BOB HOPE WAS MORE SOPHISTICATED THAN I THOUGHT
Gay subversion in his humor, support for gay rights

Say whatever you want about Hope as a person, but at least have the smarts to give him credit for helping solidify a playfully queer approach to humor in the American mainstream. I know, Hollywood homoeroticism is now something of a cottage industry...but the fact that it's easy to overdo the search for queer subtexts doesn't mean those subtexts aren't widely present. Hell, in Hope's case, the queerness never flies very far under the radar, which makes it even more amazing that so many folks miss it until the obvious is pointed out to them. Mark Rappaport's documentary "Color Me Lavender" looks like a great place to start; it apparently lingers over the queer content found in all of Bob Hope's most popular films.

For more, click here.

Click here to go to a page with a video of Hope's 1988 anti-gay bashing public service ad (look to the left).

Courtesy of Eschaton and the Sideshow.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$