LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
GLAADLines: "Absolut Best" Lesbian and Gay Films of the 20th Century |
ABSOLUT VODKA and the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today announced the ABSOLUT BEST Lesbian and Gay Films of the 20th Century as determined by a popular vote of more than 23,000 from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The voting took place throughout 1999 on the GLAAD Web site and at GLAAD events and ABSOLUT sponsored gay/lesbian film festivals nationwide. The list was topped by 1994's The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. The ABSOLUT BEST films include the Academy Awardwinning films Gods and Monsters, Philadelphia, Longtime Companion and The Crying Game, along with audience favorites like In & Out, Boys on the Side, Torch Song Trilogy and The Color Purple (a complete list follows). The films were announced at the 11th Annual GLAAD Media Awards ceremony in New York City Sunday April 2nd and represent a broad crosssection of American and British cinema over the last quarter century. In the coming months, ABSOLUT VODKA and GLAAD will be promoting and screening the ABSOLUT BEST films at lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender film festivals across the country. The ABSOLUT BEST Lesbian and Gay Films of the 20th Century, in order, are:
"The gay and lesbian population has made significant contributions to our creative community, and ABSOLUT VODKA is excited to recognize what thousands have selected as the ABSOLUT BEST in filmmaking," noted James Schleifer, Director of Marketing for SEAGRAM AMERICAS. "Since 1989, ABSOLUT has supported GLAAD and its Media Awards program. During the same period, ABSOLUT began sponsoring gay and lesbian film festivalslarge and smallacross the country, including the oldest and largest in San Francisco. ABSOLUT BEST brings together all the elements of our sponsorship program in an extremely meaningful way." "We are thrilled by the incredible community response to this project," said GLAAD Entertainment Media Director Scott Seomin. "By delivering a diverse list of films covering lesbian and gay youth, AIDS, interracial relationships, aging, transgender identity and other universal themes, our community has recognized the important role film images play in shaping the world around us." ABSOLUT's support of the gay and lesbian community began in the 1980s initially through advertising in The Advocate and other emerging media and later, through its involvement with the creative communities of art, fashion and design. ABSOLUT's support grew when it affiliated with numerous community-based gay and lesbian organizations and events and supporting various AIDS events and charities. To date, ABSOLUT has worked with hundreds of regional and local gay and lesbian organizations and AIDS charities across the U.S. GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in all media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 10, No. 3, Apr. 7, 2000. |