It is more than possible if not absolutely likely that very young human beings are aware of who they are. Watching the fetching Guy Madison as Wild Bill Hickock, for example, certainly added riches to the fantasy life of more than one very young baby boomer. “Playing Cowboys” with other young cowpoke was the favourite pastime of more than a few. What joy to experience the other “cowboys” in adult life. Most gay male fantasies have to do with men being with men.
It is fun to play to stereotype, but at the core it is all about man on man contact. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be homosexual or homoerotic. Homo meaning here: "the same," prefix commonly used to form modern words, from Gk. homos "one and the same," also "belonging to two or more jointly.” In Latin homo came to mean man as in male but also generically, men, e.g. Ecce Homo, but in reality has nothing to do with the nomenclature.
It is gratifying that due to the attention being paid to Brokeback Mountain, as reported by Andrew Towle on his BLOG that the State of Wyoming has stepped up and given gay men an alternative logo. It is obviously a tourism decision, not there’s anything wrong with that. Perhaps it is time, in reality, to acknowledge the reality that there are many gay rodeo associations throughout the United States and Canada, for example, the one in Utah.
From Planet Jackson Hole (Jackson Hole, WY)
In response to a spike in interest from gay cowboys throughout the land, the Wyoming Department of Tourism and Business has decided to revamp its vintage Wyoming state icon, the bucking horse logo. The new campaign, "Not your typical cowboy" is set to be launched December 10, coordinating with the Jackson premiere of Ang Lee's new film, "Brokeback Mountain," which critics say is best viewed with sliced brie and scented candles.
Planet Jackson Hole has been given a sneak peek at the new logo, which resembles the old logo of a cowboy and bucking horse. The new twist on the old emblem depicts a the rider with an arched back, tossing his devil-may-care buck-riding enthusiasm and sequined glove to the heavens. The new logo is very colorful and sparkly. The cowboy atop the bucking horse grasps a magic wand with rainbow swooshes shooting out its end, as his leonine hair flounces dashingly in the wind.
Earnest Phalencks, director of the Wyoming Department of Tourism, said in a press release that the state will invest some of its $1.86 billion in state surplus in small business grants that will attract more martini bars, athletic clubs and interior designers to Wyoming.
Said Phalencks, "This is the most comprehensive, unique, gay and coked-up marketing plan this state has ever invested in, and the tie-in and tie-up potential with Humpback Mountain's runaway success is absolutely fabulous!"
That's funny, but this is more like it.
And then there’s this from Brian, which puts the entire thing into perspective:
a friend of Dorothy, but he's still a friend
GYLLENHAAL PLAYS DOWN BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN PRAISE
JAKE GYLLENHAAL has played down praise he is receiving for his portrayal of a homosexual cowboy in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, because it takes far more courage to be gay in the real world.
The 24-year-old actor, who stars opposite HEATH LEDGER in director ANG LEE's western, insists audiences are more open to homosexual themes than they're given credit for.
He says, "What I think is really more courageous is people who are trying to be more intimate in their real life who are up against real things.
"Intimacy is an incredibly hard thing for all of us no matter what the political things going on around it are.
"For everybody loving somebody and being close to somebody is filled with just as much anger and resentment and jealousy as much as there is love and happiness when we're playing characters.
"I think it's a time where more people are open to this than it might seem. This is an interesting idea and I think audiences want to see that."
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