Anti-gay Utah Jazz owner Larry Miller moved by meeting with gay students

[Ian David]

Larry Miller Meets with Gay and Lesbian Students

Wow. Now this is great to see. Real dialog between a bigot and those affected by his actions.

Larry Miller, the Utah theater owner who pulled Brokeback Mountain from his theaters last January, met with about 30 gay and lesbian students at the University of Utah who enlightened him about what it's like to be gay. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, students told Miller about the difficulties of coming out and the fear of being physically harmed. The discussion appeared to change Miller's previously unwavering stance on his decision to pull the movie.

Said Miller: "Now, I understand how something I said inadvertently made them feel demeaned as individuals. Maybe their well-being trumps my beliefs, my rights to express myself...In 2006, it's wrong that they have to live in that fear."

Students were very positive about the meeting. Charles Milne, coordinator of the university's LGBT Campus Resource Center: "I felt like he cared about what we had to say. I wouldn't say we changed his mind, but I think he did come away with ideas he had to process."

Imagine the strides that could be made if this kind of exchange happened more often.

More:
http://towleroad.typepad.com/towleroad/2006/04/larry_miller_me.html

[AndyA]

1. Imagine what the world would be like if people did unto others as they

would have others do unto them.

Christianity 101, but the majority of today's Christians seem to have forgotten about that one. Life would be easier for everyone if this was practiced.

[Selatius]

2. The struggle for equality and tolerance still continues

What difference does it make to the person if he is made to feel afraid because of the color of his skin or his sexual orientation or his religion or his political views or anything? Not a damn thing. The person is still entrapped in a prison of fear, yet the innocent aren't supposed to be in prison.

[RedStateShame]

3. Give the guy a pat on the back....

Awww, he almost thinks they're equals. What a big step forward!!! Sadly, this might be the most progressive thing happening in Utah, depending on where "Big Love" was filmed.

[Selatius]

4. The theater owner will probably get hate mail now, I fear.

[shenmue]

5. Good to see people moving forward

Progress, even just a little, is good.

[xultar]

6. ...

[cboy4]

7. Hey Mr. Miller, how about you make a nice donation to a LGBT

organization, or you publicly denounce the anti-gay rhetoric of the Republican party, or you schedule a gay diversity day during one of your team's games in Salt Lake City?

Otherwise, you have not convinced me to change my view of you before I read this post.

And that is that you are and remain a homophobe. Sorry.

Even the coordinator at the LGBT Resource Center said, "I wouldn't say we changed his mind."

So what's the point? :shrug:

[davidinalameda]

8. it's a start

minds aren't changed in one day

the educational process takes time and if this made him think about his prejudices, then it was well worth the time

[cboy4]

10. Maybe so, but don't forget the Log Cabins were all excited in 2000

about Bush supposedly reaching out to gays and we all know where that led.....to them refusing to endorse him in '04 because they said they were deceived.

I understand your point, but I'm very cautious about lip service until I see action.

[Ian David]

9. Very good points...

I suppose you could circulate this to anti-gay groups and get them angry at him for falling in line with "The homa-sex-yew-all ajender." The anti-gay folk will then send him a bunch of nasty emails and call a boycott.

[ShalachEtAmi]

12. Same old story..It`s easy to hate what you do not know..

But much more difficult to hate when you actually meet face to face with `real` ordinary people....

[dsc]

11. I am glad he moved a little

It takes major cajones to be gay in Utah I would think.