January 09 - Fresh
Harvey Milk was an extraordinary politician – probably the world’s first out gay politician. He stood up for himself and his community, bloody-mindedly keeping true to himself. The price for this: he was murdered 30 years ago last November. Gus Van Sant is an extraordinary film-maker. Even when his films aren’t ‘gay’, his sensibility touches us. GT couldn’t be more delighted this month to herald the arrival of a fitting tribute from the latter to the former. For my money, Milk is going to be the next Brokeback Mountain. Our coverage of this remarkable film starts on p 53. We eavesdrop on a conversation between co-star James Franco and long-time Van Sant collaborator Lance Black, and another between Emile Hirsch and Cleve Jones – who Hirsch plays in the film, and who, incidentally, was the founder of the Aids Memorial Quilt. We also have a peek inside the school named after Milk and get a glimpse of what his legacy may be. I hope Milk is as huge as it deserves to be.
We’ve had a bit of a change-around for New Year, and you might not find your favourites in their usual places. The back section, Real Life, has been moved into the main body of the magazine and the competition has moved to the inside back page, p194. (It’s for a DVD and a TV – what are you waiting for?) The review-y stuff has been moved behind Features, creating a new ‘Culture’ section. There are more changes to come. Watch this space.
Sick of dating? Tired of trawling the internet for love (And settling on a bad hand-job)? Well, we have a new column doing all of that, so you don’t have to. Gentleman, I’m delighted to introduce you to Patrick Strudwick’s Man Hunt (p 29) – putting it pout there.
Happy New Year!
Now… must go check my messages.