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Will Smith + July 4th weekend = box office success. Unfortunately, the millions of audience members who take their family to see Smith’s Hancock will have to hear the obnoxious, drunk anti-hero utter an anti-gay slur.

At approximately 24 minutes into the film, while Jason Bateman’s PR whiz works to rehabilitate the superhero’s tarnished image, he shows Hancock three comic book images in an effort to inspire him. But Hancock rejects the traditional image of costumed superheroes as he responds to each one: “Homo. Homo in red. Norwegian homo.”

The audience is prompted to laugh and there is no response to or retribution for Hancock’s remarks. Bateman’s character, the father of a young son, could have easily spoken up instead of giving Hancock a pass

Better yet, would it have changed the story if that brief interaction had been left on the cutting room floor? No one would have missed the line if it wasn’t there, but an unfortunate choice was made to go for the cheap gay joke. In that moment, young gay people in the movie’s audience are put in the position of being ridiculed by a character they are expected to regard as a hero. People go to films to escape reality — or schoolyard taunts — not to pay ten bucks and be ridiculed some more, especially not by someone the Los Angeles Times calls “the most likable actor in the world.”

Rated PG-13, Hancock is being marketed to families, teens and young adults. This film certainly presents an opportunity for parents to explain to their kids that the usually entertaining character of Hancock is not modeling good behavior. But let’s get real: Hancock’s use of the slur sends a problematic message that it’s okay to discriminate using such hateful words. Every day, people — both gay and straight — are taunted and verbally harassed in their schools and in their communities with these kinds of words, creating an environment that’s hostile, uncomfortable, and often unsafe.  To have a heroic character — and by extension actor Will Smith — use, and by implication approve of, this kind of language is simply unacceptable.
 
GLAAD understands that sometimes anti-gay language shows up in dramatic narrative to reveal a character’s true colors, or to convey a message. But there’s a big difference between using it to highlight a character’s anti-gay attitudes and making a cheap, unfunny shot at gay people.
 

Alan T. Chan, a producer on LGBT-inclusive films Inner Circle Line (poster at right) and Half-Life, was also awarded a fellowship for Quari, a film which will explore "the trials of love and friendship among three young adults over the course of a summer spent in the idyllic countryside."

Sundance Channels' final DOCday in honor of June Pride is upon us. Wrap up the month with a celebratory, uplifting documentary!

Jam! (Sundance, 9 PM ET/PT) U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
Mark Woollen's highly acclaimed documentary follows an eccentric crew of former roller derby stars attempting to re-popularize the sport. Leading the group is Tim Patten, an HIV-positive San Franciscan who credits roller-derby with keeping him alive.

Watching the trailer is a must; It has made me a believer in the power of roller derby!

It's the last Saturday in June, and that means Sundance Channel's final gay-themed double feature in honor of Pride. Enjoy!

Being Julia (Sundance, 10 PM ET/PT)
Julia Lambert (Annette Bening) is a flamboyant American stage actress in 1938 London. Bruce Greenwood appears as Julia's endlessly supportive gay best friend.

Loggerheads (Sundance, 11:45 PM ET/PT)
Narrative involving three overlapping stories of estranged families in three regions of North Carolina, including a young gay man living with HIV and the mother who gave him up for adoption.

Here's the official trailer for Being Julia, a role for which the lovely Annette was nominated for an Academy Award.

You may have caught our posts during the Sundance Film Festival about the documentary When I Knew. Well, the day has finally arrived: When I Knew is coming to a TV near you! At Sundance, we got to see an excerpt of this unique and surprisingly moving and funny film. Trust us: this is NOT to be missed!

When I Knew (Cinemax, 7:30 PM ET/PT) PREMIERE
Based on the book of the same name, filmmakers Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato pose the question to a number of people, asking them when they knew they were gay. The documentary features vintage photos and home videos to supplement their accounts.  This is also available on Cinemax On Demand starting June 25.

And check out When I Knew's official web site, where regular Joes and Janes have submitted their own "When I Knew" stories. Keep your eyes peeled: you might see someone you know!

It's Monday, and that means DOCdays on Sundance Channel!

Stefan Braun (Sundance, 9 PM ET/PT) U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
Itamar Alkalay's biopic is about world-renowned Israeli furrier Stefan Braun, whose luxurious lifestyle included a number of beautiful boyfriends and a devoted live-in lover, with whom he had a complicated, enduring romance.

Two powerful movies air on Saturday. Set your TiVos -- they are not to be missed!

The Event (Sundance, 10 PM ET/PT)
Parker Posey portrays a district attorney investigating the mysterious death of an AIDS-afflicted musician in this 2003 film.

The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros (Sundance, 12 AM ET/PT) U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
This 2007 film is about a feminine twelve-year-old boy from a criminal gang family who develops a crush on a young policeman, threatening his home life.

Maximo Oliveros has a charming and sweet protagonist. Check out the official trailer here:

It's Monday, and that means Doc Days on Sundance Channel!

Ten More Good Years (Sundance, 9 PM ET/PT) U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
Michael Jacoby's documentary explores the situation faced by many aging members of the LGBT community.

Watch the trailer to understand why it's important we all care for the elderly members of our community:

Get some culture this weekend by tuning in to Sundance Channel on Saturday night for two U.S. television premieres of excellent gay-inclusive foreign films.

The Bubble (Sundance, 10 PM ET/PT) U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
Eytan Fox's GLAAD Media Award-winning dramedy about three twentysomething Israelis living in Tel Aviv, one of whom meets and falls in love with a Palestinian man. The three roommates join forces to help him stay in Tel Aviv, despite his lack of papers. The political and social realities of the Middle East threaten to break apart the men's romance.

Tropical Malady (Sundance, 12 AM ET/PT) U.S. TELEVISION PREMIERE
This 2004 film follows the halting courtship between Keng, a Thai solider on jungle patrol, and Tong, a modest country boy.

Though The Bubble tackles some really serious issues that are ultimately completely heart-wrenching, when I watched the trailer again, I was reminded by how absolutely fun and sexy some moments are. Definitely check this out, to get a feel for the greatness of this movie:

 

There's a slew of great LGBT films on tonight, so why not pop some popcorn and settle in?

A Very Serious Person (Showtime, 12 PM ET/PT)
Set in Rockaway, New York, this coming-of-age tale from out director Charles Busch focuses on the relationship between a young boy obsessed with Old Hollywood and his Danish mentor.

Lost and Delirious (IFC, 7:15 PM ET)
Mischa Barton portrays a quiet girl who is sent to an all-girls college where she becomes fast friends with two lesbians experiencing relationship drama in this 2001 film.

Urbania (IFC, 9:05 PM ET)
Jon Matthews presents this edgy film from 2001 about a gay man's late-night odyssey through the underside of New York.

Cut Sleeve Boys (here!, On Demand)
In this 2006 film, two British Chinese gay men reflect on their lives after a friend passes away.

Pride Jerusalem (here!, On Demand)
An exploration of the struggles for legitimacy of the LGBT community in Israel as shown in the violence and condemnation that plagued the 2006 Jerusalem Pride Parade.

Check out the VERY DRAMATIC trailer for Lost and Delirious, featuring not only a very young Mischa Barton, but also Piper Perabo (Imagine Me & You) and Emily VanCamp (Brothers & Sisters).