In the "reliably irritating" aftermath of comments on "terrible decisions" made by the Academy this year as a friend just put it, I forgot to mention something the Human Rights Campaign just emailed me about in a letter headed THE 2006 ACADEMY AWARDS CELEBRATE GLBT-FRIENDLY FILMS, and it's true: this was quite an amazing Hollywood year for gayness, with Capote, Brokeback Mountain, and Transamera all dealing with gay experience, even if the only sexy one is BM. But there I go being picky again. The Human Rights Campaign people know that's not the way to go for social progress. Things work in small increments but this year was a leap forward and there's something to be glad about.
Tonight America honored three films that portrayed gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender characters with compassion and honesty. Capote, TransAmerica, and Brokeback Mountain each brought gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender stories to movie theaters, the front pages of newspapers, and, most importantly, the everyday conversations of millions of Americans this year.

All across the country, these stories are touching lives and changing minds. . .
This, for some of us, is a very big value in this year's nominations, and indeed it is very much an honor just to be nominated. Some of the best are those nominated, but not given the big prize.