I watched a movie that made me GAY

Ok, now this is some craziness. Granted, I currently live on a base with 25,000 homophobic military men, but when Brokeback Mountain hit the stands at the local store, people went insane making sure to NOT buy it.

Example: I picked it up at the store, and was standing looking at the other DVDs and this Air Force guy says out loud, "Hey, Brokeback Mountain is out already?"
"Yep," says I.
"Wasn't it just in theaters? It's out already?" he asked. Again.
"Well, now it's out," I clarify.
Small pause, look around, and then a loud and boisterous "IT'S NOT LIKE I'M GOING TO PICK IT UP OR ANYTHING, I WAS JUST WONDERING."

Sheesh - we got it, man, you like girls.

Another example: A Soldier in my unit downloaded (totally legally, I'm sure) the movie and burned it on CD. He put a different cover on it, something that said "Ultimate Fighting Championship" and gave it to his First Sergeant. First Sergeant, excited to see the fighting, was so freaked out that he literally threw the CD OVER THE WIRE OF BASE.

A little extreme, methinks.

So when do men grow up about this stuff? You don't have to approve of homosexuality, and you don't have to watch the movie. But watching it means you're openminded, not that you're gay. I personally don't love watching Jake Gyllenhall have sex with Heath Ledger, when he should obviously be having it with me, but I'll survive. Why should adult men have to feel guilty or ashamed to buy a movie that has a homosexual theme? Do only gays like gay movies? Is that what we've come to?

I don't think gay people realize how much power they have. Some men would rather face a serial killer in a dark alley than a gay man in the shower at the gym. Granted, the chance of you getting the crap kicked out of you by a group of homophobes is pretty high, but one on one, you're scary, man!

So...do yourself a favor, check out the movie. Feel confident in your own sexuality and feel adult enough to watch something new, interesting, and award-winning. Be brave enough to say "I watched it and liked it." or "I watched it and it sucked." But don't be the guy who says, "I was afraid to watch it because I didn't want people to think I was gay."