Goode linked to movie about homosexuality

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 sarkin@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7983.