliment that I calm you and you find joy here. Makes my week — and it has been a rough one!
[...] Milk (2008) is another political movie to catch about which I wrote. Of course there are so many others as well. [...]
Just saw movie MILK. very good as a movie, great acting by sean penn;
but even more interesting as I was there & knew many of the “characters”and locations
very well.
Noticed a few historical mistakes, like they mentioned aids, but there was no aids in those days.