Topic Posted by: Brhannada^sArmour
Date Posted: Wed Aug 20 21:01:22 2008
Additional Comments:
To Jean Passanante, Christopher Goutman, Brian Cahill, Barbara Bloom et al.:
Thank you for the August 20, 2008 episode that really put us gay and gay-friendly viewers in our place. You sure told us! Through the fictional Brian Wheatley's patronizing remarks to his boss Luke Snyder, you let us (whose spending indirectly pays your salaries) know that no matter how much disposable income we can offer to support the sponsors of As The World Turns, it is only GAY MONEY like the Luke Snyder Foundation. Whether we're old, loyal viewers who happen to be gay or gay-friendly, or new viewers attracted by the hope that someday you will learn to treat gay characters like Luke and Noah with respect, the apologetic tone of your bowdlerized Luke/Noah story makes it clear that you only value those in your community of viewers who are "conservative." I guess, you must think that "conservative" means people who don't conserve anything of value - neither money nor family nor friendships nor professional relationships nor the planet on which they live. You value people who disown their children for being gay, support wars against their neighbours and shortchanging of the troops, overspend their income and overpopulate the world with spoiled children driving gas-guzzling cars. We, who are solvent and employed, whose support you really need to save your livelihood, are not worthy of your recognition. To borrow a metaphor from your Bible-thumping core audience, we are just the faithful Canaanite dogs waiting for crumbs from your Messianic table.
Only in your imagination (and I use the word very loosely) does the argument that the Luke Snyder Foundation should not be known as "The Gay Foundation" sound at all convincing to a gay man like Noah. Would anyone tell Melinda Gates that the inclusion of her moneyed husband's name undermines the credibility of The Nerd Foundation? A little realism, please. If the Luke Snyders of the real world, people with money and contacts, even consider hiding who they are so that they can approach children without being called pedophiles, shame on them for not doing their part while we regular folks march with our heads held high! With all the misogyny and racially segregated stories and watered-down pornography and political apathy on your shows (which you target to children), are you only ashamed that As The World Turns is jokingly called "The Gay Soap Opera" for having just two marginalized characters going in and out of the closet with minimal screentime for over two years? That name is not an insult; it is a badge of honour given to one that has the courage to be different. Such badges are earned by true underdogs who have everything to lose, not by cowards in positions of power like yours.
Sincerely,
[Real name of Brhannada's Armour]
P.S.: I wonder how the management and donor community of the charity Dream Makers feel about you aping its idea and using the slogan "make dreams come true for children" shortly before calling the philanthropic community homophobic. Grounds for a lawsuit, perhaps?
Posted by: Ryder Date posted: Sat Aug 23 17:38:23 2008
Message:
Personally, I saw this episode more as a form of (serious) satire with Goutman & Passanante perhaps creating a
scene based on their firsthand knowledge of working within the American Daytime industry.
IOW, the Brian Wheatley character, here, was serving as a kind of metaphorical composite of your
typical soap opera production company and/or network executive. As such, Brian himself is AOK with a talented actor (i.e. a
resourceful founder of some charity) being homosexual -- just as long as he doesn't let the soap opera audience (i.e. the conservative philanthropists supporting
the endeavor) know or, at least, have evidence to confirm this detail about his personal life.
Luke, of course, represented the three dozen or so actors on the eight daytime dramas who are known to be gay by their fellow cast and crew members, yet must
continually make the choice whether to contractually abide by this working condition. In turn, Noah played the part of the realistic talent agent who counsels that
this condition could be necessary to further one's acting career (i.e. ensure the livelihood and success of the charity).
Posted by: dandyfop Date posted: Thu Aug 21 19:28:30 2008
Message:
I don't like or dislike Luke and Noah. Frankly, they bore me. Of course, this is TPTB's fault, they could actually try to write a compelling story for them.
They have gotten loads of press over this couple and given little or no return. I don't know in what reality they would be considered a real couple. Two testosterone laden hotties kiss and grope all over town for months- but are holding off on sex? I call bullsh!t. They have been dangling this carrot for way too long.
I don' expect that to change anytime soon if ever. TPTB are trying to keep both sides happy. We either have a real gay couple on ATWT or we don't.
Posted by: Calico Date posted: Thu Aug 21 17:02:58 2008
Message:
During the meeting between the organizer, Luke and Noah -- I was appalled at the romantic gestures between Luke and Noah.
This was suppose to be a serious (maybe professional?) meeting about setting up a foundation -- not a 'romantic' display.
The organizer was right to say something to Luke -- it was the 'romance' display that the organizer felt was inappropriate and probably wouldn't bode well when trying to raise monies.
As for public 'romantic' displays that I have seen -- the ones that was really in our face has been the homosexual couple in a restaurant -- I have never seen heterosexuals act that way!
Posted by: maggimae Date posted: Thu Aug 21 11:35:06 2008
Message: Hello, this is a soap opera, not a vehicle for social reform. Drama needs conflict: good guys and bad guys. And even some in between guys. I marvel at your passion, your logic, not so much.
Posted by: wondering Date posted: Thu Aug 21 9:18:56 2008
Message:
My, my you do go on a rant don't you. I don't agree with this sl as most organizations don't care who donates the money. I'm sure sick kids and their parents couldn't care less if it gives them help. But, I see the point the show is trying to make and that is : keep your affection in the home not in public. I think that goes for everyone not just gays. (gads, I dislike that label)
When I go to the mall and see couples making out I feel like telling them to get a room. Sex should be kept private not put out there for the public. Can't people keep their hands to themselves in public and act like decent folks. Not everyone wants to see fondling and kissing in public places. It' s really disgusting and I don't care if it is b/b, g/g or b/g it should be kept private and at home not in the workplace and public places. Guess I am old fashioned !!
Posted by: tweety Date posted: Thu Aug 21 9:01:44 2008
Message: I can't believe where these writers took this storyline. The storyline looked to have great potential, but I should have known better. Now, we have a horn dog like Parker declared a hereo because during his stalking time, he happen upon a young man getting too aggressive with Liberty. Brad and Katie are made to look like the bad guys, although all along they were asking Parker to stay away from Liberty and he chose to ignore their pleas until they got desperate and did something a little stupid but not fatal. But, now they're wrong and Jack whose idea of parenting is to stick his head in the sand until the bad goes away, is considered a great father. And Carly who was helpless and guilty just ignored the whole thing. What do they care if their horn dog son keep stalking some girl. Janet who first displayed more brains than any of them has been taken back down to Jack's and Carly's level of ignoring the problem and it will go away.
Posted by: tweety Date posted: Thu Aug 21 8:29:53 2008
Message:
I would love to understand what the gay community and some of its supporters want from this storyline. Do you expect this storyline to erase years and years of homophobic behavior by a majority of people. Is it the responsibility of these writers and producers to make up for the hundreds of years of abuse and discrimination. Its like some people are ignoring the gains of this storyline to concentrate on the negatives. I thought the scenes with Luke and that guy were very, very realistic. I agreed with Lily and Lucinda that he was simply pointing out the obvious. Why shoot the messenger. He made it clear that he did not feel that way. And perhaps that guy was wrong to express his feelings to Luke, does that make him a homophobic. It seems to me that the gay community should relish the chance to open dialogue regarding discrimination and homophobic attidues. ATWT has step forward to use their show as a vehicle for understanding the gay community. Instead of complaining and seething, maybe some should use this opportunity to educate those who need it.
Posted by: Shadowdancer Date posted: Thu Aug 21 7:31:08 2008
Message: Most conservatives I know who drive gas-guzzling cars have only one spoiled child. You may know more of them than I do, though. Very interesting rant, I wonder if it will have its intended effect... keep us posted!
Posted by: Allison Date posted: Wed Aug 20 21:46:29 2008
Message: i disagree with the premise that philanthropies are predominantly conservative. when you are handing out money to sick kids, no one's going to question your sexual orientation. And i'm really tired that encounters with homophobes are about the only thing they can come up with for a story line for luke and noah.
if only luke would use his money to help fund support groups for gay/lesbian/questioning teens, now that would make for an interesting storyline.
Posted by: cjpsf Date posted: Wed Aug 20 21:20:36 2008
Message: Emotionally, the almost worst part of this whole show was when Noah agreed that maybe they should be discrete about their relationship. I immediately thought..oh yeah..that would be great, hide that you are a couple and then something happens..are we potentially leading into a pedophile story...and then they look guilty because they kept their relationship secret....When I think of gay parents, because I don't personally know any..I think of the movie that Robin Williams was in where he and his partner had a son living with them. That seemed like such a good movie...Big Eden was another good movie I just saw this weekend..Sad, but good.
Intellectually, I agree with the comments in the BAs message....
