Over the years gay people have certainly been maginalised, but for various reasons the extent of that marginalisation has often been overlooked or pushed to one side. For example, that’s certainly true of things such as the ‘Red Scare’ of the 1950s and 1960s in the US.

Many people know about the Hollywood blacklist, which was certainly egregious but only affected a relatively few people, but fewer are aware of the US government’s systematic witchhunt against gay people that happened in tandem with that, where people weren’t just told to be on the lookout for communists, but also for gay people, who it was claimed weren’t just more likely to be Reds, but also needed to be routed out from all ogvernment jobs because the were a ‘blackmail risk’.

Part of Yahoo!’s Viewfinder series, Uniquely Nasty, which features narration by Matt Bomer and George Takei, focuses on the decades of persecution LGBT faced at the hands the American government, including such things as McCarthy’s crusade against LGBT people in the 1950s.

Yahoo’s chief investigative correspondent Michael Isikoff told OUT that, ‘The film centers on Charles Francis, once a close friend of George W. Bush, who served as his emissary to the gay community in the 2000 campaign and then grew disillusioned in 2004 when the Bush re-election campaign used gay marriage as a wedge issue. It set Francis off on a mission to uncover “the deleted history” of the persecution of gays and lesbians by the U.S. government, and he has turned up some amazing documents about the FBI’s “sex deviates” program and other matters that we’ll be showing for the first time in the film.’

The film is due to air on Yahoo! on June 22nd. [Read more…]

It’s a big time for gay film festivals, with both Frameline and LA’s Outfests – two of the biggest fests in the world – happening over the next few weeks. One of the movies lining up for Outfest is Beautiful Something, which screens at 9:30 pm, July 16, 2015 at the DGA Theater Complex.

It’s a film that might be well worth seeking out, as the trailer embedded below shows.

The film comes from director Joseph Graham (Strapped), Beautiful Something stars Brian Sheppard, Colman Domingo (Selma, AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead”), Zack Ryan and John Lescault.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘In one desperate night, four disparate gay men cruise Philadelphia in pursuit of ever-elusive human connection. Brian (Sheppard), a poet with an already-spent advance and a looming deadline, seeks distraction at dusk-whether that means a hook-up (or two) or confessing his love to his straight best friend. Drew (Domingo), a renowned sculptor in love with his boyish muse, is eager to finish his latest creation.

‘His model Jim (Ryan) is an unpredictable aspiring actor prone to dramatic outbursts. Simultaneously aroused and intimidated by Drew’s talent and devotion, Jim yearns for a modicum of freedom from the sculptor’s attentions. Rounding out the quartet is Bob (Lescault), a wealthy, alcoholic talent agent, cruising the Philadelphia backstreets for a “beautiful something.” Despite his aimlessness, he usually finds his target.’

[Read more…]

Dániel, the most recent work from London based director Dean Loxton, is gearing up for its worldwide premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on the 20th June. As a result it’s a great time for us all to take a look at the short’s trailer.

Here’s the synopsis: ‘Dániel is from Budapest and is studying child psychology in London. He is kind, patient, doesn’t take drugs, studies hard and is working part time as a male escort to pay for his tuition fees. Dániel is invited by his close friend Nori to have lunch with mutual Hungarian friends. The expats toast each others health and share traditional food, liquor and stories. During the lunch Nori surprises everyone by introducing her new English lover Tom. Tom has plans for Nori and they don’t include Dániel.’

Originally from Nottingham, London-based director Dean Loxton has had a series of commercially successful shorts included METRO 7 BIS, which screened at international Film Festivals including Palm Springs Shortsfest & Austin. Dean is currently juggling several projects at once but is most notably in post-production for another short named BROOKLYN BLUES which has just finished shooting in New York.

Take a look at the trailer for Dániel below: [Read more…]