The Gaytheist Agenda

Yesterday was the third and final day that my SO and I worked as unpaid extras on the set of the movie Milk. It was a fine ending to our acting experience as we recreated the 1978 Gay Pride Day and were able to be excited instead of angry or somber.

The scene where recently elected City Supervisor Harvey Milk, played by Sean Penn, speaks to the elated crowd from the steps of City Hall involved many takes. I lost count of how many times we heard the same speech, but the words were so uplifting and true I didn’t mind and was glad to cheer and applaud them until Van Sant was satisfied.

“Come out to your families, your friends, your neighbors…!” he implored. “We will fight the lies, the myths, the distortions! …In the Declaration of Independence it declares that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights… “

Come mid-afternoon we switched gears and filmed the parade scenes. Extras formed rows on either side of the street to watch as “Harvey” passed by in his Volvo followed by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and extras as parade participants.

As before, those scenes took a number of takes (with a good deal of standing around in between, of course). After many hours in the unseasonably warm early March day we were getting tired and achy, and several people had sunburns. Although I’d thought to put on sunblock before heading out I still had a touch of red here and there, especially the one place I’d not thought to put the sunblock–my ears. Nonetheless neither I nor my SO would have missed the experience for anything.

I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the film, slated for September or October of this year. The movie is going to be very special to me and my SO since we helped create it.

But acting in the movie and the research I’ve done as a result has had an even more profound effect on me. I came to a much deeper understanding of just how little progress we’ve made in the fight for LGBT equality over the past three decades, and how history has a way of repeating itself. My desire to expose and defeat the Anti-gay Agenda and see equal Human and Civil Rights for LGBT citizens is stronger than ever. And I want to live to see Harvey Milk’s prophetic dream to become a reality.

“If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door.”

Late Friday night we gathered, several thousand paid and volunteer extras. We were there to recreate the impromptu candlelight vigil/march that took place just over 30 years ago this year following the murders of City Councilman Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone. Cameras rolled for the movie Milk as we marched in silence with our candles raised. It was a moving experience with many among us having participated in the original vigil.

It took about five takes but it was well worth it and I’d gladly do it again as would my SO though we did it as unpaid volunteers. After the candlelight vigil scenes we did two more takes of a riot march scene similar to the ones we did Monday night but slightly edgier. “Whose Street? OUR STREET! Whose City? OUR CITY!” was the shouted refrain this time as we took the street by storm, pushing past the police officers who couldn’t possibly control the surging crowd.

Whether or not either of us appears in a single scene it has been a fulfilling experience and I’m glad we were able to help recreate this important piece of LGBT history for the silver screen. I’m anxiously awaiting the release of the film, which is expected to be in September or October.

There is still the work left unfinished in the wake of Milk’s death. As I’d mentioned previously it seems despite the passage of 30 years so little has been accomplished. Back then some Gay Rights legislation had been passed only to be met with a backlash by RRRW activists who enacted their own laws. History has been repeating itself with George W. Bush and his “Family Values” crowd. Every attempt we make to get LGBT rights legislation passed is met with equal opposition from them, and they work across the nation to put in place laws that will restrict our human rights in every way possible.

We must fight harder than ever before to ensure that Harvey Milk’s death was not in vain. To ensure that his vision for LGBT equality comes to pass. If it means taking to the streets over and over again we must do it. Bigotry and narrow-mindedness cannot–must not–be allowed to prevail.

That was just one of the things we chanted last night as we marched, my SO and I, as we played part of an irate mob of gays in the Castro district of San Francisco. We had signed on as extras for the film Milk and were into our third or fourth hour of yelling, chanting, shaking our fists and marching with Sean Penn (as Harvey Milk) and Emile Hirsch (as Cleve Jones). Director Gus Van Sant provided instructions and prompts. We heard him boom “back to one”, meaning we had to go back to our original positions for a re-take or new take, at least a dozen times.


 

A portion of Castro Street had gone through a time-warp and it was once again the late 1970s. The Castro Theater had undergone a facelift and was restored to its former beauty complete with glowing neon marquee. The advertised movies were All About Eve and Jezebel featuring Bette Davis. Hot Cookie appeared to be the Double Rainbow Ice Cream Shop. (Indeed, while my SO and I were in there later getting coffee and treats an unsuspecting gentleman came in looking for ice cream.). The upscale wine store and wine-tasting bar Swirl had ceased to exist for the time being, and was again a simple wine and liquor store. This transformation was both interior and exterior as some scenes were filmed inside the store. Many other changes were made as well, including a sign advertising Chevron gasoline starting at 63 cents a gallon for Regular (leaded) self-serve.

Now that’s a blast from the past.

 

Now I’d been born and raised on the East coast and had never seen a movie made, let alone been in one, so this was all a new experience for me. Yes we were mere unpaid extras but nonetheless this was exciting, particularly considering the important subject matter of the film. Harvey Milk is a hero in the LGBT world, so my SO and I were thrilled to be able to do anything related to this production. Even though we eventually got cold, hungry, thirsty, tired and achy we were still glad to be there. The fact that we twice got within arms reach of Sean Penn and my SO bumped into Emile Hirsch while marching were added bonuses. Who knows? We might just end up on the big screen for a few seconds.

 

Lisa’s Hair Design is temporarily Alda Yarn

 

At one point I was looking around at the signs the various “protesters” were holding.
I’d Rather Fight Than Change.
Human Rights are Gay Rights.
We Are YOUR Children.
Separate Church and State.
Human Rights Abroad, Human Rights Here.
They were signs that had significance during that long-ago fight for gay rights. I began thinking and realized to my dismay that we could be using those exact same signs today, for though three long decades have passed we have accomplished so very little.

Sean Penn, as Harvey Milk, speaks to the crowd in this scene.

Bigots are fighting harder than ever to force us to change into straight people via “reparative therapy”. They use the language of love now, but the “Ex-Gay” movement is motivated by hate at its heart. We still have no federally recognized marriage rights and only have one state, MA, in which we can legally marry. Seven states allow Domestic Partnerships/Civil Unions which provide some of the same benefits of marriage, but fall significantly short of legal marriage. 19 states have constitutional amendments banning same-sex unions, another six have constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage. It’s still legal in 31 states to fire somebody because they are gay, as ENDA has not been fully passed (GWB has yet to sign it. Even if he does transgender people will not be covered so it’s a sour victory.) We do not have hate-crimes protection; The Matthew Shepard Act failed in Congress this past year. Across America bigots fight to keep students from hearing that LGBT people exist, or mentioning that they themselves are gay.

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Me enjoying a much needed cup of coffee after nearly five hours of acting.

We still have so far to go in our struggle for GLBT rights. It has not been an easy task thus far, and I don’t imagine it will get easy anytime in the near future. I commend those who came before me and those who have worked alongside me. I also put out a call to any who will join the fight.

Regarding Milk, Friday night my SO and I, along with thousands of others will be back in SF for the filming of the candlelight vigil scene. I anticipate it will be much quieter than last night but no less impressive. Here’s the original for your viewing pleasure.

Until later.