January 5, 2015
'Pride' DVD Cover 'De-Gayed' in US?
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
CBS officials say they are "looking into" claims that the cover of the U.S. version of the hit U.K. film "Pride," a 2014 movie about LGBT rights activists supporting a miners strike in the 80s, has been "de-gayed," the BBC reports.
According to Pink News, the U.S. version of the "Pride" DVD is missing references to "gay and lesbian activists." A banner that reads "Lesbians & Gays Support the Miners," which appears on promo images for the film, is missing on the U.S. version. Additionally, the U.S.'s film's synopsis has been changed from "a London-based group of gay and lesbian activists" to "a group of London-based activists."
"We're looking into this now and our page for the film remains the same as it has for months," CBS Films, which released the DVD alongside Sony Pictures, told Pink News.
"Pride" director Ben Roberts said he's "not surprised" that the U.S. DVD has been changed, saying, "U.S. distributors have taken a decision to sell more copies by watering down the gay content. I'm not defending it, it's wrong and outmoded, but I'm not surprised."
He added: "It's an unfortunate commercial reality both here and in the US that distributors have to deal with and consider in getting films onto the shop shelf. LGBT material is largely marginalized outside of rare hits like 'Brokeback Mountain.'"
The BBC notes that DVD was released in the U.S. on Dec. 23 and will be released in the U.K. in March.
"Pride" has been nominated for Best Picture at the 72nd Golden Globes.
Watch the trailer for "Pride" below:
