Beauty Before Age: Growing Older in Gay Culture

In this astonishing look at the concept of aging in the gay male community, one youngish man tells us that the love-interest "market" consists solely of 18- and 19-year-old boys, and that "if you're looking 27 or 28, it's probably all over for you." Featured in over 30 film festivals worldwide, this nicely produced documentary portrays diverse perspectives culled from San Franciscan men aged 19 to 77 as they respond to culturally perceived pressures to maintain their youth and attractiveness. And the pressure is great, as gay men tend to be "ocularly-focused" (i.e., they look and they judge), the older among them tend to disappear from the younger ones' radar. And if the well-spoken older men interviewed here are any indication, I can see why: Liberace notwithstanding, the stereotypical affect of "gaydom" (the lisp, the swish, the earrings, etc.) seems to drop off as gay men proceed through life, giving credence to the theory that age is the great equalizer. Because the same thing could be said of virtually all groups of people (straight and gay, men and women), and because this tape so trenchantly and succinctly outlines this truism of American culture, it is highly recommended for all gay, and most generally comprehensive, collections. Aud: C, P. (K. Glaser)