It’s June, and that means Pride month. You’ll notice that Elsie is sporting a celebratory rainbow and the calendar next to her desk highlights three important events.
There’s a lot to write about this month, but I want to kick things off on a celebratory note because now more than ever we need to celebrate, and we need to do it loudly with color, joy, and fanfare.
I’m going to begin my personal celebrations with one of my all-time favorite feel-good movies In & Out. I’m always surprised at how few people have heard of it. It has an amazing cast: Tom Selleck, Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, and many others, including the late great Wilford Brimley and Debbie Reynolds, and my forever favorite comedian Bob Newhart.
It wasn’t that long ago that people could be fired because of their sexual orientation and because of the disastrous consequences surrounding that kind of discrimination, most movies that address the topic tend to be pretty grim.
Not this one! This one is laugh out loud funny from start to glorious finish. Along the way it pokes fun at several elements of pop culture, Hollywood, and societal norms around gender roles, sexual orientation, and weight.
I won’t give too much of the story away but the plot centers around Howard Brackett, a mild-mannered English teacher in a small town who is about to get married to a woman he’s known for years. Joan Cusack plays Howard’s fiancé Emily in one of her best performances.
One of Howard’s former students (played by Matt Dillon) is up for an Oscar for his role in a controversial film. On national TV, he makes an announcement about Howard that surprises everyone, including Howard himself.
I will add one caveat. Some people find the outdated gay stereotypes in the movie annoying or offensive. Bear in mind that this movie was made in the 90s. To me, being able to laugh at those outdated stereotypes is part of the fun and a sign of the progress we have made.
Gather some friends, make some popcorn and enjoy. Enjoy poking fun at the absurdity behind prejudice, enjoy knowing how far we have come, and enjoy how good it feels to celebrate being out and proud.
Happy Pride everyone.
Thanks for reading.
Eileen Blake
