Kevin Smith on GLADE, Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, not being happy with ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ – Some bad, bad news concerning me and GLAAD Needless to say, I was crestfallen.
You all know me. You all know how big a fan I am of the gay community. You all know the respect and fascination I have for gay culture and practices. I’ve said in many an interview, from ‘Chasing Amy’ onward, that the only reason I never dabbled in homosexuality when I was younger was because I wouldn’t know what to say to a guy after he blew a load in my mouth – a sentiment that says more about my social awkwardness than any socially awkward stereotypes that’ve been unfairly hung on the gay community.
Gay or straight has never been a big issue with me. Sex is sex, as far as I’m concerned. Some cats dig on the opposite gender, and some cats dig on their own. Sexual identity will always be as mystifying as why ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ was once the number one television show in our country: there’s no point in getting bent out of shape about it; it just IS. Some cats will always gravitate toward Daisy Duke, and some will always pine over Boss Hogg.
Anyway, I told Scott all of this during the course of our conversation, and asked what we could do to allay his (and GLAAD’s) fears. He said he’d be asking Miramax to make a substantial donation to the Matthew Shepherd Foundation (Matthew Shepherd is the Wyoming student who was beaten to death for being gay in one of the worst hate crimes in recent memory; the Foundation’s aim is to educate the public on the dangers of homophobia). I said I’d be happy to make a donation as well, as it’s a great cause, and one I believe in strongly. He asked how much I’d like to donate. I queried how much he intended to seek from Miramax. He said two hundred grand. I admitted I don’t have pockets as deep as Miramax. He suggested I donate ten grand, and I said “Done.”
After having seen the movie on Satruday gotta say it was great. Lots of laughs and all. Like engel said after leaving the theatre, “I can’t believe he got away with it”. I’m not surprised that GLAAD is displeased with the movie but it is a shame that they do have to be displeased.