The Film Philadelphia- Prejudice on an Innnocent Man

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Philadelphia- Prejudice on an innocent man Until this day, many members of the LGBTQ community are still fighting for their rights and to be accepted for who they are. This community has to challenge political set beliefs such as same-sex marriage to change the societal norm because of who they choose to love and to find their identity. Jonathon Demme’s Film Philadelphia embodies the G and Q in LGBTQ. The protagonist, Andrew Beckett, is fighting an ongoing battle with AIDS but has continued to excel in his job at a Prestigious Law Firm in Philadelphia. Beckett has kept his identity to himself due to some homophobic remarks made by his boss’s in fear of losing his job. Soon enough, Beckett started to show what looked like lesions on his face. He was then sabotaged which caused him to lose his job due to suspicion of Beckett’s gay identity. This could have been questioned because of the connection of lesions to Aids and Aids to homosexuality. Beckett ironically proceeds to hire a prejudiced lawyer, Joe Miller to help him with his case of injustice and prejudice actions done against him. Beckett and Miller won the case against the head partners in the firm for firing him, but Becket lost his own battle with AIDS and lost his life. The root of prejudice and discrimination against Beckett is led by the idea of an over sexualized LGBTQ community derived from Social Media and Hollywood. The LGBTQ community has wanted to see same sex romances blossom on the screen for as long as film has been around, but overtime has come with some consequences. It has brought to light what people don’t want to talk about and has stereotyped all LGBTQ with the same wreck less, careless, and erotic lifestyles and behaviorisms. This is seen initially wit... ... middle of paper ... ...ay community. Like most LGBTQ films in Hollywood, Andrew Beckett passes away from his deadly illness. The difference is that Beckett stood up for himself and got justice. Not all gay films have a protagonist who ends up winning anything at all. Becket had the ability to be himself and to be accepted by his family. He died when he was “ready” and he was content. He paid the consequences for his actions of having unprotected sex and the Law Firm paired the consequences for violating the “Federal Vocational Act of 1973”(Philadelphia Film 38:00) The movie ended on equal terms Works Cited The Celluloid Closet. Dir. Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman. Perf. Various Arists. Columbia TriStar, 1995. Youtube. Philadelphia. Dir. Jonathan Demme. By Ron Nyswanger. Perf. Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Antonio Banderas, and Joanne Woodward. TriStar Pictures, 1993. Youtube Crackle.

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