Gay Republicans (2004 film)
Encyclopedia
Gay Republicans is a 2004
documentary
directed
by Wash Westmoreland that focuses on four Log Cabin Republicans
as they struggle with President George W. Bush
's unequivocal opposition to gay marriage and are forced to make a choice: Whether to be good Republicans and support the President, or stand up for their civil rights
as gay Americans. This decision afforded them a historic opportunity to affect the 2004 presidential election, but it also opens schisms that threatens the unity of the Log Cabin itself.
described the documentary as "fairly straightforward - and often funny" but noted that "for all the fascinating characters rushing across the screen, the film never digs deeper than its occasionally shocking surface." In its review, Variety
looked at the politics of the participants and said "without seemingly intending to, Westmoreland's film offers a view of how the GOP outgunned the Democrats in 2004 and marginalized all opposition within party ranks." The Hartford Courant said that the "film shows gay Republicans have characters as diverse as any other Republicans. They range from a calm, reasonable, same-sex-married lesbian to a Bill O'Reilly clone who spews disdain and screams 'shut up' when the discussion turns against his viewpoints."
2004 in film
The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. Major releases of sequels took place. It included blockbuster films like Shrek 2, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, The Passion of the Christ, Meet the Fockers, Blade: Trinity, Spider-Man 2, Alien vs. Predator, Kill Bill Vol...
documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by Wash Westmoreland that focuses on four Log Cabin Republicans
Log Cabin Republicans
The Log Cabin Republicans is an organization that works within the Republican Party to advocate equal rights for all Americans, including gays and lesbians in the United States with state chapters and a national office in Washington, D.C...
as they struggle with President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's unequivocal opposition to gay marriage and are forced to make a choice: Whether to be good Republicans and support the President, or stand up for their civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
as gay Americans. This decision afforded them a historic opportunity to affect the 2004 presidential election, but it also opens schisms that threatens the unity of the Log Cabin itself.
Plot
The documentary looks at the lives and opinions of several gay members of the US Republican Party, including:- Maurice Bonamigo, a Palm Beach hairstylist who was a strong supporter of George W. Bush and his policies;
- Carol Newman, an attorney from Los Angeles who has proposed to her life partner;
- Steve May, a former state legislator who comments on perceived changes to the party over time; and
- Mark Harris, a gay rights activist with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.
Cast
- Maurice Bonamigo - as himself
- Terry Hamilton - as himself
- Mark Harris - as himself
- Steve MaySteve MaySteve May is a politician from Arizona, a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives. May came to national attention in 1999 when, following a speech to the House in which he discussed his homosexuality, he was discharged from the United States Army Reserve under the gay-exclusionary law...
- as himself - Carol Newman - as herself
Critical reception
The AdvocateThe Advocate
The Advocate is an American LGBT-interest magazine, printed monthly and available by subscription. The Advocate brand also includes a web site. Both magazine and web site have an editorial focus on news, politics, opinion, and arts and entertainment of interest to LGBT people...
described the documentary as "fairly straightforward - and often funny" but noted that "for all the fascinating characters rushing across the screen, the film never digs deeper than its occasionally shocking surface." In its review, Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
looked at the politics of the participants and said "without seemingly intending to, Westmoreland's film offers a view of how the GOP outgunned the Democrats in 2004 and marginalized all opposition within party ranks." The Hartford Courant said that the "film shows gay Republicans have characters as diverse as any other Republicans. They range from a calm, reasonable, same-sex-married lesbian to a Bill O'Reilly clone who spews disdain and screams 'shut up' when the discussion turns against his viewpoints."