Religious pressure causes homophobia, director says
Religious pressure causeshomophobia, director says
HONG KONG -- Director Ang Lee says Asian audiences are generally more accepting of gay subject matter than Americans.
"I think there's pressure to condemn [homosexuality] in their [Americans'] religion which causes their homophobia," Lee said Saturday at an event to promote his new film, the gay cowboy romance "Brokeback Mountain."
A movie theater in Utah recently canceled showings of "Brokeback Mountain."
The theater was owned by Larry H. Miller, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which has spent millions of dollars campaigning against gay marriage and considers homosexual acts grounds for excommunication.
"Brokeback Mountain" has faced resistance elsewhere in Asia.
Bon Jovi members on jetthat skidded off runway
HAMILTON, Ontario -- An airliner carrying members of Bon Jovi skidded off a runway early Saturday after landing in severe weather.
The Boeing 707 carrying the band and its touring staff overshot the runway at Hamilton International Airport.
A spokeswoman said the 14 passengers and flight crew were arriving from Buffalo, N.Y., where the band played Friday. No one was hurt.
Bond movie spy carsells for $2.1 million
PHOENIX -- One of the Aston Martin spy cars from the James Bond movies "Thunderball" and "Goldfinger" has been sold for $2.1 million at a vintage cars auction.
The winning bidder for the 1965 Aston Martin DB5 was not identified by RM Auctions officials.
The vehicle was one of four built for 1964's "Goldfinger" and 1965's "Thunderball," as well as promotional tours. The auction car was primarily used for promotion.
Some of the special options on the Aston Martin include replica machine guns, a wheel-mounted tire slasher, a retractable rear bulletproof screen, an oil slick ejector and a smoke screen system.
Today's birthdays
'Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg, D-N.J., is 82. Actress Jeanne Moreau is 78. Actress Chita Rivera is 73. Actor-director Lou Antonio is 72. Actor Gil Gerard is 63. Actor Rutger Hauer is 62. Rhythm-and-blues singer Jerry Lawson (The Persuasions) is 62. Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-Del., is 59. Singer Anita Pointer is 58. Actor Richard Dean Anderson is 56. Rock musician Bill Cunningham is 56. Rock singer-musician Patrick Simmons (The Doobie Brothers) is 56. Rock musician Danny Federici (Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band) is 56. Rock singer Robin Zander (Cheap Trick) is 53. Princess Caroline of Monaco is 49. Singer Anita Baker is 48. Reggae musician Earl Falconer (UB40) is 47. Actress Gail O'Grady is 43. Actress Mariska Hargitay is 42. Rhythm-and-blues singer Marc Nelson is 35. Actress Tiffani Thiessen is 32.