Utah theater
owner speaks out on canceling Brokeback Mountain

After months of silence, Utah Jazz owner Larry H. Miller has explained his decision to pull Brokeback Mountain from one of his movie theaters. He took the action because he was worried about the breakup of the traditional American family, he told Salt Lake City's KTVX-TV in an interview. "Getting away from the traditional families, which I look at as the fundamental building block of our society, is a very dangerous thing," he said. In January, Miller canceled showings of the R-rated Western gay romance story at the Megaplex at Jordan Commons in Sandy. That had been the only one of Miller's theaters scheduled to show the movie. It was shown at other theaters in the area. Miller's decision on January 5 came just two hours after he was told about the movie's subject matter by a KCPW-FM reporter. During the KCPW interview, he said booking a movie like Brokeback Mountain was a business decision, adding, "It's something that I have to let the market speak to some degree. I don't think I'm qualified to be the community censor." Miller drew both support and criticism within Utah after he decided to cancel the film. The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center of Utah has urged people to boycott Miller's businesses. Miller said many Utahns responded by buying cars from him. "I had 12 people call and say, 'I bought a car from you today because,' and then 27 the next day, and then 12 the third day," Miller told KTVX. Miller said he stands by his decision to pull the movie. "I clearly hurt some individuals' feelings, and for that I regret it. But I don't think it should change my opinions and views," he said. Miller is to deliver a speech at the University of Utah on April 21, over opposition from some on campus. (AP)