I haven’t seen the movie (and probably won’t), but based only on what I know of the plot and everything else I’ve heard about it I assume most of the vitriol contained in Larry Kramer’s scathing review of Philadelphia (January 14) is entirely justified. The first time I saw the previews it was obvious to me the movie was nothing more than a monstrous masturbatory Hollywood cop-out. I’m certain the artistic merit of the film can be quickly dispensed with, and so I’m not surprised that the real (and entirely predictable) purpose of Kramer’s condemnation of the movie was rather to condemn our various former and current executive leadership, along with the rest of straight America, as coconspirators obsessed with nothing less than the total extermination of Gay America.
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OK, Larry, you’ve got us. The jig is up. Not only has no president “taken a leadership position in ending this plague” (whatever that means), I stand before a jury of my (gay only) peers, my head bowed in shame, and I acknowledge my crimes. A quick summary of my own path from knowing, purposeful participation in the Great Conspiracy toward homosexual-sanctioned enlightenment (although I’m still naive enough to think homosexuality just isn’t for me) should provide thoughtful insight to any others who hope to find The (and not their own) Way.
In short, most of my gay acquaintances have taught me that the desire to create and live in a merely tolerant society is not enough. And so, I should be thankful for such hopeful signs as the fact that government funding of AIDS research exceeds cancer research by more than ten to one. By so little? And can we believe the GAO’s numbers, anyway? And yet the conspiracy continues! (Hey, I think I’m catching on to this conspiracy thing–and it’s kinda fun!) Marchons, Larry, marchons!
