Shock and Awe, indeed.
The real civil rights heroes of the gay community were the loud, over-the-top drag Queens who fought back hard against the police who busted them at Stonewall. Drag Queens aren't called "fierce" for nothing.
Kelda, rent the movie "Stonewall" (1995), directed by Nigel Finch, and you'll understand a lot better, and rent Jenny Livingston's poignant "Paris Is Burning". If these movies don't spell it out, then nothing will.
Brokeback Mountain is so effective because our heroes are completely up against their environment and the time flow. They take our hearts.
Stonewall occurs at about the same time period, in an environment that could be somewhat manipulated by it citizens. They earn our respect.
It shows you people who did what needed to be done, in contrast to those who were too afraid to step up and deal even though, unlike Jack and Ennis, they had the means.
Middle America is the problem. They are stuck in gray area, and they never move, until moved.
Whether its civil rights for women, blacks, gays, freedom to worship whatever you want or don't want to, they're issue will always be the same - inaction.
