LIBERACE THE MOVIE

It is funny how time can change an attitude, an awareness of the truth or misconception. In this world we live in there always seems to be a new revelation, and a breaking down of a concept.

Recently TLW (The Little Woman) and I watched a movie starring Michael Douglas who played the lead in ‘Behind the Candelabra’: Liberace, with Matt Damon as his assistant Scott Thorson.

It is a depressing movie, and it points out the fact that being in a closet can destroy you or anyone. It also points out the fact that we need to come to an understanding of people of all persuasions, all races and creeds and most of all: all sexual orientations. If we don’t, we destroy the individual, and that is murder.

What drove Liberace to a death from aids? What caused him to be who he was? His talent no one would question, no one should argue, the problem is how did he come to display it the way he did?

The flamboyance that was Liberace was a result. It was a result of hiding in a closet because he was afraid of losing his livelihood by self-anointed judges, deprivers of personal freedom and happiness. We can disagree on a lifestyle, but I feel we should all agree to allow choice. Because you befriend a gay person, and the key word here is person, we should not be condemned and so if we were gay, would we want to be denied freedom of happiness, choice, and making a living.

Liberace: a man of great talent, shrouded behind gowns and fur capes, wigs and expensive jewelry, getting personal acceptance wherever he could, and finding it from other unfortunate donors. His flamboyance was a mask that shielded us from who he really was, and he from our self-anointed godliness that is neither holy, real or accepting.

The real tragedy lies in the fact that a great talent died too soon, and too painfully, from the so-called norms of the day. Had the world know he was gay, how much ostracizing would he have endured, needless hate and retribution for being what he was?

And what of those that fell into his world, who were swayed by his desperate attempt at happiness, who joined the drug culture to numb themselves from the harsh reality that they were not acceptable or wanted in this world?

Hopefully we can learn a lesson here, that our condemnation works for only a little while, then we need to unlearn it, and fear that we do not harbor a trait or proclivity of our own that will drive us to the same end.