Well, howdy there! Let’s chew the fat about somethin’ called the “Vito Russo Test.” Don’t you go frettin’ if you ain’t heard of it. It ain’t rocket science, I tell ya. It’s just a way to see how them picture shows, the movies, you know, treat folks who ain’t exactly like everyone else, if you catch my drift.
Now, this fella, Vito Russo, he was a real firecracker, bless his heart. He kicked up a fuss about how them gays and lesbians and such were showed in movies. So, some smart folks, they come up with this test, named it after him, see? It’s like a checklist, kinda like when you’re makin’ sure you got all your groceries before you leave the store.
So, what’s this here test all about?
Well, it’s got three main parts, like a three-legged stool. Gotta have all three legs, or it ain’t gonna stand up straight.
- First off, you gotta have a character in the movie that’s, well, you know… not straight. A gay fella, a lesbian gal, someone like that. And they can’t just be hidin’ in the shadows, no sir! You gotta be able to point ’em out and say, “Yep, that’s one of ’em.” It’s gotta be plain as day, like a rooster crowin’ at sunrise.
- Second, that character can’t just be there for laughs or to be the bad guy. They gotta be a real person, with feelin’s and problems and all that. They gotta have somethin’ to do with the story, not just be standin’ around like a bump on a log. Like that time my cousin Mildred went to town and ended up helpin’ the sheriff solve that bank robbery. She wasn’t just window dressing, she was part of the whole shebang. It’s gotta be like that.
- And third, that character’s story can’t be just about bein’ gay or whatever. They gotta have other stuff goin’ on in their life, just like you and me. Maybe they’re tryin’ to get a job, or maybe they’re fallin’ in love, or maybe they’re just tryin’ to bake a decent apple pie. It can’t be all about who they like to smooch, if you get my meanin’. Like old Mr. Henderson down the road, he loves his garden, but he also loves his wife and goes fishin’ every Sunday. It’s all part of who he is, not just one thing.
So, if a movie passes all three parts of the test, then it’s doin’ a pretty good job of showin’ folks that ain’t straight in a fair and square way. If it misses even one, well, then it’s got some work to do.
Now, you might be thinkin’, “Why does all this matter?” Well, it matters a heap, I tell ya. When you see people like yourself up there on the big screen, it makes you feel like you belong. It makes you feel like you’re part of the world, not some kinda outsider lookin’ in through the window. And when folks see different kinds of people in movies, it helps them understand that we’re all just people, no matter who we love or how we live. It’s like my grandma used to say, “Walk a mile in another man’s shoes, and you’ll understand him better.” Movies can help us do just that.
It ain’t always been easy, though. For a long time, them gays and lesbians and such were either invisible in movies, or they were made fun of, or they were painted as villains. It was enough to make you spit nails! But things are changin’, slowly but surely. More and more movies are passin’ the Vito Russo Test these days, and that’s a good thing. It means we’re learnin’ to see each other for who we really are, not just what we think we know. And that’s somethin’ worth celebratin’, like a good harvest after a long, hot summer. It’s like finally gettin’ rain after a dry spell, everything just feels fresher and more alive.
Now, some folks might say this test is too picky, that it’s makin’ too much fuss about nothin’. But I say, if you ain’t seen what it’s like to be invisible, then you don’t get to talk. It’s like tryin’ to tell someone how to bake a cake when you ain’t never even cracked an egg. This test ain’t perfect, mind you, but it’s a start. It’s like plantin’ a seed; you gotta start somewhere if you want somethin’ to grow. It’s about makin’ sure everyone gets a fair shake, that everyone gets to see themselves in the stories we tell.
So next time you’re watchin’ a movie, think about the Vito Russo Test. See if it passes. And if it doesn’t, well, maybe it’s time to start askin’ some questions. Maybe it’s time to tell them movie makers that we want to see real people, with real lives, up there on that screen. And that includes folks who ain’t straight, too. Because everyone deserves to be seen, everyone deserves to be heard, and everyone deserves to have their story told. That’s just plain common sense, if you ask me. Just like my pappy always used to say, “Treat folks the way you want to be treated, and you can’t go wrong”. And he was a wise old coot, my pappy was.
Remember, this whole thing about the Vito Russo test is important. It’s like the golden rule, but for movies: treat everyone fair and show ‘em like they are real people. Not more, not less, just real.
