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She should know and so I tell her that she is “a masterclass in authenticity.” She is flattered, but can’t put her finger on why, despite ageism and sexism, there’s always been a place for older women in the gay community.
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Keaton, of course, is one – even if she doesn’t know it. And of women staying in it of refusing to be bullied of something the gay community knows well: perseverance. “Poms” is the story of how Martha gets her groove back. Imagine the Golden Girls in “Bring It On” and you have “Poms,” with Keaton as Martha, a woman who joins a retirement community with spunky old ladies (Jackie Weaver, Pam Grier and Rhea Perlman co-star) and against all odds – bad hips, bad husbands – end up forming a cheer team. Opposite her apologetic state is the older-girl-power message of her new film, “Poms”: being who you are, no apologies. We don’t do that,” I tell Diane Keaton, who laughs and responds affirmatively. “You don’t have to apologize for being yourself. Keaton doesn’t go to bars of any kind anymore, she tells me.
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The 73-year-old actress’ androgynous style – suits and top hats – may make her appear lesbian-bar-ready, but her life is not that iconic gay club scene in the film, shared with co-stars Bette Midler and Goldie Hawn. For all her Hollywood clout, Keaton is not exactly keen on her own Keatonness, despite a rich awards-speckled history of acclaimed roles (“The Godfather”), box-office smashes (“Father of the Bride,” “Something’s Gotta Give”) and “The First Wives Club,” her sassy-sisters-unite comedy.īut Keaton is especially floored to hear the LGBTQ community still pays any mind at all to “The First Wives Club.” Yes, it came out in 1996 no, Diane Keaton didn’t know you can’t put a date on a timeless gay cult classic. In conversation, Keaton reads less Oscar winner, more fun, drunk aunt who loves a kiki, her on-brand self-deprecation and bewilderment amusingly intact. So sorry I kindly urge her not to be, like she’s not Diane Keaton but a familiar friend, her fizzy, giddy, no-pretense charm making it easy to be honest with her. In the end they become discriminatory and lack a comprehensive approach to provide solutions for all.Diane Keaton doesn’t have all the answers to all the questions and she’s sorry about that. This is the problem with all organizations that claim to right some ill in society by focusing on a narrow group of people. The LGBT Resource center could be on the right track if they would widen their focus.
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Why not have a vigil to end all bullying? Why not stand up for all victims? You can’t claim to be an inclusive group, then have an exclusive focus. Violent acts of hate, bias and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities go unnoticed and unreported every day.Īgain, looks inclusive but it is very exclusive and discriminatory. In the past two weeks, six LGBT youth have committed suicide when the torment and harassment they received for simply being themselves became too much. Notice how their mission looks inclusive, but is in fact exclusive and discriminatory. The LGBT Resource Center works to create an inclusive environment for all students, faculty and staff, and supports the educational achievement and personal growth of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex students, and their allies. ( You can view their campus page here.) Here is their mission statement. ( You can read more about it here.) This vigil was organized by the GVSU “LGBT Resource Center”. On October 12th, 2010, students gathered on the campus of GVSU for a night vigil to remember recent suicides committed by LGBT citizens across our country due to bullying. Groups that focus on a specific group in fact exclude many groups and end up becoming exclusive and discriminatory. When it comes to ending hate, exclusion, discrimination, we need a comprehensive solution.