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Elrohir525 |
Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Mar 27 2008, 12:51 PM EDT
I was just thinking of some questions to ask Jo in his upcoming interview, and wondered if my fellow forumites could help me with some background information.First, I've read that Jo is openly gay. Is this true, and is it OK for us to go there with our questions? Also, having never been to Germany, I was wondering what social conditions and the overall level of acceptance are like for gay men there, and particularly youths in elementary and secondary schools. Can anyone tell me? Thanks very much for your help! Rob 5 out of 5 found this valuable. Do you?
Keyword tags:
Interviews
Jo Weil
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Eonwe |
1. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Mar 31 2008, 8:06 PM EDT
Hi Rob/Elrohir - good to see another LotR-fan here ;-)Where have you read about Jo beeing out? I just wonder, cos' I've only read it as a rumour...that he always says that he's single and in one interview from 2001 where he was asked what his dream girl/boy was, he answered: Sarah michelle Galler.... On the other hand I've read a reply (in another forum) that s.o. in Cologne (where Jo lives) knows several of his personal friends and they said that he's gay.... So at this point I can't give you advice whether questions in this direction are ok or not - but I'm curious, so if you could clear this....I'd be glad. And about the situation in Germany (easier but naturally subjective answer) - we have since about 10 jears a gay marriage law, with mostly eaqual rights compared to straight people, ecept for adoption an tax law. A german anti-discrimination law in in discussion, but not necessary - due to European Law which already secures that...(don't know if you knew that---->where you're from?) We've many outed role models, like comedians, singers and even politicians - like the major of our capital - Klaus "Wowi" Wowerreit In every bigger city you'll find easily gay bars, clubs etc.. and usually one can live in these cityies completely free. the biggest centres of gay lifestyle are Berlin and Cologne (<--that would fit to Jo Weil...;-). I personally had no major problems in secondary school, but there are 3 different typs of these Schools and I went to the one (Gymnasium) preceding the university, so there are less problems than on the other ones. and 'bout elementary school - well for 7-year old boys, "you're gay" is the most common defamation...but they're just kids.. In conclusion I'd say you'll hardy find another country where you can live as free as in germany - only the Netherlands, or Scandinavia... 4 out of 4 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Elrohir525 |
2. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 1 2008, 2:30 AM EDT
Hello Eonwe and thank you for your interesting and thoughtful reply to my first post! I was wondering about Jo's sexuality because of a message I saw on one of the You Tube videos where someone said they had seen him in gay clubs in Cologne and strongly said they were sure he was gay. It would be cool if Jo were willing to come out publicly for the first time to us, if he really is one of the tribe! I've made his romantic interests the focus of one of the questions I submitted for his interview, now I'm just wondering what the final 10 questions will turn out to be....Thanks for the information on life in Germany, too. I'm Canadian, and it sounds like the legal situations are very similar in our two countries, but I can't think of many out role models, sadly, except for a few brave politicians. I think it's a bit funny, but mostly sad, that kids here are exactly the same in English--"Fag" seems to be the all-purpose insult.... Someone else pointed me to an article in Die Zeit ( http://www.zeit.de/2007/26/Homosexuelle ) which talks more about problems for Gay Germans--I was particularly surprised by the bit which says that the proportion of Germans who describe homosexuality as "immoral" has been rising over time! I hope that trend is soon reversed! Namarie, herald of the Valar! Hope to chat again. 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
3. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 1 2008, 7:14 PM EDT
Hi Rob/Elrohir --- you gotta be a real fan (like me) because to know Eonwe one would have to read the Silmarillion,which is quiet tough to read for the first time -> did you know that Saruman/Christopher Lee reads the LotR once a year for the last 60 Years?!?Back on topic: Year, it'd be really great if the question would be answered by Jo. Where do I find the Questions, that are submitted and who is chosing (or voting) the ones to be asked? is it here on the Page? - Still kinda new on this page... Canada? I'm still a bit surprised that so many people all around the world are watching "Chrolli" now - it's great to have the possibility to share it with so many people!! I suppose you can only see it on YouTube so you missed the last appearance of our two Heroes: If you watch @ YouTube "Judith's Story" (there are also translations by 'l10s12', but the scene is too short: Lisa (the envious) and olivia (always our little alexis) are making fun of judith because of her dreamcatcher she got by mail from her mother... And that are the 10 seconds that are missing: Chis and Olli both tell simultaneously olivia and Lisa to stop beeing so rude and afterwards they share a slight, shy smile at each other - just for a second before they both look down - it's only seconds and it would make no sense to cut it in a Chrolli-Srory Clip but I whish you'd be able to have seen it - i just made me melt.... I'm surprised about your quote of the Die Zeit artice - I bought the Number just because of the article - but how can you read it? I didn't find a translation on their site - or can you read german? BTW it was a realy good article - it's differenciated written and well reserched. but beeing honest - it didn't surprise me very much: I'm studying sociology and the last years one can see (in whole europe) a trend of a restrenghtening konservativism: in France, Germany, Great Brittain.... 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
4. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 1 2008, 7:30 PM EDT
...Part 2 (not enough characters) and other Countries the konservative Parties won all elections. I think it might be the result of the risen social tensions due to the loss of economic growth in the last decade. But I'd also say that especially the younger generation will not allow a move back to the moral of the fifties, where beeing gay still was prohibitted by the same law (§175) that was used to imprison gays during Hitlers regime! I think it will be only a small step back in our advancement to full equality. Our actual (konservative) Chancellor at least didn't try to take back the merriage law...It's strange how few one know about the ohters countries and thus living circumstances, is'nt it? I have to admit that I knew from Canada only what Joe told me (i love that - http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=BRI-A3vakVg) and that it's the only american Country, where gay marriage ist allowed by law - so that many US citizens go there to get at least a symbolic partnership there... Perhaps you can tell me what I need more to know about the "truely proud and noble beaver"? ;-) Greetings Eonwe/Oli 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Elrohir525 |
5. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 2 2008, 1:32 AM EDT
Hello again Eonwe! Well, I definitely had to check in my copy of the Silmarillion to know who the character was, but I thought Eonwe sounded very "First Age". I didn't know that about Christopher Lee (what a great actor!), but I had heard that he's a big Tolkien fan and that he originally wanted to play Gandalf (I also love the amazing and openly gay Sir Ian McKellen, who got the role).The questions for Jo are mentioned near the bottom of the home page, and link up to this page on the Gays of Daytime site: http://gaydaytime.blogspot.com/2008/03/wenn-du-jo-weil-eine-frage-stellen.html As far as I know, although the official deadline has passed for submissions, the 10 questions that will be sent to Jo haven't been chosen yet, so maybe they'd still take any that you want to send over.... I'm also impressed by how international the Chrolli phenomenon has become! It's funny how attached to and protective of our stories gay guys around the world are. Probably because there are still so few of them.... I did see the March 27th episode with subtitles here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuYHYM7TkDI and I think I saw the smiles you mention, or was there even more? I also really liked the brief glimpse of Oli and Christian doing dishes together--very sweet and domestic--maybe a foreshadowing of things to come. I laughed at the dreamcatcher reference because I'm part Cree (an aboriginal tribe) and own several myself! I'm glad you liked the Die Zeit article! Actually, I probably recognize only about a dozen German words, unfortunately. The person who directed me to the article was good enough to include a quick English summary of the statistics and general content, and I also deciphered a bit using the awful free translation software that's available on-line. Even when it's "translated" it's only slightly more comprehensible! 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Elrohir525 |
6. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 2 2008, 1:56 AM EDT
Part 2And you say you're a fellow student! I did a Sociology minor as an undergraduate and am now working to finish off my PhD in counselling psychology. What point are you at in your studies? Canada is under a weak Conservative government now, but fortunately our constitution has very strong human rights protections built in and the courts have been quite activist in making progressive changes even when the legislatures are too afraid to do so. This week actually marks the 10 year anniversary celebration of the Supreme Court decision that brought in full housing/employment/etc. protections for gays and lesbians nation-wide. It is interesting how much variation there is between countries in circumstances. I heard today that there are still 7 where getting caught in same-sex sex can get you executed! Scary! I think most Canadian gays think of Germany (or "the Land of Chocolate" as Homer Simpson would say) as a gay paradise, so I was a bit surprised to read that even you guys still have a few social problems. As for the land of the beaver, what can I add to Joe Canadian's performance? It is true that we have full same-sex marriage rights here, and we definitely love the beaver--especially the lesbians! ;) Rob 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
7. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 2 2008, 7:10 PM EDT
Hi Elrohir!Another great cast was Hugo Weaving as your father…..em…Elrond I mean. ;-) He’s such a chameleon: as Elrond a sage with enormous dignity, as Mi Smith (Matrix) ice-cold and inhuman an in “Prescilla, queen of the desert”…well how to describe THIS….? Thanx, I found the Bolgspot site with the question-task. Have you seen the first-april-joke about Thore leaving VL (Verbotene Liebe)? I would have fit: Many young actors fear that they’ll be percepted as the gay one for the rest of their career if they got to be known through such a role. BTW: Chrolli ain’t the first gay couple @ VL – about 5 years ago, there was Tom+Ulli – the first couple to get married (or getting a partnership registration, official term) in a daytime show in germany – quite a discussion those days…. Well the actor who played Tom (Kay Böger) - who himself is straight- once was attaced and insulted by gay bashers in cologne! So one can really understand that some actors can have a problem with playing a gay role. :-( Ah great – I didn’t knowthat the episode from the 27th was put on YouTube – no there was nothing else, you’ve seen everything that happened between the two since Chris’ “ I’m such a idiot” comment to his own behavior at the end of the episode. Oh, that’s a coincidence! I’m sorry to admit that only thing I know about the Cree is that they exist – and only through the Age of Empires 3 computer game (->poor knowledge base!) I ‘ve read some Karl May stories as a child, but the indian cultures were those days - if you were lucky- misrepresented in a romantic way or else full of prejudices… Where is the homeland of your tribe? --> Pt2 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
8. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 2 2008, 7:11 PM EDT
-->Pt2:A dozen german words? Oh I hope not the usual ones – I recently had a discussion with a Norwegian exchange student about german “export-“ words: sadly we found mostly terms related to the Second Worldwar like ‘Blitzkrieg’… We only agreed to one completely different word: ‘Wurst’ (sausage)! Oh, I’m just right now trying to get through my final exams in my minor subjects: politics and physics and in (I hope) 6 monthes I’ll try to do it in my major subject sociology… Then another 6 months and I’m a Magister Artium – a now terminated old german degree compareable to the “Master”. I’ll be one of the last to get it. Yeah – we both can be really happy to be born where we are – even if not everything is like in a paradise. I mean, gay bashing is sometimes still happening, but never like the Mathew Shepard case in the US! I think it’s a big and important step to at least have the law on our side – the everyday-acceptance is then at reach. Enough for toda…night. Eonwe 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Elrohir525 |
9. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 3 2008, 12:28 AM EDT
Hi Oli/Eonwe!I agree completely about Hugo Weaving--what great flexibility he has as an actor! As for Thore's "career change", that was a shocker alright! Fortunately I remembered the date fairly fast, so my heart started again before there was any permanent damage.... I saw an article ( at http://www.fclub.de/weil/index.htm under Press & Medien and titled " Soap-Stars Opfer von Gewalt" ) that mentioned Kay Böger's awful experience. What a terrible shame that this poor actor took on the role, doing something really positive for social tolerance and acceptance, and he wound up being treated like that. Did you read that Jo also received a nasty homophobic note on the door of his home at about the same time (2001) which might also have been related to his role on VL? I seriously hope Jo and Thore take a few safety precautions--just in case! The Cree are Canada's largest tribe and contain many cultural and linguistic divisions among the different bands, but the overall original Cree territory stretches from James Bay (at the South-East end of Hudson Bay) all the way to the Rocky mountains. That's funny about knowing German words related to WWII--I could probably list a few from the movies I was raised with. Actually though, I'm glad to say I now recognize some more useful ones like ummm, "schwulundgluecklich"--VL is both extremely entertaining and educational! Wow, your academic program seems very diverse--physics, politics, and sociology! And only six months to go until graduation? Congratulations on that! I'm hoping to finish up my dissertation and defend it in the fall or early winter if all goes well, and then I'll be done as well. What sort of work would you like to do when you finish? I'd better try to get to sleep too--it'll be difficult knowing that the "jealous Christian" episode is finally on tomorrow! Gute nacht! Rob 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
10. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 3 2008, 12:24 PM EDT
Hi Rob! Amazing episode! --> Hope it's fast availabe for you! Later more.... Oli 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
11. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 3 2008, 6:37 PM EDT
Hi Rob.WOW, you’ve read that about the Note in Jos’ House? - Seems you’ve found, read & understood all german sites I’ve found to our topic… congratulations – you’re definitely well informed! James Bay to the Rockies? Ok there I missed lot culturally: This must be a big people -> that’s a distance of 3000km/1800miles! That’s quite the whole size of europe . As James Bay is the border – are you from Ontario ou es-tu un québéquis? (On a german keyboard may be ä,ü,ö and ß but writing en français is damn difficult – the accents are all missing!) Since today the academic program is a bit smaller: I just received today that I passed all my politics-exams! *happyhappy* Well six months – it took me 3,5 Years to get to this point – this I why our german degrees are abolished – they take too long… I’d like to become a social-scientist with specialization on technological impacts on society (a specialty of my university with an own institute) -> Pt 2 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
12. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 3 2008, 6:37 PM EDT
The episode was awsome today! It’s already on YouTube to watch, the translators are working fast – glad full – my English isn’t that precise I wish it to be…The introduction was amazing Chrolli kissing in public and Chris simply stating: “Gregor I’m simply in love” – that’s the way it should be! Though it just a dream – at least he now dreams that he outing himself. That’s a pretty clever way to show his progress – some weeks ago he was totally freaked out to have dreamt about kissing a GUY, now this idea seems quite normal to him and he’s just afraid of the reaction of his brother! Finally he’s on his way! And his hesitation towards the advances the blond girl made – if only Gregor wouldn’t give him such bad advice – not consciously…do you remember when that super gay guy (this btw was an Austrian accent) was making a pass on Gregor and he just took it as a compliment? I don’t think Gregor’ll have any problems ‘bout it. We’ll see (I hope!) Gregor btw is such a sweet guy and these eyes – outsch! And then Olli: I thought he might again put on his (sweet) suffering-face when he sees Christian entering the disco but wrong – he teases him! And how he just throws Christian in the face that he’s envious. I’m really exited about the reaction tomorrow…. Hope you had as much fun as I had Greetings Oli 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
13. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 3 2008, 7:37 PM EDT
Alert!The Email Interview is done: http://oliverandchristianfans.wetpaint.com/page/Interviews AND He's just waiting for a Fan Message fom you, Rob: (I quote:) Anything else you’d like to add? I would like to thank my fans for all the letters and emails. It’s simply a good feeling to know that you all like what I’m doing. THANKS SO MUCH!! However, I’m still waiting for my first fan mail from CANADA and Italy respectively – they are still missing from my collection. If you’d like to get in touch with me, contact me at Jo Weil, c/o Verbotene Liebe, Studio 37/38, Butzweiler Str. 255, 50829 Köln, Germany And visit my homepage, www.joweil.de Greetings to everyone and keep enjoying Verbotene Liebe. Yours, Jo So - let your keyboard smoke! 2 out of 2 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Elrohir525 |
14. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 3 2008, 10:22 PM EDT
Hey Oli,Well thanks! I try to keep up. :-) I think it's partly my Grad student's obsessive desire to research obscure information. Actuellement, j'habite a l'autre extrémité du territoire des Cris (Cree), à l’ouest du Canada. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, or Amiskwacîwâskahikan in Cree (meaning "Beaver Mountain House" because the city grew up around a fur trading fort on a hill--there are those pesky beavers again...). Hmmm, it looks like Cree can almost compete with German for gigantic words! If you're interested, you can see some quick facts on the Cree and some good links at http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0002005 Hey--many congratulations on the excellent exam results! And that sounds like a fascinating specialization--it seems a bit like what we call industrial/organizational psychology. I must agree--I looooooved today's episode! *Sigh* Our boys are so adorable! The dream was sweet--for a second I wondered if they had actually shown an episode weeks ahead of when it was supposed to be aired--with the lads all settled down together and at ease with the relationship! I thought the "I'm not gay, I'm just in love" comment was nice in a way, but it reminded me a lot of this postmodernist/queer theory nonsense arguing that there's really no such thing as a stable, essential sexuality. Have you read any of that stuff by Foucault and his followers? Anyway, I'm getting too theoretical...sorry! I wonder about the lovely Gregor's reaction if/when Christian comes out to him. He seems very cool in general, but the way he reacted when Chris said "at the moment I'm not interested in a new girlfriend" makes me think Gregor may have to take some time to get used to the new Chris. LOL, is being super gay part of the German perspective on Austrians? 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Elrohir525 |
15. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 3 2008, 10:43 PM EDT
Part IIAnd what does a Bavarian accent imply (I noticed it mentioned that the waiter at the ski lodge had a thick Bavarian accent in the old episode where Oli and Tom go skiing)? The club scene was great too! When Mr. Flirtation started talking about Oli as "this sexy little ass over there" Christian wasn't the only one getting steamed--I was like: "What!? He can't talk about Oli like that!" Once again, I can't wait for tomorrow's episode! The people who do the uploading and subtitling are so incredibly generous to make the show accessible for us poor non-Germans! I liked Jo's interview responses (except for the silence about his own sexuality--oh well)! And he seems so eager to hear from us, I may just have to send him a letter. I wonder if both he and Thore would autograph a picture of the first smooch? :-) Rob P.S.: Sorry for the barrage of compliments--I didn't think they were getting through, so I kept trying.... 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Elrohir525 |
16. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 4 2008, 12:35 AM EDT
As I watched the episode again I suddenly noticed how much Mr. Flirtation reminded me of Count Orlok from Nosferatu as he was reaching for Oli's backside. Check out this pic: http://search.live.com/images/results.aspx?q=nosferatu&FORM=BIRE#focal=feb6b5b50e82c2b6bd20a257f78261d8&furl=http%3A%2F%2Fcinema.expressionnisme.bifi.fr%2Fimg%2Fexpo%2Fzoom%2Fnosferatu-4.jpg and click on it to enlarge. Just something about those fingers.... Brrrr! Good thing Christian was there to intervene!Rob 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
17. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 4 2008, 8:45 PM EDT
Hi Rob.This time I’ve seen your kind friendship request faster – I just changed my E-Adress to one i check daily, so I won’t mis a reply again, I promise! About the long words - I read once an article in the internet by Mark Twain in which he wrote about “the awful german language” and there he mentioned the word: Donaudampfschiffahrtsgesellschaftskapitän (that’s a captain who’s navigating a steamboat on the river Donau) Well, since our orthography-reform (2000) you’d have to write it with 3f in the middle […schifffahrt…]– to make the word more…logic. I refound the link: http://www.crossmyt.com/hc/linghebr/awfgrmlg.html Thank you a lot for the Link about the Cree – I’m glad to read that the Cree had less trouble in preserving at least parts of their own traditions and culture than the indian peoples in the US… How said it Joe: “I belive in diversity – not assimilation” The sentence “I’m not gay- I’m just in love” disturbed me too. But it’s a soap – who knows whether the writers want to leave a chance to reconvert him? On the RTL-soap (a german private channel) they do that just right now with a character that was outed 2 years ago… Reality sometimes doesn’t fit to soaps. And no up to now I didn’t read Foucault’s Theories on sexual orientation – only a bit Kinsey, Freud and Cass…I’ll do that when I got more time – Next Wednesday is my Physics Exam so a lot to do just right now (so excuse me if I don’t answer one or two days next week!) I’m also curious about Gregors reaction especially after he mentioned today: If I didn’t know better, I’d say you two just slept with each other.” *smile* And how do they want to keep the secret to their roommate Judith? But today I was so thrilled (I actually jumped up&down in my livingroom) when Chris finally confessed that he love Olli!!! And finally Olivia ( I always hated that female version of my name) could give Olli a good advice : “go up and talk to him now”… ...PT2 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
18. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 4 2008, 8:46 PM EDT
#2:And how he was talking to Chris trough the door about his feelings – awwww so cute. He so deserved to be let in by Chris, who hurt him the last weeks so many times! Our picture or better prejudice about Austrians is that they’re plain and simple dumb and that they “leben hinterm Berg” (they live behind the mountain) that’s means they don’t know what’s going on in the world. You can see that a this joke: “ What happens If a Austrian claps his hands? – Well, he’ll fall off his tree” They- on the other hand – will say Germans are nit-picking and inflexible… Bavarians are a milder version of Austians but mostly not liked among our approx.25-30 nations. But they’re much more know in the world through the Oktoberfest – and as a guy from South-germany you’ll always have to explain that you’re NOT Bavarian and GLAD about it. I was really a bit disappointed about his “answer” about his sexuality – sure it’s his complete private thing, but that are 90% of the gossip about stars/actors/singers – and saying out&proud that he’s gay would give closeted teens a real help. And I always say: What would the gay life look like today if all the past gay generations always kept their Privacy? I don’t think we would have marriage laws and gay love stories on daytime TV. It’s sad that Jo is living a freedom he didn’t contributes ( or at least he could contribute more very easily) I mean, why this hiding? Can you imagine a straight Guy, always saying he’s single, living in cologne, playing a gay character, and being directly asked whether he’s gay or not, than doesn’t answer because he thinks asking the question is discriminating gays? Well I can’t – a straight guy would have answered – and only for not loosing his good-looking female fans – as I mentiond ‘single’! ...Pt3 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |
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Eonwe |
19. RE: Regarding the interview with Jo Weil
Apr 4 2008, 8:47 PM EDT
#3of3:So it’s clear but it’s not spoken out – Why? His not a soccer-player who’d loose his job. And if he fears that an outing ain’t goog for his career - those that discriminate gays will not give him a role anyway after playing the Olli… I can’t understand Jo there – gladfully I’m completely out. The ass-grabber was a bit horrible – but I was proud that it was shown on german TV – in the US it’d be censored!!! *strike* Ok I definitely must go to sleep: 2.40am!!! Good Night + greetings to Amiskwacîwâskahikan Oli 1 out of 1 found this valuable. Do you? |