The Celluloid Closet

"In 100 years of movies, homosexuality has only really been depicted on the screen, when it did appear it was there as something to laugh at… or something to pity, or even something to fear."-2:30

"From the very beginning, movies could rely on homosexuality as the sure fire source of humour."-5:50

"The movies did provide us with some kind of history of how society thought homosexuals were."-6:40

"Enter the 'sissy', Hollywood's first gay stock character."-8:05

"They were a cliche, and I don't care if they were a gay cliche or what. I thought they were disgusting, unfunny, had no business being in it, and I never understood why people laughed."-9:40 (Arthur Laurents)

"I liked the sissy, is it used in negative ways? Yeah, but my view has always been visibility at any cost. I'd rather have negative than nothing."-10:00

"Gay audiences were desperate to find something. I think all minority audiences watch movies with hope, they hope they will see what they want to see. That's why nobody really sees the same movie."-32:25

"Sebastican Venible was the perfect homosexual for his times, one without a face or a voice. Since he lives as a monster, he must die as one."-45:20