Activism

All posts tagged Activism

Dagger Cast: Scott Free

Published February 14, 2022 by biggayhorrorfan

I’ve been blessed with meeting so many amazing people in my lifetime & LGBTQIA activist-musician Scott Free has to be one of most interesting artists that has, thankfully, orbited my world. Nicely, he is also our latest guest on Dagger Cast and his stories about his forays into the NYC Rap scene and the early beginnings of the Chicago House Music phenomenon are not only entertaining but highlight the cultural significance of those genres and their social importance. We also dive into his work on Dead Guys, perhaps the first completely gay slasher flick, and such spooky stage productions as Witches Among Us & Zombie Bathhouse. So, make like En Vogue and…(Scott)Free your mind, today!!

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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Va-Va-Villainess: Lilyan Tashman

Published November 22, 2019 by biggayhorrorfan

Lilyan

Recognized as one of the most stylish women of her era, the truly distinctive Lilyan Tashman provided conflict of the romantic and-or deadly mercurial variety with her often vampish, self centered characters.

In 1932’s Those We Love, one of her more popular efforts, her predatory Valerie Parker lays claim upon Kenneth MacKenna’s Freddie, a happily married author. Naturally, this ultimately causes much heartache for his wife May, who is played with sweet determination by the Oscar winning Mary Astor. Thankfully, Tashman gives Parker a comic edge, providing her potential homewrecker with a truly quirky presence, as well.

Tashman is decidedly deadlier in 1931’s Murder By the Clock (above). Manipulating those around her to commit acts of homicide, her Laura Endicott charms and beguiles with determined finesse. Often regulated to supporting roles, here this one of a kind personality takes her leading lady status and runs with it. It is a mischievous and captivating performance. Lilyan beauty

Rumored to be a prominent member of The Sewing Circle, Hollywood’s lesbian network, Tashman was actually married to actor Edmund Lowe, a known homosexual. Though this was by all accounts a lavender marriage, the two were truly darlings of the worldwide press until her unfortunate death of cancer, at the age of 37, in 1934. One can only imagine what other work this striking, husky voiced goddess would have produced had she not been cut down in her prime.

Even more regrettable, one wonders what levels of security and acceptance she might have established for the queer community if she had been able to use her compelling nature towards causes of activism and visibility in later decades.

Those We Love.jpg

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan

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Helping Brad

Published January 19, 2018 by biggayhorrorfan

 

Brad

Brad

 

Last Sunday, I went to visit my friend Christine. She was house and dog sitting for a couple of energetic mutts and I was excited to meet them. Usually pups love me. But alas, these two could have cared less about my presence. Naturally, I was a little sad.

Of course, the mild melancholia that I experienced then is nothing close to the true sorrow faced by a pet owner whose animal is really sick. Such is the case for the owners of Brad. Business associates of scream legend Linnea Quigley, an incredibly vocal animal rights activist, Brad’s stomach has flipped, a la the animal in Marley and Me, and he has a long road of recovery ahead of him.

Thus, if they like, concerned (and generous) canine lovers can raid their piggy banks and help Brad out at:

https://www.gofundme.com/bcm9dt-brad-needs-your-help

 

linnea with dog

Linnea and friend

 

Until the next time, SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan

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Music to Make Horror Movies By: Vivian Blaine

Published August 28, 2016 by biggayhorrorfan

vivian 1

She added a little sophistication and dignity to cheesy, fun monster fests such as 1979’s The Dark and to 1982’s Parasite, but the glorious Vivian Blaine was best known for her take on the ditzy Adelaide in the original Broadway and movie versions of Guys and Dolls. Most importantly, perhaps, Blaine was also one of the first celebrity advocates for the AIDS crisis, providing a very visible presence in a time when most public figures shunned the realities of the disease.

Blaine, who also acted and sang in multiple movie musicals with the likes of the vivacious Carmen Miranda and smooth crooner Perry Como, reprised Adelaide’s Lament, her most famous number from Guys and Dolls, on the 1971 Tony Awards, twenty years after her debut in the role. There, she proved, beyond a doubt, that no one could portray the little quirks and eccentricities of the character quite like she could.

Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

vivian 2

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The Power of Speaking Out!

Published April 8, 2015 by biggayhorrorfan

Folks fighting the good fight!

Folks fighting the good fight!


I so wasn’t looking for another battle. The constant protesting against and arguing over the minutiae of Indiana’s RFRA law, last week, left me emotionally exhausted. But, I just couldn’t ignore this.

When researching a quick feature on the 2016 remount of Friday the 13th, yesterday, I came upon the Facebook page for the film. I, excitedly, checked it out and noticed that, on March 28th, the page was updated with the film’s new promo poster. While many fans were commenting on the plotline of the film and what certain wording on the poster implied, some idiot decided to leave this comment re: the poster’s image: “this pick is f—g gay as shit and slaps horror in the face . wtf is this garbage?”

The "Gay" Poster

The “Gay” Poster

Really? First of all, spell check, buddy! Secondly, I think the poster (pictured) was kind of cool. But, more importantly, I still can’t get over the fact that, in this day and age, the term gay is still be using as an insult and/or as a descriptor for something that is presumably weak or not kick-ass enough. It’s even more discouraging when it comes from a fan of an outsider genre such as horror.

Of course, the last thing I wanted to do was to get into an online shouting match with some buffoon. The idea of going back and forth, while surely being insulted, trying to explain human rights to someone who doesn’t want to get human rights was a totally wearying thought.

But, if the quick turnaround with RFRA taught me anything, it was that being quiet wouldn’t help anything. So, even though my brain was crying, I left this response for him: “As a gay man whose main friends are tattooed, queer hard ass punk rockers, I have to say this image definitely is NOT gay. & seeing as its 2015, isn’t it time that we stopped using gay as a derogatory descriptor?!?”

Then, what do you know?!? While I was taking a moment to wonder if said idiot would even understand anything I wrote, the administrators of the site, quickly, deleted his offensive statement, solving the situation in an incredibly timely manner. (Thank you, F13 folks!)

So, while I am still baffled and discouraged to know there are actually people who still think that my sexuality is wrong and/or makes me lesser than the average person, I am encouraged to be reminded that not speaking out is always the wrong path. Even when the results aren’t instantaneous, to be scared and silent is never the preferable way to live.

…and with that…Until the next time – SWEET love and pink GRUE, Big Gay Horror Fan!

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