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GLAAD issues statement slamming “Bruno”
The controversial comedy Bruno, starring Sacha Baron Cohen, opens nationwide today and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is not a fan. The organization’s new president Jarrett Barrios has just released a statement detailing why GLAAD has some serious problems with the film.
Here are his remarks in their entirety:
“In many parts of the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people live life in harm’s way. We are among the most frequently targeted for hate crimes—including physical attacks, verbal assaults and destruction of our property. In particular, LGBT youth experience bullying and violence in school and social settings–harassment that contributes to lower self-respect, depression and increased incidence of suicide.
Into this context steps the movie “Brüno,” an 80-some-minute series of sketches apparently intended to skewer these homophobic attitudes—and get some laughs along the way. Clearly, the filmmakers wanted to use satire to highlight and challenge homophobia. But their film also reinforces troubling attitudes about gay people in ways that run counter to the intentions of the filmmakers.
The movie repeatedly builds entire scenes around stock stereotypes and situations that make gay people and families the butt of crude jokes. I can’t help but think of all the teenage kids already getting bullied, beat up and ridiculed for being–or for being thought to be–gay.. For these kids, this movie will give their tormentors one more word in the anti-gay lexicon of slurs: Bruno.
Instead of challenging stereotypes, it reinforces them for many of the those who voted to take away the freedom to marry from loving, committed gay and lesbian couples in California. Many states have gone even further—Arkansans went to the polls and effectively eliminated the ability of gay people to adopt or foster children in that state. In a cruel twist, “Brüno,” some of which was actually shot in Arkansas, includes a scene where the title character shows a talk-show audience photos of sexual activity occurring in the presence of an infant child. Can this help the gay families across the country who continue to be reduced to political punching bags at the ballot box?
It’s unfortunate that “Brüno” ultimately misses the mark, particularly when there are still far too few positive images of gay people in major studio films. Some members of our community will not be offended by this film. Others, like those of us at GLAAD, find it frustrating and discouraging to be confronted with a movie that wants to increase America’s discomfort with homophobia, but which for much of America, seems likely to decrease its comfort with gay people.”
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Mike Andrews says:
I just saw the movie and have to say there are some disturbing things. I think Ron Paul proves that he is a homophobe by calling Bruno a queer and states he hit on him.
Also, there is a caged fight where Bruno and his love interest start kissing one another. That leads to these southern men yelling faggot repeatly and one man hurls a chair in the ring just missing them.
Jake says:
Mike,
I haven’t seen the film, but I’m aware of those scenes. I don’t think it’s fair to judge people’s reactions when they are exposed to homosexuality through deception and sudden unexpected sexual activity. While there’s ‘something’ to what a person says in those kinds of circumstances, it is as likely a reaction to the deception and surprise than anything else. If you think that’s being naive, imagine your best friend sneaking up on you in the middle of the night. F&!# Y*#9 A(*#(@)!!!!! are the words you might say, but are those words the whole story?
Lexxvs says:
I agree with the GLAAD statement. If you want to fight discrimination against Black people, would you use –for instance- a thief shoplifting something at a market to denounce the use of racial slurs? People will say, “Ok, it’s wrong to use racial slurs, but anyway, that’s what black people tend to do, isn’t it?” In the same way, showing a gay that tries to seduce straight men, etc. etc. it’s not a good way to counter the prejudice. In the long run, this movie could make us be seen as soft versions of Bruno. If we are lucky enough.
Keshavaya says:
good read
Player Profiles says:
Maybe you could edit the post subject GLAAD issues statement slamming “Bruno” to something more generic for your webpage you write. I enjoyed the the writing however.