Runaway Gay Train

'Brokeback Mountain' Wins 4 Golden Globes

If last night was a preview of the Oscars, it's going to be the gayest night that already-quite-gay event has ever seen.

Other than the triumph of Johnny Cash, gay was the story of the night. Beyond the four awards for Brokeback Mountain, including the three that point the way to Oscar glory--best drama, best director, and best screenplay--Felicity Huffman in Transamerica and Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote established themselves as the acting frontrunners for playing a transexual and a gay man.

And don't forget about Marc Cherry, whose series, Desperate Housewives, took home the TV comedy trophy.

It was a funny night, with highlights including Hugh Laurie's picking names out of his pocket to thank, Steve Carrell reading a speech he claimed his wife had written that thanked her more often than it thanked other people, and Geena Davis making up a story about a little girl who was inspired by her role as the first female president. The worst moment of the night? While many of the intro segments for the film clips were terrible--and I don't understand why they show trailers for the films rather than actual snippets from them--Dennis Quaid's apparent ad-lib, "rhymes with chick flick," in regard to Brokeback was the most bizarre thing said from the stage. I've been trying to figure out what he meant--is this a simple case of saying something "rhymes with" when you mean that's what it is, or was he pondering a more tasteless phrase? Dick pic? Stick lick? Hick trick?

Whatever he meant, last night's ceremony was a watershed moment for gays being depicted on screen. One request: When you win again, Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Lee, follow Ms. Huffman's lead, and note the challenges faced by the people whose existences you brought to life on film. All funny and silly stuff aside, hers was the classiest speech of the night, and one winners at the Oscars would do well to imitate.