Nutter's Gay for the Gays

by Mary Patel

Politically charged films were showcased at the opening week of the 14th annual Philadelphia International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, which began last Thursday night.

Featured films included Dog Tags, about the sexual awareness of a Marine; the documentary Call Me Troy, about a preacher who advocates for gay and lesbian rights in and outside the church; and Otto; Or, Up With Dead People, a political zombie film.

Mayor Michael Nutter, a gay-film supporter, attended the opening night film, Another Gay Sequel: Gays Gone Wild! at the Prince Theater while City Hall types packed XIX at the Park Hyatt Bellevue Saturday night for a pre-reception for the 40th anniversary of the 1969 cult film Midnight Cowboy.

Cowboy producer Jerome Hellman attended the screening, and partied along with Michael Childers, the life partner of Cowboy director John Schlesinger. Schlesinger died of a heart attack in 2003.

Other parties of note included a Pure Smut party honoring drag queen Chi Chi LaRue at Pure Nightclub.

Though gay film will be a central theme in town for the next two weeks, the City Hall Film Series actually switched away from a gay-themed film so as not to conflict with the Festival.

Photo by Hugh E. Dillon PIGLF Executive Director Thom Cardwell and Midnight Cowboy Producer Jerome Hellman (CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VERSION)

When Mayor Nutter announced the series, the plan was to show edgy, important films in the City Hall courtyard every other Friday night in July and. The movies are free, and show rain or shine.

The first film scheduled was The Adventures of Priscilla — Queen of the Desert, the 1994 Australian film about two drag queens and a transsexual who perform drag shows in an Australian resort town, to much fanfare.

Priscilla was not shown, however. Instead, patrons got to see The Italian Job, originally slated to run on July 25.

Nutter spokesman Luke Butler explained that the original plan was to have a gay-themed movie like Priscilla to coincide with PGLFF, but festival organizers objected to the possible Friday night rivalry: There were nine gay festival films scheduled at various venues that night.

Thom Cardwell, executive director of the Philadelphia Film Society, says he was pleased that the city complied.

Nutter gave remarks at the showing of Gays Gone Wild!, noting that Philly's festival was the third-largest in the nation and the largest gay and lesbian festival on the East Coast.

"Which goes to show that size doesn't matter," the mayor said.

Meanwhile, rumors abound that Nutter's search committee has finally identified a candidate to serve as the city's arts and culture deputy.

The committee, which includes former arts and culture representative Diane Dalto, who served under then-Mayor Ed Rendell, was actively seeking someone to take the position. Insiders say one of the drawbacks was that the new representative would be working with a staff of one — him- or herself.

It was surprising the search took so long, given Nutter's enthusiasm on the issue during his campaign last year.

Nutter had stressed that arts and culture was at the core of the city's greatness and that the Philadelphia Museum of Art drew more dollars for the city than annual attendance at Eagles games. He pledged he would reopen the office of arts and culture, which his predecessor, Mayor John Street, had shut down.

Nutter's press deputy, Maura Kennedy, would say only that there would be an announcement shortly and nothing further.

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In order to recognize the threat of global warming and to advance the green agenda, Denver officials are inviting residents and convention delegates to Denver's Sculpture Park in the Performing Arts Complex for interactive and educational exhibits, a farmers market of local and organic produce, a children's area, eco-carnival games, music, entertainment and special presentations.

And in response to outrageous gas prices, the Sierra Club has organized a National Day of Action called LightBulbs to Leadership to demonstrate how individuals are leading the way and calling on elected officials to take bold, serious and fast action to find clean energy solutions and create good "green" jobs. On Thursday, July 17, the club is holding house parties across the state to talk about how to combat global warming and create green jobs for a healthy economy. Sierra Club executive director Carl Pope and Green for All president Van Jones, along with house party guests, will write personal letters to Rendell asking him to continue moving Pennsylvania forward with a strong, sustainable economy.

(rcpatel@aol.com)