Disney's AIDS Fairytale | Dreamsounds
Vložit
- čas přidán 16. 07. 2024
- (Please see the pinned comment for a correction) Howard Ashman is often remembered for his lyrics, but as the executive producer for “Beauty and the Beast” his influence on the film went far beyond the songs. But how did it become Disney’s AIDS fairytale?
___________________
The pieces of media and music featured in this video are quoted for critical and educational purposes. Those looking to completely understand the pieces are encouraged to purchase the original works.
___________________
Donate on Patreon: / dreamsounds
One-time Paypal Donation: www.paypal.me/jakebellissimo
Follow me on Twitter: / dreamsoundsvid
List of video and photo sources used in intro montage: docs.google.com/document/d/1w...
___________________
MUSIC USED:
A variety of songs by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken: “Be Our Guest,” “Belle,” “Something There,” “Gaston,” “The Mob Song,” “Human Again,” “Sheridan Square,” and “Beauty and the Beast”
"Home For the Holidays" by TrackTribe
“Elder Dilemma” by Freedom Trail Studio
“Book Bag” by E’s Jammy Jams
“Orbiting a Distant Planet” by Quantum Jazz
“Nighttime Stroll” by E’s Jammy Jams
“The Night Falling” by JR Tundra
“Sunday Stroll” by Huma-Huma
“Long Stroll” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"Backbay Lounge" by Kevin MacLeod Link: incompetech.filmmusic.io/song... License: filmmusic.io/standard-license
“Milk Coffee” by Ryan
• [No Copyright Music] J...
___________________
00:00 Introduction
02:05 Beauty and the Beast
03:49 HIV and AIDS
05:06 Allegory
06:22 The Meaning of Beauty and the Beast
11:13 The AIDS Crisis
20:19 Howard Ashman’s Impact
23:45 Not Fitting In
26:53 Reaching Back and Moving Forward - Zábava
CORRECTION: In this video I make a comparison between the AIDS crisis and the covid pandemic, saying that there "isn't as much of a villain" with the latter. I wish I hadn't included such a poorly-worded sentence. My intention was to highlight the widespread association of HIV/AIDS as a gay-only illness for almost a decade and how that was the main bipartisan narrative in mainstream culture of the time. But many people have pointed out that by comparing the two, there's an implication of diminishing the racism and specifically sinophobia that has occurred during the covid pandemic (thanks, by the way, to everyone who pointed that out). That was not my intent and I'm sorry, I shouldn't have included that sentence. In a video that I am otherwise proud of, I am bummed that it has the blemish of a poorly-worded sentence.
What I originally commented before the edit: What's your favorite Howard Ashman song?🏳🌈For me, it's a tie between "Part of Your World" or "Postcard 2" from Smile
It’s Belle for me. In middle school as a neurodivergent closeted bi girl I found the way she couldn’t fit in really relatable. 2nd for me is Gaston because the lyrics are hilarious. I’m also fond of Feed Me from Little Shop of Hotrors because it‘s really catchy. Howard Ashman was a genius
There's something specifically about the reprise of "Belle" that has always spoken to me on a deep level, even as a child who didn't know why I never really felt like I fit in. In about a minute it expresses rejecting societal expectations and yearning for a different, exciting life where one can finally be understood and I think knowing someone else felt that way made me feel seen. I literally used to try to recreate the scene where she picks dandelions as a kid because I was so enamoured with it.
Proud of Your Boy has never ceased to bring me to tears.
Though I wouldn't normally list it, my subconscious made the answer *quite* clear,
I had the movie paused for a *long* time - then sat down with one glance knew where it was and did a lip sync video of "Part of That World" in one take.
Though the original Beauty and the Beast is my favorite film.
While you know I adore you, I *will* be watching Enchanted Christmas (it's not Ashman, but I don't ask it to be) also, to my knowledge and *please correct me if I'm wrong* it's the only 'real Disney' (meaning not purchased property) film to acknowledge Hanukkah.
I can’t choose between three (one from three Disney movies) Part of Your World and Belle always spoke to me as a disabled woman who was othered, not for her sexuality but because I have dwarfism, I was bullied in school and felt seen by Ariel and Belle both being othered and Ariel’s desire to be somewhere she was accepted. And Proud of your boy always makes me cry.
god, I've never seen that clip of Howard's partner accepting the Oscar on his behalf... I am not ashamed to admit I wept. This is such a beautifully constructed video. Thank you so much for it.
Ditto. OMG. That had to be a rollercoaster ride for him too.
I'm definitely crying and so are you.
"They didn't fight for their rights, they were fighting for their lives" and the we will never understand what living during the aids pandemic is absolutely heart breaking and queer people using the same talking points as queer phobic people hits in such a different way
People who only see "queer" as a slur fail to see that most of our terms were once slurs that have been reclaimed by us.
This right here! Every word that describes or names any aspect of LGBTQ+ has been used as a slur by those who hate us.
The conflict within the queer community really struck me as a queer Black person. It’s hard to hear people who are “supposed” to be accepting of other groups repeat damaging rhetoric. This video is beautiful and I appreciate the hard work you put into it.
The mention of how gay was used as a bad word... just flashed me back to younger years. When I was in middle school... I used to be homophobic. It was something I grew up with not for any reason outside of people calling me gay, and it triggered a response of, "Oh, this is a bad thing," and then became hatred that manifested in... unnecessarily dark thoughts in my head about them. They were the bad guys... and I had no reason for it.
There was this kid... I forget his name... but I got disgusted by them because I thought they were gay. Honestly I don't even remember if that was confirmed or not... but the truth was, this guy was... nice from what I recall, and I was disgusted for no reason at all. Considering how lonely I felt in middle school especially after moving out of an area where I did have friends in order to go back to an area that was familiar to me only to be an outsider was... hard. I did it to myself though as I reflect back. It was stupid the way I acted, and they might've been a great friend to me... and I threw it away because of something that didn't matter.
Truth is... it was not some big revelation that made me stop my thoughts... it was just... sitting down and asking myself if the anger was really justified. I'm glad I was able to do that. I was able to be more open about the friends I was able to make, more accepting, and was able to explore myself later on.
I'm openly bi and gender fluid now. I'm glad we live in a more accepting world right now. It's not perfect... but we've come a long way. I hope for more progress to be paved forward.
I used to say thats hella gay and crap when i was in middle school. When I referred to mettaton from undertale (my fav game) i referred to him as the gay robot. When my friend called me a lesbian i got MAD like rage. Well now im a raging bi girl lol
@@morgiemango6242 I mean he kinda is a gay robot 😂 (my fave game too) Undertale made me realize I was nonbinary, funnily enough
One of the moments in Beauty and the Beast that's always stuck with me is when the Beast finally goes after Gaston, pushed to the brink, and Gaston suddenly realizes that he's outmatched and, for the first time, he is afraid. No matter how strong and virile and handsome he is, he is no match for the power of the Beast. He mocked and taunted what he didn't understand and was cut down in his prime. I was reminded of that moment when you talked about the gym bros Gaston was modeled after. Not to say anyone deserved what happened to them!! The cursed prince was a victim too.
This whole film is the best terminal illness allegory I've seen. The Beast really encapsulates what it means to have your days numbered, resulting in being so angry and sensitive all the time, pushing everyone away and refusing meaningful connections because they are pointless when you know you won't last, losing hope when you know you are losing your life.
When I hear Disney and HIV in the same sentence, my mind goes to Richard Hunt and how they've neglected his legacy, almost to the point of smearing his legacy. RIP to the many fallen souls of the epidemic, I've personally known too many.
I'm not sure I'm familiar with this. Educate me?
@@searchingfororion Richard Hunt was one of the key Muppet puppeteer's who pioneered the industry, Disney has besmirched his legacy by designating him to minor credits and if i recall correctly belittling his relationship with his partner in one of the posthumous accredits. It's a long story, but Disney seems to love not giving Richard his well earned credit.
@@searchingfororion matt baume has an amazing video on him and his legacy! :)
@@EZOnTheEyes Oh, I watched an entire video about him on Matt Baume's channel very recently. I'm 99% sure it's titled "Gay Muppets" the video covers how he became involved (through sheer persistence and enthusiasm) characters he did that had (sometimes thinly veiled) coded moments and memoirs from lovers at certain times in his life.
I don't remember Matt mentioning Disney burying him - which *is* something he would usually bring up (though it wouldn't surprise me, it wouldn't be the first time Disney slaughtered someone just for the bottom line.
They tried gagging, and when that wouldn't work, manufactured falshoods then vilified and assassinated the character of *IN JIM'S OWN WORDS* deathbead proclamation "he had found his successor" for Kermit. The man held the mantle from the tribute to Jim all the way to "Most Wanted" but when the ABC office-esqe show started he made the mistake of integrity v.s corporate "yes-ism". He's slandered everywhere.)
@@topaz_no_life9440 While you were writing that, I was hitting "send" on my novel. Looks like great minds sub alike. 😉🤗
I think it could be really interesting to have a reimagining of the story where Belle, the Beast, and Gaston are all gay men, with Gaston being deeply closeted and expressing his attraction to male Belle (Beau?) in this complicated toxic way that conforms to socially acceptable forms of homoeroticism, and Beau isn't comfortable participating in that performance and just wants to have an honest connection with someone. And then Gaston ends up targeting the Beast especially because he sees him as being like the shadow of himself, the weak and despised version, and Gaston can't handle the thought that they could be happy being authentically themselves with each other while he has to live a lie.
Write that story now
@@Quackervoltz Oh I would if I could figure how to pull it off!
@@4dultw1thj0b What if it takes place during the 80s
@@4dultw1thj0b Just open up a word doc and just start writing. Get the rough draft done and then work from there.
I would love to read/see that
I've never made the connection before of the witch hunt for the Beast and the AIDS epidemic, but it makes total sense. That plot point isn't part of the original fairy tale and it communicates the sense of otherness and danger surrounding AIDS so well.
I cried through almost this entire video honestly. Howard Ashman is one of the most tragic and wonderful and beloved figures of history to me, as an artist and as a gay person. It breaks my heart every time I think about him. I wish he could have lived to see how far we have come. May he rest in peace forever knowing he gave us so many wonderful, touching and meaningful works.
It's probably my interpretation of Gaston but I've always doubted that Gaston really has any sexual attraction to Belle, or rather anyone else other than himself. He sees Belle as a trophy, and his only interest is bagging her, making her his wife, and then just living the rest of his life off the town's admiration in a mutually loveless marriage he tries to avoid. I mean, there's NO way someone with that sort of ego that has identical blonde women that swoon off of just his existence wouldn't constantly be cuddling and kissing, and screwing them and calling himself a straight manly man. He's only in love and sexually aroused by himself, that's the kind of ego he has. As for Belle, he clearly hates her deep down. Otherwise, why would mostly everyone in town dismiss her as a snob and a weirdo when if Gaston REALLY likes Belle that much, he'd use his influence to prop her up as the most special woman in the town that no one can ever achieve the same level of quality and status of. Someone that's ONLY worthy of Gaston.
I feel so validated hearing that other people see the queerness of Disney movies. I could see these themes “out the corner of my eye” growing up. I am from a very small, very conservative town; so whenever I tried to express what I saw, I got confused reactions. It kinda felt like being gaslit.
Yo small town homie
“We all have unique experiences that affect how we see the world. So let’s talk about that instead of vilifying each other.”
ABSOLUTELY. This is one of the reasons I love your content.
I wrote an entire essay on Howard Ashman and Beauty and the Beast and never once heard someone say Gaston was queer coded. Absolutely love this take and all the hidden complexities in Ashman’s story
19:40 Unfortunately there WERE people who were scapegoated and victimized during the COVID pandemic : Chinese people and people of South East Asian descent.
And Africans....
@@urmom777 not Africans and remember when black people were attacking East elderly people
And hilariously enough, people whom weren't selfish and took the jab are now frowned upon by people whom did not! What the hell
Yes that’s what I was thinking about
Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, I'm crying watching a Dreamsounds video.
I know I post this after pretty much every video essay you release, but I wanted to thank you. Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into shining a light on our history as a community in the way that you do. Your work is so valued. Thank you. 💖
You and your husband look so happy together. Wish all the best to both of you!
for as long as i've been out as a gay man i think i've made the connection to monsters in fiction (specifically with romance/friendship towards the monster) being an allegory for queerness in general. i never thought about how the AIDS crisis could so easily be read in the story- and that is both interesting and profound. honestly a whole new layer to the interpretation. amazing video, i got teary eyed!
This context on the design of Gaston makes so much sense to me. His masculine performance and how it seems to grant him the acceptance he wants is nuanced - or it can be
started tearing up at Sheridan Square, bawling by the Oscars speech. Your work is scholarly and accessible and moving all at the same time. thank you for another outstanding analysis of / tribute to Ashman.
I was born in 1988, and aids was very hush-hush... but it was always looming. I knew I was different back when I was 4 years old, and Beauty and the Beast was a huge representation for me to feed off of even if I didn't understand how or why.
My parents would love to throw insulting ideologies like "they are sick because God is mad at them," or "if you don't behave, this will happen to you too." And the fact that my parents used an epidemic as a fear tactic on a child is absolutely insensitive and disgusting. It didn't affect me directly, but I lived in that Era, and it was an ever daunting presence even among the straight community. It was as if it was validation that homosexuality was wrong. For a child who already knew they were gay, it was such a horrible situation. It felt like if I had to live, it was to fight off who you were or die.
Now, during covid, I hear people compare it to aids, or saying "now I understand what aid victims feel," ... no. No you don't. How can you even compare? How cruel and unbelievable inconsiderate?
People were begging for a cure for aids, and the government shrugged it off and completely ignored the problem. With covid, a vaccine to help curve the infection rates came out in less than a year! And we have fools protesting it!
I am absolutely amazed by lgbtq history... but damn if it doesn't depress me with how humanity hasn't really learned much, if anything at all.
It's a mystery to me that you don't have millions of subs. The production quality here is higher than most TV documentaries. Keep up the outstanding, profound work!
Super cute guy: what to wear for the wedding...pink?
Other super cute guy: Pink! Yes!
And they lived happily ever after. The end.
Omg the bit about ACT UP actually being diverse…I watched How To Survive A Plague in Intro to Queer Studies and THAT would have been good info! My whole damn class was like, “What’s with all these white gay men? Where are all the BIPOC affected by HIV?”
Love your stuff and glad you realized your real life fairy tale!
One note. I would argue Asian people where unfairly blamed for the current pandemic. And every place a mutated version shows up is held responsible for that despite… the fact this is a virus.
Other than that - you know your stuff. Looking to forward to watching more of your videos!
You make me tear up almost every time. I was a kid during the AIDS crisis, but I remember.
I love Larry Kramer's work. But he was absolutely (and proudly) an antagonistic fellow. Ultimately that fire, that purpose, that ability to tell everyone to go to hell, was absolutely needed. But so was the compassion of Clive Jone's AIDS Quilt. And the beauty of Ashman's Beauty and the Beast.
Okay, I'm straight, but I'm really enjoying this. Not only do I enjoy history as a whole, but I joy being informed, especially when I wasn't around when the AIDS pandemic took place. Being a young, straight, cis girl raised in a strict religious household, I'd also like to be informed on how to respect others, and learn to understand them, and for them to understand me. We're all people, and we were created as equals. My parents have very mixed morals. It was very confusing growing up and suddenly being exposed to certain ideas and topics I didn't understand. I hope society will one day learn to respect others, respect is a very large concept. Respect should be given to all people and not be excused due to biases, generalization, and stereotypes towards specific topics/ideas and certain groups of people.
Damn Beauty and the Beast hits a lot harder learning more about Howard Ashman and the AIDs crisis. Also I won't be able to see the demo of Humiliate the Boy again. Amazingly written video essay
excellent as always! I sometimes rewatch the BATB Oscar win and I've wondered for the longest time if the animators might have based the Beast's human form on Bill Lauch's appearance
That's an interesting point and something I've always wondered myself! I tried to limit this video to parallels in the movie that I had more concrete evidence of, but it really does look like him
I always saw Beauty and the Beast as a beautiful story about learning to become friends and love someone regardless of how they look and regardless of if socity accepts that person. Also that you can find others to accept you for who you are and a place to belong even when you don't fit into socity. I am still beyond thankful for the music and legacy Howard Ashman gave the world.
You have no idea how much these videos have helped me come to terms with my own queerness and how I interact with queer history. I really appreciate all the hard work you put into them. 💜
Mrs. Marlene, i do hope that you will have second channel for your music cover since i find you're singing voice rather soft and melodic and gentle. if you do i hope you can promote it one day.
sign, a fan
Beautiful video Jake, it was really powerful, I got teary eyed!
You and your husband are a lovely couple, you two stay strong 😊🥰🏳🌈
Thanks, Roger!
MORE DREAMSOUND SINGING PLEASE!!!
Man… you know how when your heart feels heavy, but in a happy way? That’s how I feel right now. This video brought me close to tears, it’s absolutely beautiful. I love your content.
You and your husband make a beautiful couple. In all sincerity ❤
Thank you LupusGigan!
Thank you, for the lesson. The HIV/AIDS epidemic is was such a travesty to the community, that still takes place in poorer countries today, hearing your opinions on how the scars in the form of bigoted rhetoric and oppositions within and from outside of the community, was excellent…
I love your videos, emotional, creative, scholarly, thank you for bringing new perspectives and knowledge into reach…
This video reminded me of the captain planet episode that had actual supervillains boo a teenage boy who had AIDS, which sort of inspired the Red Letter Media running gag of Rich Evans having AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIDDDDDDSSSSS!!!!! A truly tragic part of history spawned so many layers of comedy, both by accident and intentional.
I love the wedding photos, you two look so happy. The matching suit jackets are cute, too
only about 2 minutes in and just the ending of that intro gave me chills. holy shit.
Some additional information, if folks are interested. Dave Woodman, an openly lgbt artist and animator, has provided some additional information over time about working at Disney. Woodman worked on Little Mermaid, Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast.
He's also mentioned Greg Drolette. Drolette passed away in 2007, and he was another unfortunate casualty of the AIDS virus.
As for Who Framed Roger Rabbit, it's generally agreed that this was the beginning of Disney's renaissance. The Documentary 'Waking Sleeping Beauty' (Which I would definitely see as a companion piece to 'Howard', as it's also directed by Don Hahn) discusses this, as well as how the animators at Disney were genuinely disheartened when they weren't asked to work on the film. (They lost out to animation legend Richard Williams). Disney saw them as too green and too inexperienced.
And one little sidenote. Jeffrey Katzenberg (who unfairly gets portrayed as 'petty' due to one, now retired, video essayist) was instrumental in Howard Ashman getting the best medical help available at the time. (He even moved production of B & TB to be nearer to Howard Ashman, so that Ashman didn't have to travel.) During this time period, one could easily be fired (and lose their medical insurance) for revealing they were lgbt, or had HIV, or AIDS. What Katzenberg did was unprecedented. He put business aside, and showed his humanity. He asked Howard if his mother knew Howard was ill, and just went above and beyond to help him out. Disney, (decades before same sex marriage was legalised), gave lgbt partners the same benefits that heterosexual husbands and wives enjoyed, including medical and dental insurance, as well as discounted Disneyland ticket prices.
They've been lgbt friendly for many years.
I never knew you were married! I guess you don't talk about your life much other than in more metaphorical or emotional terms. Well very late congratulations. I have to admit I had a kinda knee jerk reaction to hearing you talk about the 30 some year age gap between you and your husband, but you're right that all that maters is that you're happy, safe, and loved. I really liked the picture of the two of you on main street at Disney land you both look so happy. I'm sorry that people let their initial reactions get away from them and have been horrible to you about it instead of dealing with their own stuff. It's something that I feel like I 100% live in a glass house over. Many people have negative reactions to my partner and it's almost exclusively other queer people who have a bad reaction. I think it's pretty simple so here it is: I've been with my partner 10 years on this dec 10th and we met when we were 12, I'm a trans guy and wasn't comfortable expressing that until the last two to three years. I had to cut ties with the queer community in my irl area. They insisted that he was abusing me and convincing me to stay. They were adamant that I leave him, that staying with him was harmful and inherently bad some how. So while I don't understand the exact hurdles you've faced I do emphasize and get it to some degree. I hope you guys are happy for many years to come.
Another wonderful video. Thank you.
Glad you mentioned Deja, as I think he is often forgotten in the discussion of Disney, Q-Coded characters and LGBTQ+ representation. Also that you mentioned Greg Drolette who I didn't know about. (The only model I knew about from this movie was that Sherri Stoner, who was also the model for Ariel, was the model for Belle. And I know this because I'm an animation buff and I love Stoners work on Animaniacs (she created and voiced Slappy Squirrel)).
Speaking of Deja, I know you mainly tackle these videos from a musicians perspective, but I would like to hear you talk more about Deja and viewing his work through a Q-lens. Everyone has mentioned that Gaston, Jafar and Scar are Q-coded, but what about characters like Hercules and Lilo?
In many ways, Herc is a positive version of Gaston. Looking like a traditional Adonis muscle guy, but sensitive. An outsider longing to fit in and, at first, to "be like everybody else". And I think a lot of LGBTQ people can identify with that, coming to terms with "yeah, I'm not like others, and that's okay." I think that could be a very interesting video.
Whatever you decide to do, I'm looking forward to it. Keep up the good work.
I actually cried with this one wow
1. Beautiful. I cried. 2. You and your husbear are beautiful, and welcome any time in bars in SF - or at least the handful I go to. I know one of the things I’ve struggled with in my 10 years being out is just how fractured we are. Your video reminds me that AIDS was about many more things than the individuals we lost, including the scattering of our nascent community and …ugh, you know? A dear aunt used to say, “hurt people, hurt people.” ::say it out loud:: How much more hurt do us queers have in us to inflict on each other?
Excuse me, my friend, I’m gonna need you to stop making such beautiful videos because I’m tired of having to wipe mascara off my cheeks when it’s over. 😭
I was always told i was a basically belle as a kid cause everytime there was a family gathering my nose was in a book it didnt help.that i had brown hair belle is one of my favorite disney princesses. Fuck i even had an old librarian that encouraged my reading of a certain warrior cat series
another incredibly beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and complicated video. thank u for sharing our stories and keeping our history alive
This is such a heartfelt queer history lesson and a beautiful bittersweet attribute! You had me in tears so many times. Learning about these histories certainly helps to bridge the gap between our generation and those who came before us. Thank you so much for this! 🙏P. S. I'm so happy that you and your husband have found each other!❤🌈
this was such a beautiful video this made me cry so hard at the end.
That intro has me reduced to tears
going back thru your older videos, and this handled the topic with such lovely sensitivity and care. Made me cry so much
I've been following your twitter updates on this video and am so happy it's finally out!
hecking cried during this , thank you for making this !
so happy I finally had time to watch this!! I always get some new info out of your content, and that’s very precious to me so thank you!
Thank you for what you do. This is a great analysis. 💕
Beautiful video, and very moving.
literally crying. this was such a powerful video
Thank you for sharing all these wonderful videos!
This was a very moving and insightful video. I'm glad that so people in the community find comfort in Disney's work
Incredible video as always!
Howard ashman and Ron klemens worked on my favorite disney movie Treasure Planet i really hope you do a video on it Im still here really gets to me as someone who keeps to the shadows but wants to be heard
26:00 The memorial at the end of Beauty and the Beast makes me cry. Every. Single. Time.
I have to say I've always had a passion for queer history, and specifically how queer history and identities intertwine in media (specifically horror media, but that's besides the point) I've only recently found your channel but absolutely fell in love after the first video.
Its so important to see you bringing the topics into a bigger light and you're so well spoken, its just amazing to me in a way I don't have words for. So thank you, and keep doing what you're doing because youre amazing 💕
This video was beautiful! Beauty and the Beast is mine and my mom's favorite Disney movie, and I have a deeper appreciation and understanding of Howard Ashman as a songwriter... well done!
Hearing Howard’s voice on the work tapes of the songs brought tears to my eyes.
I was weeping by the end credits. Never knew about most of this stuff before. Thank you so much for putting this together. I'm so glad I found your channel.
I love this so much and I am truly going to miss your content
My marching band went to Disney to march in magic Kingdom and back stage there was many pictures and I saw a picture of Howard ashman and felt a sort of sadness but a feeling that he's looking down at me a gay kid playing publicly in Disney
love the positivity of your channel
Thank you for yet another amazing video! Powerful writing and so many good takeaways from this one. Also always makes me so happy to see John and you together on your videos. Looking forward to more from you as always
HOLY CRUD I NEVER THOUGHT OF THIS BEFORE THIS IS AN AMAZING ALLEGORY
I was starting to worry you would not make videos, anymore. 🙂 Happy to see you again.
I don't think an age difference between lovers matters, as long as you're both consenting adults you can marry whoever you want. My mom and her husband have an age gap with his daughter close to her age but they don't care about that. She loves him for him and could care less of what anyone has to say about them. As long as you're with the person you care about more than life itself, nothing else matters in the world.
what a wonderful video
Any video featuring Howard Ashman is guarantee to make me sob
I haven't watched the whole vid yet, but I just wanted to say that the intro is spectacular.
Such a sweet video
dang ur vids are great
Cue me, at time stamp 11:15 hoping and praying this will either be about pickme types or (because I’m starting to really appreciate your style) probably something even more insightful that I hadn’t thought about before. 😯
There this one line in the movie that, ever since o started to see the queer reading in it of aids, has really stood out as one of the strongest in the movie for me. While talking of how the beast should act on his and belles date, lumiere tells him that he has no time to be timid, he must be bold. It’s especially strong when you realize how desperate Howard was to make this movie work and leave a mark. He was bold to fight for it and he was bold to try a seven minute opening, because he knew he had limited time and it would probably be one of the last pieces he would make. As it was.
God that clip of Larry Kramer gives me chills. I live in the east village of NYC and the gay community here is fascinating because there is a generation of survivors who are activists and have lost so many friends.
Why did they lose them
@@abimaellopezmaylord27lopez7 they died due to aids
You sing beautifully.
That cover at the end was beautiful! Would you ever consider making a playlist of the songs you covered? :) ps just watched ur recent video congrats on coming out! (Again!)
I hope I’m not bothering you in asking but, are you going to make a video on Luca or did you already make one? I can’t remember
I haven't made a video on that yet, honestly, at the moment I don't really have anything to say about it. There is a chance, though, that it will fit into an upcoming video I'm working on
@@DreamsoundsVideo makes sense, can't force it
@@DreamsoundsVideo I look forward to that. Thank you for responding
ok but like,, ur voice is so nice wtf
I was just a kid when the AIDS pandemic was coming to an end. And being born in Utah, of course we weren't taught anything in school about gay history. I'm so glad to be able to learn and grow in compassion. This was so tenderly done- thank you for the work you put into it.
My favorite songs of Ashman and Menken: Beauty and the Beast, Belle, and Poor, Unfortunate Souls.
as a queer person whose favourite movie of all time happens to be beauty and the beast, this hit deep ngl 😢
also lighter note you and your husband's matching pink tuxes? so cute i'm utterly devastated
people tell me it's predatory to date a younger man as well, even when I have as much dating experience as a 3 minute old baby
Thank you
Hearing of your husband making me realize I got some internalized ageism O_O But I believe you that you two are a great, healthy couple.
Wow. Thank you. That ending was so poignant and a real emotional punch in the gut in the best way possible. Thank you.
As a white cis gay, I am always reminding people that I (and we, the Queer community) only have rights because Black and Latinx Trans Women threw bricks at cops.
ACT UP wouldn't have made any progress without the Lesbian community and the BIPOC community.
It is also lovely to watch your videos out of order and see you come into your trans identity. Congratulations, good on you, sis!
What are you talking about, saying Covid-19 doesn't have a scapegoat? What about all the sinophobia?
16:30 Frickin this. As a transfem person who got harassed constantly growin up (and am only a little older than you) by bein called gay; it still affects me like a slur to this day.
But yanno what no one called me growin up? Queer. Thats a word that has nvr been used in a neg way towards me, unlike gay and the f word.
I truly dont get how folks around my age act like queer is an reclaimable slur but also actviely embrace the word gay which in more recent yrs has been used as a slur than queer.
Notably, im prty sure its just certain leanings of theirs that make them believe this; given my little brother is a cis gay dude and only a yr younger than me but he insists queer was a slur used against him growin up, but not gay... Which honestly; i think he is lyin about queer ever bein used, in the same way as gay was used for me (and hell, still is; ive in the last two yrs had folks scream that out of windows of trucks drivin past just like they do the f word... And just like theh did all my childhood before i rly figured out how to hide my whole self), for him bcuz heres the thing. He is an acceptable passable gay who isnt looked down on by society for his gayness. Whereas i was not, not ever, i was always clearly a little queer. Which is part of why bullies wud latch on to words like the f word and gay to harass me.
If theyd called me queer id honestly have taken it as just describin me as odd xD Def not connected it to the rest of their harassment of me. And i wudve been proud of that label even back then.
Tho on the other end, if someone even suggested my little bro was a little queer (as in odd even) then thatdve been a huge insult to his conformist pov. I was the weird one in the fam, not him.
Ofc yes, my little bro grew up ultra conservative like the rest of the fam was. Theres a reason i consider that whole fam to be my exfam >.> Other than my two closest siblings but even then... I dont ever interact with my little bro cuz he blocked me for my "political views"; tho he did reach out to me once after that to ask for some advice as his partner was into ageplay like me xD Ofc, his viewpoint is that such a thing is of the grtest potential shame and must be hidden and kept from ever bein mentioned >.> My view is that im gonna shout it from the rooftops until society accepts that ppl get built different and theres nothin to do about it; just frickin accept us alrdy.
At least on my older bro he's a further left leanin liberal, but still sadly a liberal compared to my communist anarchist antifascist leftist self. But hey, he at least doesnt see any of me as morally objectionable or inherently shameful; so i can at least interact with him without wantin to punch someone most the time
I wouldn't compare it to the covid pandemic, but what about Monkeypox? The similarity there is NOT subtle.
Your husband is so beautiful, I dont know why that hit me like it did
I hate how people demonize age differences like yours