Consider: “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is repealed, and now we have the gayest Memorial Day Weekend in history. Coincidence? Not if you’re a consqueerispy theorist like I am. Here’s the evidence.
On Sunday, May 26, International Mr. Leather crowned its 2013 winner in Chicago (congrats to Andy Cross, Mr. San Francisco Leather, for his victory). Now, IML always takes place Memorial Day weekend, but how to explain the following additional gay stuff?
Arrested Development, the long-canceled TV sitcom that has long enjoyed a cult following, was relaunched by Netflix … also on Sunday. It stars out actress Portia Di Rossi, and contained many gay faves, including Liza Minnelli (pictured) and Tommy Tune, in its prodigious cast. Moreover, the show — always embracing of gay content — went overboard with queer content. Not only did they emphasize Tobias Funke’s gay closethood, but they actually addressed DADT in the show, and GOB (Will Arnette) went to a gay bar in order to seduce a gay magician (Ben Stiller), and … well, let’s just say they didn’t hide the rabbit.
But wait! Arrested Development had to compete with queer eyes for Behind the Candelabra, the Liberace biopic starring Michael Douglas and a frequently naked Matt Damon, which was the buzz of Facebook and received raves from the press.
But we’re not done. Also on Sunday, Blue is the Warmest Color, a drama about a girl who becomes involved with another woman, topped the awards at the Cannes Film Festival in France, taking the Palme D’or, the festival’s top honor. That already poises it for a major North American release. (The choice was hailed as a symbol of France’s recent passage of same-sex marriage rights.)
And … Sunday was my birthday, which is about as gay as you can get.
I could go on, but I think I’ve made my point.
