And yet you have a problem that a movie portrayed him as exactly that?
Really, don't you think you ought to speak for yourself? You have every right to be appalled and disgusted by it, but you aren't "any gay man," you're one gay man.
Well, yeah. ...
It wasn't Matt Dillon, it was Matt Damon.
If you're referring to Liberace: Behind the Music (1988), that was Victor Garber (who is gay, btw, and quite a good actor in whatever role he takes on).
Scott Thorson. ...
Maybe because some of us gay men do.
Hey JW, lighten up. I was reacting to a film I didn't like. I got some facts wrong--I get that. I should have checked them out before I wrote. I didn't realize it was that serious.
You say I was reacting to Liberace's being "flamboyant and animated" (I read this as nellie and campy.) I was not, as I explained. It was the way Douglas did it that offended me. I thought I made that clear.
Damon/Dillon--he's still an uninteresting, wooden actor and a very conventional person who is totally unbelievable as the twinkie boyfriend.
You are right that I should not presume to speak for other gay men. I DID check with other gay male friends of mine, and their reactions to the film were much like mine.
As far as calling young men "boys," I am old enough to be in a better position than most to call younger men "boys." But I will not do so because it is discounting and demeaning. Consider how women react to being called "girls" by men: they freak. And I think you missed my point about it summoning up paedophilia. Notice in general straight rhetoric (newspapers and conversation) about men+ young men, the latter will very often be described as "young boys" when they are 18 or 19. If that is a "young boy" then what is a 9-year-old--an infant? There is only one place this misuse of language comes from: the intent to say that such relationships are improper and perverted. This is homophobia in my book, however disguised.
OK, JW, you have had your run at me for past problems. I have been waiting for this. I have no animosity towards you, and never did. Now, let's put it to bed and start over. Chill out; I have.