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Gays Urged to Say Nay to Travolta's 'Spray
John Travolta and Nikki Blonsky by David James/New Line Cinema
Gays are beseeched to turn their nose up at Edna Turnblad, to protest the casting of John Travolta in the forthcoming Hairspray movie. Why? Scientology, to which JT subscribes, "has operated reparative therapy clinics to try to 'cure' gays," Washington Blade jefe Kevin Naff tells the New York Daily News. Seeing as Scientologists are obliged to donate a chunk of their income to the church, "by going to this movie, gay people are literally putting money into an organization that seeks to cure them," Naff contends.
Naff also says "shame on" openly gay John Waters — who wrote and directed the 1988 movie on which the new pic is based — for allowing Travolta to be cast. Travolta's rep didn't respond to the News' request for comment.
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Jun 14, 2007 8:45 AM
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Puh-lease...if gays are so sure reparative therapy doesn't work (and I agree), then they shouldn't be worried about it.
You have to admit there is a significant portion of the gay population who aren't comfortable with their orientation, and if they individually decide they want to give reparative therapy a try, who's to say they shouldn't have the opportunity?
As I say, I don't think it would work, but if others do, hey...it's a free country.
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Jun 14, 2007 8:51 AM
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If the gay community is supposed to refuse to go see Hairspray because there is a Scientologist in it, then they are going to have to refuse to go see anything starring Tom Cruise, Jenna Elfman, Juliette Lewis, the list goes on and on. Hollywood is littered with Scientologists, so why has this issue not come up until now?
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Jun 14, 2007 9:37 AM
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"Naff also says shame on openly gay writer-director John Waters for casting Travolta in the pic"
So John Waters should have discriminated against John Travolta based on John's religious beliefs? That's what Naff is saying isn't it? Hmmm?
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Jun 14, 2007 10:02 AM
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I talked to a few gay friends. They don't agree with what Naff said and state that it did not reflect the opinion of the entire gay community!!
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Jun 14, 2007 10:02 AM
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I guess Scientology cured JOHN TRAVOLTA and TOM CRUISE from their gayness!!
I guess all the hoopla is about supporting scientologist/actor like John Travolta who believe that Scientology will cure homosexuality. Its almost like saying we should ban MEL GIBSON movies because of his anti semitic comments. I can see the pointt but It's not fair to the 'other' people who have worked on this movie ( other cast members/technical ) who may have different views other than what Scientologist believe in.
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Jun 14, 2007 10:05 AM
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Being a gay man myself, I do not agree with this boycott. If so, you would have to add King of Queens on the list, anything by Tom Cruise, Kirstie Alley, Dharma and Greg (Jenna Elfman) just to name a few. And many of these celebs have been very supporting of the gay community.
I can't wait to see the movie. The majority of the GLBT community are not going to pass up a good musical.
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Jun 14, 2007 10:10 AM
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What a silly boycott. DOn't get me wrong, I am ALL about gay rights. I can only assume that they are so up in arms because they don't actually know the story of the movie. Travolta is not playing a transvestite or a gay man. He is playing a straight woman. Either that or they are pissed because the original Edna was played by a true transvestite, and they think it should be that way again. Either way you look at it... it's silly to boycott.
Also, just because he is a scientologist, doesn't necessarily mean he believes in everything they do. He may disagree with the whole camp thing. And if they're going to boycott a movie because of the camp thing, they may as well boycott anything with christians, as many sects of Christianity also have camps like that.
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Jun 14, 2007 10:34 AM
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Oh John Waters is going to love this! He can't win -- the moral majority groups have attacked him for years and years and years - and now that he's sold out (and yes, I think making a film into a musical back into a film is selling out - sorry, it's lame and unnecessary - leave it at the stage show if you must, but let's not then adapt that stage show...it becomes pointless, see The Producers) and made a family friendly film that is aimed at a very un-John Waters audience, his own community is attacking him. Well, not HIS community - but a community that has certainly benefited from his work/exposure. John Waters will love this - because it's just so typical...even when he isn't trying to be controversial, he gets controversy.
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Jun 14, 2007 10:37 AM
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I have not seen this movie but I have seen the original Hairspray, and it seems to me that this would be an actor doing a character, who just happens to be female.
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Jun 14, 2007 11:22 AM
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There are plenty of Christian churchs who run "gay-hab" centres. Christian coiffers are not filled with money sent from God, it comes from the parishoners.
If you intend to boycott a film because an actor's tithing to his chosen religion may support "gay-hab" programs then you would have to avoid all movies that have an actor who is religious in anyway.
The only "safe" people would be Unitarians and a small portion of North American Anglicans.
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Jun 14, 2007 11:41 AM
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I thought John Travolta was gay!!!!! Also I don't like when they re-do a classic movie, it's just not the same!!!
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Jun 14, 2007 11:53 AM
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I think it's just an opportunity for gay rights groups to put a little pressure on the Scientologists. On the other hand, all of the volunteer T-shirts at L.A.'s gay pride had a Hairspray promo on them!
Nothing will come of it. I doubt it will put a dent in the box office.
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Jun 14, 2007 12:05 PM
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Why does anyone care about this movie? The original was such an great little film - go out and rent it. Do yourself a favor and forget about this bs remake. John Travolta could NEVER fill Divine's heels. No Divine, No Ricki Lake, No Debbie Harry should equal no box office.
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Jun 14, 2007 12:11 PM
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I'm going to reserve judgment on this until a statement is issued by GLAAD. Then I will proceed accordingly. I do agree that Cruise et al would also have to be boycotted if the thrust of this argument is to boycott Scientology.
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Jun 14, 2007 12:25 PM
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