OBSERVER EDITORIAL: ‘MILK’ & HARKINS, A GOOD COMBO

On Friday, December 12, the much anticipated movie “Milk” opened in Tucson.

Starring Sean Penn, “Milk,” is the Gus Van Sant film about the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly Gay man elected to office in this country, when the voters elected him to serve on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

“Milk” is currently playing in two cinemas in Tucson: the Century El Con, located at El Con Mall and the Harkins Spectrum 18, located at 5455 S. Calle Santa Cruz.

These two theaters offer Tucson and Southern Arizona’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) movie goers a clear choice.

The Century El Con is owned by the Cinemark Corporation, whose CEO, Alan Stock, made a $9,999 contribution to California’s Yes on Proposition 8 marriage initiative.

According to sources affiliated with the film company, in addition to the Century El Con, “Milk,” was originally going to play at the other Cinemark theatre, the Century Park Place, located at Park Place Mall, but the question was raised about this by Observer reporter Mark Kerr, when the public relation’s firm contacted the Observer regarding publicity for the film’s opening in Tucson. Kerr asked why would LGBT movie goers view a film in a cinema who would subjugate their rights.

As with the current economic campaign with those who gave contributions to Yes on 102 in Arizona, Florida’s Amendment 2 and California’s Proposition 8, the Observer encourages all readers who wish to see “Milk,” to drive to the Harkins and take in this masterpiece.