A Friend to Gays and Antigay Dictators Alike

COMMENTARY: It’s not surprising that Sean Penn, thanks to his star turn as Harvey Milk, is becoming a hero of the gay community -- likely to be showered with acting prizes, and deservedly so. But his outspoken admiration for the Castro and Chavez regimes should make everyone think twice.

By James Kirchick

An Advocate.com exclusive posted December 9, 2008

A Friend to Gays and Antigay Dictators Alike

It’s not surprising that Sean Penn, thanks to his star turn as Harvey Milk in Gus Van Sant’s biopic Milk, is becoming a hero to gays. His performance is moving and, judging by the archival film footage, flawless; Penn simultaneously renders Milk as a figure of historic importance and a vulnerable individual with a sparkling sense of humor. Aside from the acting prizes he will surely win (and deservingly), Penn is likely to earn himself the iconic status of “straight ally,” a heterosexual who goes out of his way to take a stand for gay rights and is thus showered with praise from gays. A GLAAD Media Award, honors from the Human Rights Campaign, and a slew of prizes from other prominent gay rights organizations are only a matter of time.

Which is a shame, because Penn’s political activism, irrespective of his views on gay rights, negates the values for which a movement based upon individual freedom must stand.

The same week that Milk premiered in theaters, The Nation published a cover story by Penn based on interviews he conducted recently with Hugo Chavez and Raul Castro, the dictators of Venezuela and Cuba respectively. The article is a love letter to the two men, defending them against all manner of Western “propaganda.” It hearkens back to the notorious dispatches penned by Westerners fresh from the Soviet Union who reported on the amazing progress of the workers' paradise. These worshipful epistles, often published in The Nation, neglected to mention anything about the gulag, the “disappearance” of political dissidents, the Ukrainian famine, or any other such inconvenient truths about communism. Lenin termed the individuals who delivered these apologetics “useful idiots,” and Penn and his enablers are nothing if not that.

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Kirchick is an assistant editor at The New Republic. This article is representative of the author's views and not Advocate.com.

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: Mario Sanchez
Date posted: 2009-05-03 12:16 PM
Hometown: Chicago

Comment:

I can't help but laugh at all the pro-commnist commentary by gay Americans bashing the article as "propaganda." They insist the US is less democratic. If that were true, would they even be allowed to mention it? I don't think in Cuba one could even have a web site such as this without some serious state interference. Ironically the only commentator who criticized the Castro and Chavez regimes was someone who claimed he lived in both countries. I can remember a few years ago being physically assaulted by two gay men in Chicago while wearing a t-shirt with Ronald Reagan's face on it in the Che Guevera fashion. I was actually spat on and kicked by these "liberals." The only people who approached me and were positive were the 80-year-old jews from Poland and Russian living in my neighborhood. I'm still baffled why so many gay Americans adhere blindly to the most radical lefits agendas. Is their hatred for the United States that blinding?

Name: MPW
Date posted: 2009-01-04 6:34 PM
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Comment:

Really depressing to see so many commenters here justifying the authoritarian thugs who lead Cuba and Venezuela. Apparently, there are a lot of leftists who will fall in behind anyone who positions himself as against American imperialism. Still, this article is disappointing as well. I don't see any case made that Chavez is anti-gay. In fact, other things I've read seem to indicate he is actually at least mildly gay-friendly, whatever other criticisms one can and should make of his regime. The point stands, however, that Penn is a hypocrite, in that he is an apologist for major human rights violators while presenting himself as a champion of human rights for gays. Interesting sidenote here is that his "pal" and fellow Oscar contender Mickey Rourke is going around spreading rumors that Penn is highly homophobic in his personal life, possibly in his attempt to taint the awards voting. None of which will keep me from going to see "Milk" in a couple hours.

Name: Santiago
Date posted: 2008-12-17 12:02 PM
Hometown: Bogota

Comment:

I wouldnt call this article misinformed as much as I would call it ill-informed, which is more than I can say for most of the comments posted here. Having resided in both Caracas and Havana, I have personally witnessed the abuse of the Homosexual community at the hands of state aparatchik ( though in cuba its, admitedly, more of a cultural thing than just state policy). Though even if we ignore the abuses against the homosexual community, there is still no excuse for grandstanding or in any way advocating the goverments of Chavez and Castro ( though the same can be said, to a much lesser extent, about the governments of Bolivia, Argentina and perhaps even Colombia). That any organization that even pretends to endorse freedom would honor a man that pays lip service to dictators is shameful.

Name: Marco
Date posted: 2008-12-15 6:07 PM
Hometown: Mexico City

Comment:

PART 2 3. Also mentioned in this comments by Kyle, Mariela Castro (Raul's Daughter) is making a PRO-GAY rights campaign in Cuba. As we can se in the next two links from the BBC (news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7314845.stm ) and (/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7441448.stm ). So something is being done there right now, and nothing is being done in other Latin American countries. It is really sad to see that we, the ones who commented on this article, are more informed than the “assistant editor at The New Republic". Is this possible? Or he is informed but likes to lie. Also it's sad to see this article is published here, this because it offends us, gays that agree with many anti neoliberalism reforms in Latin America. Is important to KEEP US INFORMED and informed the others, this because if not everybody would believe this. Because information gives us power. I’m glad to see that all the comments are against this PROPAGANDA, propaganda against something different, against many.

Name: Marco
Date posted: 2008-12-15 6:06 PM
Hometown: Mexico City

Comment:

PART 1 I think many things have been said in all the comments. So first is really sad to see how at the time someone has a little bit of power they love to say many lies. Yes power as a writer in the most important gay magazine around the world. 1- Chaves a dictator? Please we have been listening to this again, and again and again. NO PROOF ladies and gentleman. On the contrary in the last referendum and last election Venezuela proved to be a real democratic country. PLEASE GET INFORMED. I really can’t see any dictatorship anywhere in Venezuela If you do please tell us where. 2- As Mimo mentioned in one comment, Sean Penn, (among others like Kevin Spacey, Danny Glover and Naomi Campbell) agree with the ideas Chavez have, to end neoliberalism, and have less poverty more equality. Please read more than NYT WP, and CNN there are many other sources. As Cleve Jones said in his article today “like him or not, Hugo Chavez is a democratically elected official.”

Name: Genevieve Astrid
Date posted: 2008-12-14 1:29 PM
Hometown: Montreal

Comment:

The article written by James Kirchick, is completely out of touch and outdated. Homophobia in Cuba has its golden days back in between 1964-85. I witnessed that. The worse period during the UMAP camps. Since 1990s things changed radically, I repeat RADICALLY. If Mr Kirchick hasn't done his home work, is up to him. I just tell him that early this year for the first time took place the celebration of a Pride Gay Fiesta in one of the beaches east of Havana. As for Reynaldo Arenas, which I knew him personally, he was not harassed just for been gay, but because he was a very sick pederast. I knew him. I have nothing against his mariconeria, but his hand perspired whenever his neuronas acknowledged that a male teenager was at his sight. So, is Mr Kirchick wants to know more, just email me.

Name: Mark satterlee
Date posted: 2008-12-14 4:03 AM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:

When writers slant their articles and slam an amazing actor who is a liberal I expect to be reading it in a right wing conservative rag! Chavez was ELECTED twice by the people of Venezuela in free and fair elections. He put up for a vote new laws that would have expanded his power and he lost, Chavez accepted the results and did not steal the vote. Chavez's political opponents just won key victories in a couple of states. How can this be called a dictatorship? The Bush administration supported and may have directed a military coup and arrest of Chavez after he had been elected. To cite Bush state department cronies for evidence against Chavez is laughable, considering they are the same ones who have mired us in an unnecessary war in Iraq! Chavez and his party have been supportive of gay and lesbians and are trying to put legal protections of LGBT in the constitution! I hope Mr. Kerchick checks his history and facts before he writes another ridiculous article for the Advocate!

Name: Rick In Maine
Date posted: 2008-12-11 12:27 PM
Hometown: Gorham Maine

Comment:

This says a lot: "Why do we insist on pushing away potential allies because there's a small trace of something quite possibly anti-gay? Just because Penn supports leaders who don't support us, doesn't mean HE doesn't support us." As an American who happens to be gay. Defining oneself by their sexual preference I believe is what has changed the "civil rights" to "gay rights". We focus solely on how things affect "gay rights' or the gay community. Supporting someone who supports an oppressive government or regimen, because they support the "gay community", reflects the "self focus" of our community, putting personal needs before our values? We are not talking about a “trace of something quite possibly anti-gay", but dictators like the Castro and the "Venezuela Leader", who clearly oppress civil rights in their countries. Are we blinded and so self- adsorbed that someone like Penn, who clearly is anti American, is touted as an "Allie". Have we lost our values as Americans?

Name: Humberto
Date posted: 2008-12-10 6:36 PM
Hometown: Mexico City

Comment:

Whooopss! I beg your pardon SIR? How come The Advocate allows such a biased criticims of two legitimate regimes, while saying nothing at all of homophobic murder squads all over Latin America? The author knows nothing about being gay and living in the region. He's making a very ideological reading of latinamerican affairs; I'm sure the author as well thinks that US ARMY being all around the world putting its nose in other people's matters is ok, isn´t that so SIR? The whole article is full of misconceptions, misinterpretations and a poor knowledge of latin american societies. I'm sure the author is extremely sad that George Bush is leaving office for good!!! Sean Penn's attitude towards regional matters is most rewarding and stimulating and helps the mutual understanding of neighbours. Couldn´t you get someone to write about us latinamerican gay people living in the region someone more open-minded? Good try, but try again buddies!

Name: Olin R. Blankenship
Date posted: 2008-12-09 6:30 PM
Hometown: Bellefonte, Pa. 16823

Comment:

Failing grade! The Advocate calls itself an LGBT news site. The Penn article was not news it was bad surrogate editorializing. News, to be news, should be presented in an unbiased way. This article - and it's shallow damning opinion - should never have been published. Did Advocate print such rubbish when Jane Fonda went to Hanoi? Any person's politics (and sexual orientation?) should stand outside such narrow minded, opinionated, and destructive negativism. We are entitled to our opinions but opinions should not be foisted off as news. Shame on you, Advocate! To link a person's politics to a role he plays in a movie makes a mishmash of fact, the illusion of a film, and good objective writing. Seems I am not alone in my criticism.

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