Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 (Denver Mods 7/26/84) 6/24/83; site drutx.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!houxm!mtuxo!drutx!jimb
From: jimb@drutx.UUCP (Jim Bryant)
Newsgroups: net.motss
Subject: Re: Kudos to CBS/CTV
Message-ID: <116@drutx.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 8-Mar-86 01:50:44 EST
Article-I.D.: drutx.116
Posted: Sat Mar  8 01:50:44 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Mar-86 04:37:35 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 53
Keywords: Welcome Home, Bobby


I'd like to agree with Steve's comments about the CBS movie
"Welcome Home Bobby", and carry his disdain even further.

To me, this movie was little more than high octane fuel for the
average homophobic parents concerns of keeping gays away from
their children.

As I imagine nescient parents watching this movie, I see them
able to blame the gays for all the problems Bobby goes through.
I envision them watching this movie, and afterwards having the
feeling that "if he hadn't been seduced by the older man in the
first place, he would never have gone through the ordeal", and 
that "if he hadn't received support from his gay teacher, he might
have gotten 'over it'."

The movie did little to enlighten the viewer on the subject.
The one notable exception to this was the scene when Bobby
dresses up in drag for dinner. That was at least one blast at a
stereotype.

I wholly agree with Steve that the scene in which Bobby returns
to the man's house and finds him with another young boy, was
entirely unnecessary, and just added more mud to the face of
homosexuality.

Again from the parents perspective, I feel it looked like the
gay teacher was "pushing" Bobby to accept his homosexuality.
I know that for me, having had someone offer me support like 
that would have been a great help. My complaint is that this
movie did nothing with it. In the end, Bobby is still as confused
as ever, and never shows any appreciation for the support he received.

On the subject of plausibility, I found his speech at the awards
ceremony implausible to say the least. The "I am what I am"
and "I might be this way and I might be that way" statements
were about as dilute as any I can conceive. I'm surprised the
editors didn't go ahead and have him 'decide' he was not gay.
Throughout the movie, his confusion was portrayed as though he
must 'make a decision' as to whether or not he's gay. I think in
reality, it's more like 'come to accept' that you're gay.
I'd like to know how many people that go through the confusion
he went through end-up being heterosexual.

As much as I wanted to find good in this movie, it was nearly impossible.
When I then consider my pro biased outlook, I conclude it was exactly
the thing the uninformed homophobic parent wanted to see. I can only
wonder if CBS had any purpose to producing this movie other than $$$$.

Thanks CBS.

at&t information systems/denver colorado/jim bryant
...!{ihnp4,ulysses,mtuxo,pegasus,whuxl}!drutx!jimb