From the ‘Cowboys-in-Love-with-Each-Other’ file (file name cordially stolen from The NY Times 9/4): director Ang Lee has filmed author Annie Proulx’s short story ‘Brokeback Mountain’ because, as he says: ‘When I first read the story, it gripped me. It’s a great American love story, told in a way that felt as if it had never been done before. I had tears in my eyes at the end. You remember? You see the shirts put away in the closet side by side.’ Starring Jake Gyllenhaal & Heath Ledger as the Romeos, ‘response at early preview screenings has been positive, if notably damp. After one, Mr. Schamus [the producer] said, ‘my wife came out of the ladies’ room and said ‘there are 15 women in there, and they’re all crying.’ I said, ‘You ought to see the men’s room.’ ‘ The movie will be released in December.
R.I.P. Robert Denning, 78, one of the world’s foremost, over-the-top interior designers. The NY Times (9/4) quoted his (deceased) partner, Vincent Fourcade, as saying: ‘Outrageous luxury is what our clients want.’ (You should think along the Vatican-crossed-with-the-Winter Palace lines.) Mr. Denning in high school met Edgar de Evia and with him founded a prominent real estate firm. They lived in a mansion which is now the flagship store for Polo Ralph Lauren in Manhatten. Denning left de Evia for Fourcade and the two started decorating. A version of one of their creations was a set in the flic Bonfire of the Vanities.
Yup, there it is according to the Chicago Sun-Times (9/4): www.repentamerica.com blaming Hurricane Katrina on, among other things, the gay New Orleans convention, ‘Southern Decadence.’
If you don’t believe gay folks do everything check out www.lambdacarclub.net and see, according to The NY Times (9/2), that gay car enthusiasts not only collect and paint their vehicles pink, lavender and robins-egg-blue, but number in the several thousands now.
We’re glad that Simpson Wong, a high-powered New York city chef, made it thru his heart attack. He has the right life partner, Dr. Henry Wu, a cardiologist. The NY Times (9/7) threw in a new recipe of Wong’s while covering his story, which he’ll feature at his new heart-healthy restaurant, the Jefferson Grill. Recipes are much better than obits.
The photo in The NY Times (9/8) shows every seat full, people filling the aisles. Where? Shanghai’s Fudan University in a first Chinese class—’Gay and Lesbian Studies.’ ‘Not only are people hiding in the closet but the topic itself has been hiding in the closet,’ said instructor Sun Zhongxin. Ms. Sun started with a questionaire asking if the students would totally accept, reluctantly accept, reject, or be disgusted at two gay male lovers. Reluctant won.