How 'Brokeback Mountain' kept me in the closet — and later helped me come out
By
Jeffrey Ingold
Summary
A personal essay recounting the author's first viewing of Brokeback Mountain at age 14 with their mother in 2006. The film, depicting a tragic love story between two sheep herders constrained by homophobia and rigid masculinity, initially caused the author to repress their feelings and stay in the closet. Over time, the film became one of their favorites, representing a journey from self-denial to self-acceptance as a queer person.
Source
bskyHow 'Brokeback Mountain' kept me in the closet — and later helped me come outtheguardian.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledFor the next 134 minutes, I watched two sheep herders, Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal), fall in love in the beautiful Wyoming countryside, only for that love to be suffocated by rigid expectations of masculinity and self-contempt.
The first time I saw the film, I convinced myself I didn't like it. Now it's one of my favourites
I was 14 years old the first time I saw two men kiss on screen. It was 2006, and my mum had rented Brokeback Mountain from our local Blockbuster.
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