Is Brokeback Mountain really part of a pro-gay agenda?

Rating: 9/10 (2 January 2006)

I just got back from seeing Brokeback Mountain a few hours ago, and I have to admit that the acting was absolutely fantastic. Especially Heath Ledger. His performance, along with the scenery, are my favorite aspects of the movie.
For me, I thought the movie was more about class and loneliness, rather than pushing some sort of "gay agenda," whatever that means. Brokeback Mountain was set in Wyoming and Texas in the sixties, prior to the advent of identity politics. If you notice, Ennis and Jack both admit after having sex that neither one of them are "queer," at a time when that word had overwhelmingly negative connotations. They didn't see themselves as part of a culture or underclass. They were simply alone-together.
My favorite part of the movie was the first 30 minutes when they both meet and worked as sheep-herders. The work they had to do was back-breaking, dangerous, fascinating, and lonely. So perhaps as a result, they gravitated towards each other.
And it seemed to me that the main reason Ennis couldn't spend more time with Jack was because he had to earn a living. Ennis couldn't move to Texis or Mexico with Jack Twist because he wouldn't be in a position to take care of himself. For me, that is why the movie is so sad---that the economic and social demands of their families kept them apart just as much (if not more) than the fear of homophobic attacks. That's why Ennis and Jack only had Brokeback Mountain!