Support LGBT Endeavors

Last weeI, I talked about the popular TV/web series "Hunting Season," created by Jon Marcus and starring Ben Baur, is set to debut its second season on Tuesday, May 5th at Vimeo.com/OnDemand/HuntingSeason. A new episode premiered every Tuesday for four weeks.  The show is available on Vimeo On Demand with a ninety-day exclusive window, but hopefully they will keep it online for viewing even after the ninety-days is up.  After my post was published, I was told over Twitter that they want to make a third season, but I'm guessing that they are waiting for the ninety-day exclusive window to be over before they decide what they will need to do to make more episodes.

"Hunting Season” was enormously popular in its first season, racking up two million views across multiple platforms. However, LogoTV, where censored versions of the first season episodes aired, announced on February 21, 2012, that it would shift its programming strategy. Citing research that indicated that LGBT people were becoming increasingly less likely to prioritize highlighting their sexual orientation or identity, the channel entered into partnerships to produce programs that focused less on LGBT-specific interests and more on general cultural and lifestyle subjects.  Sadly, “Hunting Season” premiered during this transition period in which Logo shifted its programming away from primarily gay-centric shows.

While the first season was funded by the producers of the show, the second season was funded with a $150,000 Kickstarter campaign backed by its enthusiastic and loyal fan base.  If we want better quality gay programming then we’re going to have to show networks that we want it. But not only that, we’re going to have to show networks that it’s worth hiring the talent, in every aspect of the production. I'm not sure there are any fully LGBT specific shows airing right now, though LGBT television characters are becoming more common.  

I personally would like to see HBO, Showtime, or Starz produce more gay centric shows, as Showtime did with “Queer as Folk.”  One of the criticisms of “Hunting Season” was that it had too much gratuitous full-frontal male nudity.  First of all, how is that a fucking criticism?  Second, if you are going to have a sex scene that include men, penises are going to be shown.  When the penis and other parts of the male body are covered up artificially for sex scenes, it takes the reality of the situation away.  I think it's safe to say that all of us who have had sex didn't hide our private parts during, before, or after sex (well probably during, but you know what I mean).  Nudity was part of it, and when I have sex with my boyfriend, I'm not going to immediately cover up or slip on boxers to go to the bathroom, I'm going to get up and do that naked.  The same is true with a shower scene or any other situation that calls for nudity.  It is part of life and we should celebrate it.

The thing is that we do need to show networks that we need more shows that focus on us.  If we want to prove that it is viable, we must support shows like “Hunting Season.”  It's a good and fun show, with great writing, and excellent and sexy actors.  When I hear of whether or not, “Hunting Season” or another show like it will be using crowdfunding, I will be sure to let you know, in case you want to contribute.  In the meantime, if you want to contribute to a good cause or know someone who does, please consider my own GoFundMe campaign:  

http://www.gofundme.com/z837bk

I've raised about 15% of the funds and would like to raise the bulk of the money before the start of the Fall Semester of the Museum Studies Certificate Program which begins September 21, 2015.  Thank you to all who have contributed, and as I said, if you know of someone who'd like to contribute, please spread the word.