If You Can’t Phantom Your Child Being Gay, You Shouldn’t Have Children | My Thoughts On Brokeback Mountain

Films
Written By Andrea S
heah ledger and jake gyllenhaal brokeback mountain 2005

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It has been 20 years since Brokeback Mountain was released in theaters, and as someone in their late 20s, I only remember hearing people talk about the film in a negative light.

I would hear jokes about “what happened in the tent,” which, for years, made me think the filmmakers had made it ambiguous, and the audience did not know what had happened, but we very well knew what had happened. mans got his back blown out. I never heard anything good about the film until I reached High School and someone told me it was their favorite movie, and as an immature teenager, I laughed it off as weird.

Fast forward to 2025, I forced myself to watch the film once it was added to Peacock. Some people don't want to watch the movie because it’s about two men falling in love, but I didn’t want to watch the film because it was a Western, and I don’t care for Westerns.

I never knew it was a Focus Feature, so as soon as I saw the beginning credits, I knew I was in for a good ride, but I didn't think I was about to watch a heartbreakingly beautiful love story and would be sobbing through the last 30 minutes of the movie. As a new entry to my Letterboxd top four, this one scene in the film stuck with me and reiterated something I have thought for years: if you can’t phantom your child being gay, you shouldn’t have children.

About Brokeback Mountain (2005)

heah ledger and jake gyllenhaal brokeback mountain 2005 poster

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Brokeback Mountain, Wyoming. Their acquaintance began in the warm summer of 1963 when cowboys Ennis Del Mar and Jack Twist ended up on the sheep farm of Joe Aguirre. They were looking for work. And under unexpected circumstances, the two men developed an intimate relationship that evolved into a profound but secret bond right under the nose of their families. After all, life is an exciting surprise. Who can stop love, life's ultimate truth?—Nick Riganas

This Scene Made Me See Red

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I want to preface this by saying I am not against having children, nor am I against people who have children, blah blah blah, since many people don’t know what nuance is. I would love to have children one day and go to Disney World and conventions and stuff with them, but I digress…

When Ennis told the story of his father making the effort to show him the body of a man who was castrated and killed for being suspected of being gay, many repressed emotions came to the surface for me. Parents should teach their children that there are consequences for their actions. Like if you ride a bike without kneepads and fall, you will cut up your knee, and it will hurt. Showing them the body of a person who was murdered for being suspected of being sexually involved with someone of the same gender ain’t it.

This scene haunts me because it made me think about all of the odd things adults have said to me as a child and to other children to ward off any potential homosexuality, and the weird ways in which some parents celebrate suspected heterosexuality in their children.

Celebrating presumed sexuality

heah ledger andmichelle williams brokeback mountain 2005

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I find it odd when people look at a newborn and say, “Wow, he is going to break hearts one day,” or “She isn’t dating until 30.” It’s weird. Like, why did you have this child? This child can't even talk yet, and you are wondering if you have to fingerprint the guy she’s taking to prom in 18 years. Idk I find it strange. 

But the assumption of heterosexuality is strange too because the parent is grasping onto the innocent actions of the child to confirm they are indeed heterosexual and low-key confirming their fear of having offspring who are homosexual. If you are not prepared to handle your child being anything but heterosexual, I'm gonna hold your hand when I tell you this, but you shouldn't have children.

david harbour and jake gyllenhaal brokeback mountain 2005

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I have seen 5-year-old boys being praised for taking an interest in women in an innocent way. Grown adults would say, “OH HE IS A LADY'S MAN.” No ma’am, he likes the color of her dress. But in the same breath, will scold the same child for taking an interest in dolls. 

The problem with the assumption of the sexuality of children is not lost on me as someone who has grown up hearing any and everything from if my son is gay, I am going to start drinking to I want my daughter to have children but don’t want her to have any interest in sex. 

That’s all I have for this post. I know it’s kind of a rant about childhood trauma more than an analysis, but it's what it is, I guess.

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brokeback mountian 2005 letterboxd review cinematicexcursions

Hi! I’m Andrea, the creator of Cinematic Excursions.

I am a video editor, photographer, travel and events vlogger, and blogger who likes to write movie analyses and yap about fandom. I also have a useless film degree.

I have been creating videos since 2018. In 2023, I started Cinematic Excursions to share my unfiltered experiences traveling, cruising, going on excursions, and using city cards that are supposed to save money. 

I also use my platform to document my experience attending events like New York Comic-Con, MCM Comic-Con London, and the Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival, advising others and covering news from these events.

FOLLOW ME!

Andrea S
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