#i'm getting a common theme here and that is that homosexuals are lonely

[nopeferatu]

I only read BB Mountain three days ago, and I haven't had a chance to see the movie or do any historical research yet, but I'm curious to know what you think Mexico signifies. I assume that Jack wants to go there because it's more tolerant of homosexuality, but I'm not actually sure if Mexico was like that in the '80s.

PS: I've only read the 1997 version published in the New Yorker. Haven't yet read the 1999 version published in Close Range.

See, I haven't done much in-depth research about it, but my conclusion (based solely on living in a city that borders Mexico) is that Mexico, esp border cities, represents this kind of place where vice is allowed to thrive within the narrative? If you ask a lot of Mexican citizens or people who spend a lot of time going between the U.S. and Mexico, they'll be the first to tell you that the Mexican government is very corrupt, and the justice system is, too. So I have a feeling that it's less that Mexico was more tolerant of homosexuality (just because Mexico largely isn't even really that socially tolerant of homosexuality today), but more that like... Jack felt comfortable enough being there knowing that cops would look away from the queer sex trade that it began to represent something akin to a haven for him.

Now whether or not that would have actually been true is a different story entirely, but I think it's a very Jack-thing to think, right? Like. He has all these romanticized notions of running away and starting a life together with Ennis, plans he doesn't think the logistics through all the way, because he is just eager to be with Ennis in the way he wants. So of course he'd suggest to Ennis that they meet up for their trips in Mexico—he's been going there all this time to get his own needs filled, and no one has said or done anything to him! But like. Shady back-alley deals that the cops look way from are very different from existing as a queer couple, which I feel is something Jack doesn't understand.

Either way, the larger thing that Mexico represents in the story is Ennis' inability to leave the environment he was born and raised in. Jack moves to Texas, Jack suggests they go to Denver (which actually does have a long queer history), Jack goes to Mexico to get the sex he needs. Ennis can't. He can't broaden his horizons bc everything about him is rooted in the hard and lonely Wyoming landscape. It's a common theme in Annie Proulx's other works, the idea of people being so bound to the land, so it makes sense that it appears here, too.

Also WOW. You're like... the exception to the rule now a days?? I actually really want to know your thoughts about some stuff if and when you ever get around to watching the film, because I always wonder how differently I'd feel about some things if my introductory point to this story had been the novella first and not the film. But I have a pdf copy of the short story in full, if you'd like for me to share it with you through email or something like that? It's not all that longer than the one that appeared in the New Yorker, but it does soooooo much to establish character and environment in such a short amount of time. Lmk and I'd be happy to send it your way!