"Milk"-ing the Gay Rights Setback to the Box Office?

With the release of Gus Van Sant's new bio-pic, MILK, covering the life and times of gay activist Harvey Milk, Prop 8 and gay rights are the focus of Hollywood once again. Ted Johnson offers his exclusive review of the movie from its premiere, as well as a short interview with the movie's producer Michael London and screenwriter Dustin Lance Black on the recent boycotts of Cinemark Theaters, whose owner donated significantly to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. Are these boycotts useful, do they reflect the same spirit of Harvey Milk, and are they trying to restrict free speech?

Speaking of Prop 8, would you like pork chops with your side of segregation? Religion has been a big question within a question in the debate over Proposition 8. How does the religious question fit into the gay marriage issue? Should people be denouncing and threatening the Mormon Church, who donated so heavily to pass the proposition? Who's to blame for the crummy campaign for No on 8 and its lax beginning? Were campaign organizers lazy early on? Did they do anything to reach out to essential demographics in the Latino and black communities? CNN contributor Fernando Espuelas, a longtime activist, CNN contributor, and host of Cafe Espuelas, a radio talk show in Los Angeles, stops by to discuss these still very relevant issues on today's Wilshire & Washington.

Listen to the show here, subscribe to the iTunes podcast, or use the Blog Talk Radio player:

Wilshire & Washington, the weekly Blog Talk Radio program that explores the intersection of politics, entertainment, and new media, features co-hosts Ted Johnson, Managing Editor of Variety; conservative blogger Teresa Valdez Klein (www.teresacentric.com), and liberal blogger Maegan Carberry (www.maegancarberry.com). The show airs every Wednesday at 7:30am PST on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Comments

[twohearts]

I believe that boycotting the movie theaters is a mistake; People should see the movie & not be nervous about anybody protesting nearby - it defeats the purpose of the movie, which is to tell the story of an amazingly charismatic & passionate man of 20 years ago. The boycotts are NOT useful.

I don't think the film should be made into a new cri de coeur for Prop 8. I think Prop 8, and the terrible defeat needs to be worked out separately... it is a very complicated situation, with some blame to go around. I don't think the LDS should be able to spend so much church money on politics without being taxed (10% as their 'tithe'). It IS too bad that we No on 8 supporters didn't spend more time in central California....
Just my opinion ;-) 2H

[equalground]

You state, "I don't think the LDS should be able to spend so much church money on politics without being taxed (10% as their 'tithe')."

May have misread comment. But, tithing money donated to the church were not part of the cash donations. Political donations were made directly to the campaign by individuals. If this was understood, my apology for the correction. Seems many are confused by this and continue to think the church donated cash to the campaign.

LDS donated a tithe in addition to the campaign contribution. Perhaps anyone who gave to NO on 8 should be invited to give 10% of their gross income to a charity or religion of their choosing. Perhaps someone can do the math on the windfall. Let's start with California Teachers donating 10% of their gross income to the schools. Perhaps more California's should follow the example of Mormons and donate 10% of their gross income to a charity or religion every year.