Find us on Facebook
Follow us on TwitterGoode linked to movie about homosexuality
Register & Bee staff writer
Published: October 15, 2008
Updated: October 15, 2008
Though Congressman Virgil Goode actively opposes any rights for homosexuals, the producer of an R-rated film exploring homosexuality thanks the Rocky Mount Republican in the movie’s closing credits.
“Eden’s Curve” is a 2003 film that has been described as a gay coming of age story at a posh Virginia college. It involves Goode’s press secretary, Linwood Duncan, and is written and produced by Jerry Meadors, who is the artistic director of the North Theatre, a project Goode has supported with federal dollars in the past.
Goode’s name is listed among those Meadors thanks in the film credits.
“I don’t support the movie,” Goode said Wednesday. “I have never seen the movie and never gave them a donation.”
The congressman pointed out that the movie thanked a lot of people and organizations, including the Danville Register & Bee and Danville Parks and Recreation, among others.
Goode has spoken forcefully against rights for homosexual people and strongly supported the Marriage Amendment Act of 2006, which would have made marriage legal only between a man and a woman.
“Eden’s Curve,” according to the Internet movie database, tells the story of a boy who goes to college and becomes involved in a sexual relationship with his male roommate and his roommate’s girlfriend, and a relationship with his male poetry professor. The film’s trailer features homosexual sex scenes and a violent beating.
Meadors co-wrote and produced the film, based on a Danville native’s life. Duncan has a minor role as the dean of the college. A number of other Danville residents are listed in the cast and credits.
Duncan didn’t say anything about his own role in the movie when contacted Tuesday, but said he didn’t know why Meadors would have included Goode’s name in the film credits.
Meadors said Goode had no specific involvement with his controversial film, but thanked him in the closing credits because of his support for other projects.
“In the special thanks, you end up listing anyone who’s ever supported you,” Meadors said Wednesday. “He’s been very supportive of my artistic activities in the city.”
Meadors said he was a big supporter of Goode when he was first running for Congress on the Democratic ticket in 1996.
In 2003, the same year “Eden’s Curve” was produced, Goode earmarked $150,000 in federal taxpayer funds to Danville’s North Theatre.
The Danville Register & Bee at the time questioned Goode’s perceived favoritism with these projects because Duncan and Goode’s wife Lucy are both on the board of the North Theatre.
In 2003, Duncan told the Register & Bee he didn’t see any conflict with the earmarked dollars. “I don’t even know how a question of a conflict even arises,” he said.
Contact Sarah Arkin at or (434) 791-7983.
Advertisement
Reader Reactions
Reality check time: the article does NOT say “taxpayer” dollars were used to make this film, nor does it say “federal” dollars were used to make this film. If you read the entire artcle (say, there’s a concept…) you’ll find that the federal dollars mentioned in the first paragraph referred to the $150,000 earmark for the North Theater back in 2003. The North Theater - not this film.
Dang, with everyone whipped into such a frenzy, it’s a shame we don’t have a witch to burn!
How unfortunate that there are people who are so quick to jump on bandwagons! Some of the comments posted here are undoubtedly “confirmation bias” at its finest. There are several hidden innuendos in this story, and the responses I have read thus far disappoint me. Obviously, few bothered to google this film. Had you done so, you would have discovered that a number of Danville’s most prominent citizens, many of whom have been involved with theatre for twenty years and longer, also appeared in this film (which is not x-rated by the way). Also, Virgil Goode’s $150,000 earmark was for the North Theatre, not for production of this film. If any of you have been to any events at the North since the renovation, I would hope that you would agree that the money, along with money contributed by individuals and organization, was well spent.
Also, if you want to criticize Duncan for playing a role in the film, be sure to check easily accessible websites that list others who starred in this film(some Periello supporters), so that all who choose to jump on such bandwagons can sling mud to the left and right!
It disappoints me to think that Southside voters, specifically Danville’s citizens, must be perceived by some in the media as ignorant enough to fall for this viciousness. If you care to google where this story originated, you will understand what the motives are.
Whether or not I am for Virgil or Tom is irrelevant. Many, many fine people support the North Theatre. A number of Danville’s finest were involved in the movie. To suggest that supporting the North Theatre or Jerry Meadors means that you have any political, religious, sexual or hidden agenda or affiliation is prejudice. Again, many who are fortunate to be philanthropists support the theatre and arts in the area.
One would think that we would ask ourselves why a movie that was produced in 2003 is just now getting any attention! But, I guess that’s not important to many readers. It doesn’t confirm that bias. As for Goode’s work in Southside, I remember that for so many years when I was in my teens, one standing joke (that many of us seriously pondered) was that Danvillians could not wait until we were annexed by the state of North Carolina, because Richmond and Washington did nothing for us. That was in the early sixties when most of our parents worked for Dan River. Many things have changed. If you can honestly say that Virgil Goode has not made a difference to this area, perhaps you were not politically active in Danville back then.
I’m not a Virgil fan but, c’mon, this has been out there for 5 years. This isn’t some secret. Anybody who knows Jerry or Linwood knew that Virgil helped get this movie made. I remember seeing the movie and seeing Virgil’s name at the end and laughing.
I think maybe everyone needs to re-read the article. The writer did not do a very good job at presenting the facts. I hope this wasn’t on purpose. Mr. Goode obtained federal money to help with establishing the North Theater in Danville, not to make the movie. Jerry Meadors is the director of the North Theater. He is the one who wrote, produced and directed the movie. We don’t know where the funding came from for the movie based on the infomration in the article. As far as Virgil Goode being thanked in the credits of the movie goes, it could be because he supported the North Theater or it could be simply a good way to flip their noses at someone who is against their political agendas. This article does not say Mr. Goode used taxpayer money to finance a Gay Porno movie!
letstalk,
I think people ARE thinking about the money he’s brought in earmarks. Um, that is kind of the point of this article and the concern it raises. We don’t want our Congressman supporting projects like this film or its producers, especially with earmarks. Sure, he may not have earmarked the money directly for the film, but it went to the producer while he was shooting the film, and the guy thanked Rep. Goode in the credits…folks Southside have more sense than to think there is nothing there.
And speaking as a conservative, one has to be pretty darned far right to accuse the Register and Bee of being a liberal mouth piece. Give it a rest. Goode was two-faced, mis-used taxpayer dollars, and got caught. It’ll cost Goode the election and should. Are people really arguing voters don’t have a right to know this stuff?
No, the article does not say “tax” dollars but it does say Goode used “federal” dollars.
Why now? We all should ask that question. Why is this “news story” being printed now? Nothing has just occured in the last few months or even over the last year dealing with this matter. It has been held…to post a juicy headline…mistate the facts ...here at the end of the election. Nothing more than a political hatchet job.
This is troubling for me. I have no problem with Goode being helpful in the making of this film, however I have a problem with the hypocrisy. Goode has been quite vocal in the opposition of gay rights and now is linked to this movie. When will we stop making excuses for politicians like Goode and realize he and the Republicans do not share our moral views.
Well, Rep. Goode has lost my vote! How can politicians be so dumb? I just hope this Perriello guy learns a lesson from all of this and watches out for how DC changes people. It pains me to vote Dem, but I’m not putting party over principles. I agree with the earlier poster on separating wheat from chaff.
Well if the southside don’t feel we need Virgil, Think about all the things he has done for us while in Congress. What he has done for Danville and Pittsylvania County. Think about all the money he has brought to the area in earmarks and grants to the IALR, RCATT, DCC, and other institutions. To Bring jobs to the area, To bring $$ to local fire departments and rescue squads. Vote him out and see if we get it.. We would be dead in the water with out VIRGIL GOODE!!!!! Look at what happened last week after he voted no in the bail out bill and it passed the stock market took a nose dive….. I say Virgil did the right thing on that…
Advertisement