A Stitch in Haste

A multiplex theater in a mall in Sandy, Utah, has reportedly engaged in an illegal breach of contract and abruptly canceled its showings of Brokeback Mountain.

The theater is owned by Larry Miller, owner of the Utah Jazz and financier of Mormon propaganda movies.

Neither Miller nor the theater have issued a statement regarding the cancellation, but another member of the bigot brigades wasted no time praising the decision:

Gayle Ruzicka, president of the conservative Utah Eagle Forum, said not showing the film set an example for the people of Utah.

"I just think (pulling the show) tells the young people especially that maybe there is something wrong with this show," she said.

On the other hand, there is, apparently, nothing wrong with the theater's other premier this week — the vulgar blood-and-guts ultra-violence horror-thriller Hostel.

Watch the trailers for both movies (after the kids have left the room) and then ask yourself which one an anal-retentive, wholesome entertainment, "traditional family values" proselytizer ought to prefer not be shown.

When they say it's not about naked bigotry, they lie.

More thoughts at Moderate Voice, Protean, Arkanssouri, fastlad, Republic of T., Good as You. Here are comments from Heath Ledger on the ban.

(Cross-posted at Spectrum Bloggers.)

Another fine example of the legislative process in action:

After unanimously endorsing a conservative think tank's resolution supporting the "natural family," Kanab's City Council is coming under fire — naturally.

Gay-rights advocates and even some residents are scolding city leaders for embracing a nonbinding proposal that:

--Labels marriage between a man and a woman as "ordained of God."

--Sees homes as "open to a full quiver of children."

--Envisions young women "growing into wives, homemakers and mothers and . . . young men growing into husbands, home builders and fathers."
...
[Resolution author Paul] Mero calls the resolution an affirmation of marriage and family. He also maintains that, contrary to what critics say, the document is meant to keep government out of crafting moral standards for a community.

So a resolution invoking marital discrimination in God's name and calling for Twenty-First Century women to remain barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen has nothing whatsoever to do with "crafting moral standards for a community"? I wonder what he would consider "crafting moral standards."

Perhaps the saddest part is that the Sutherland Institute, the think tank pushing this neanderthal resolution uses (deceptively, of course) a great deal of libertarian rhetoric — invoking goals of "limited government" and "fiscal responsibility" and even quoting Milton Friedman. You can't easily tell from their website, unless you dig a bit, that they're just another petty bigot brigade.

Meanwhile, in the spirit of full disclosure, let the record reflect that other Utah towns are rejecting this silly resolution right and left. Good for them!

(Via Fark.)

...you read about a town in — where else? — Utah that passed a resolution declaring itself committed to "the natural family" --

We envision a local culture that upholds the marriage of a woman to a man, and a man to a woman, as ordained of God...We see our homes as open to a full quiver of children, the source of family continuity and social growth. We envision young women growing into wives, homemakers, and mothers; and we see young men growing into husbands, home-builders, and fathers.

--and you say to yourself, "Gee, why didn't I blog about that?"

--and then you google it and find, to your surprise, that you did blog about it.

Whoa.

Anyway, I have little new to say except that Kaneb, Utah, is so small that perhaps it would be feasible for a few thousand wealthy gays to move it, take over the town council and turn the place into Castro-in-the-Desert. Complete with a "Church of Latterer-Day Sinners" and resolutions calling for a commitment to alternative family structures.

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On the subject of independent films about Utah and Mormons, this one was also very good, if you can find it.