Controversy Surrounding Brokeback Mountain

Today's journal topic coincides greatly with tomorrow's topic of society's concept of masculinity. People feel uncomfortable watching this film because it breaks several boundaries that society says we must have. One of these boundaries which is especially strong in the mid-west is the stigma that one must be uncomfortable around anything to do with homosexuality. The fear is if you aren't, you may be suggested to be homosexual(which is obviously a tragedy in itself I guess?). The idea that homosexuality is opposite that of masculinity is also challenged. Two gay males, who are not supposed to be masculine, are in one of the most identifiably masculine professions our society can think of.
I wish I could understand some of these preconceived notions, but they all stem from the idea that through human nature we associate fear with that which is not understood. So, since some people can't understand other's perspectives, they are afraid of them. Crossing these boundaries can create tension, yet recently it is happening more and more. A given example would be another film we've watched; V for Vendetta. in V, the most dramatic kiss in the film was between two women, which speaks about how as time passes, we are becoming more and more open-minded, which in my opinion, is a step in the right direction.